Is Cystitis Contagious?
She appears again and again. Especially common in women - cystitis or urinary tract infection (UTI for short). But where does it come from and is it contagious at all? In this area there is often great uncertainty about how to behave once you have caught this annoying evil. Find out here how you can avoid infection or transmission.
Cystitis can be caused by a number of factors
- To prevent cystitis, the first thing to do is to distinguish between the different types of urinary tract infection. In the medical field one recognizes a "lower urinary tract infection", this only affects the urethra and the urinary bladder.
- Second, the "upper urinary tract infection" is also known, which usually arises from the "lower" one and involves the kidneys and ureters.
- Within these two types of infection, a distinction is made between a complicated or uncomplicated course, depending on the severity of the infection. Over 95% of bladder infections are caused by bacteria. Escherichia coli serves as the main supplier of bacteria to more than 70%. Other enterobacteria such as Klebsiella also occur. Staphylococci (aureus) or enterococci are also not uncommon. Difficult to prove are also Germs like Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis.
- It can also be infected with chlamydia (these are also common for unborn children in pregnant women very dangerous), a bacterium that is primarily sexually transmitted, causing a urinary tract infection.
- Pathogens from viruses and protozoa such as Trichomonas vaginalis have been described as unusual and rare, but cannot be excluded, for urinary tract infections.
If you have a cystitis, you do not have to take tablets straight away. Often ...
All bacterial infections are also contagious, so frequent hand washing after going to the toilet is advisable.
Symptoms of a cystitis
Burning when urinating, itching, decreased urine flow, frequent urge to urinate, purulent or bloody additions in the urine, kidney pain in advanced infections.
Causes of a cystitis
The causes of a Cystitis can be: immunodeficiency due to old age, immunodeficiency due to an autoimmune disease, diabetes mellitus, an inserted urinary catheter or a disturbed bladderOP. These causes can already be found in a complicated urinary tract infection. A course in which the bacteria get into the bloodstream is called enormously life-threatening; this is known as urosepsis.
How to protect yourself from cystitis
- The most effective measure is to drink a lot, at least 2 liters a day, in order to flush your urinary tract and kidneys sufficiently and to flush out most of the bacteria with the urine.
- In the cold season, you should dress warmly and especially then avoid crop tops.
- Do not use perfumed and disinfecting detergents for intimate hygiene, they destroy the important "good" bacteria in your vaginal flora.
- Occasionally take a lactic acid regimen (for women, available at the pharmacy).
- Strengthen your immune system, for example with vitamin C and lots of fresh air.
If the cystitis occurs more often:
- Use condoms during sexual intercourse (especially after anal and oral intercourse) and go to the toilet as soon as possible, then the germs will be flushed out as quickly as possible.
- After a bowel movement, it is advisable to clean yourself from front to back, i.e. from the vagina to the anus.
- Diaphragms, coils and vaginal suppositories for contraception are not recommended for frequent infections, as they interfere too much with the acidic vaginal environment.
For chronic cystitis:
- Be aware of your food. Cranberry products can also help; they contain active ingredients that can be helpful in preventing nested bacteria and are effective in preventing infection.
- In stubborn cases, antibiotics are recommended.
- Estrogen administration for women during menopause, as a urinary tract infection can also be triggered by a lack of estrogen.
Risk of infection from cystitis - this is how you protect others
- Use paper toilet seats (in the drugstore) when using someone else's toilet.
- Wash your hands regularly and frequently. Change towels daily if infected
- Wash your towels and cotton underwear at a temperature of at least 65 ° C in the washing machine
- Use condoms during intercourse
- Clean your toilet every day
- Change your underwear every day and use cotton underwear
- However, avoid excessive hygiene in your household. Not everything has to be disinfected everywhere, normal vinegar cleaner is also sufficient. That way, you don't destroy your healthy bacteria too.
These are intended to represent preventive measures for you. However, if such an infection persists or keeps coming back, your doctor must discuss further measures with you. A bladder infection does not always have to be harmless, especially if it cannot be healed with simple means. Therefore, please always clarify beforehand what type of infection it is.
The content of the pages of www.helpster.de was created with the greatest care and to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, no guarantee can be given for the correctness and completeness. For this reason, any liability for possible damage in connection with the use of the information offered is excluded. Information and articles must under no circumstances be viewed as a substitute for professional advice and / or treatment by trained and recognized doctors. The content of www.helpster.de cannot and must not be used to make independent diagnoses or to start treatments.
