Acute Cystitis

Acute cystitis is a common infection of the bladder, which is part of the urinary system. It mainly affects the urinary tract and causes symptoms like painful urination, frequent urges to urinate, and lower abdominal discomfort. This condition occurs when bacteria, often from the bowel, enter the bladder and multiply, leading to inflammation. It is more common in women due to their shorter urethra. If untreated, it can cause more serious infections like kidney infections. The infection primarily impacts how the bladder stores and expels urine, causing discomfort and urinary symptoms.

Acute cystitis is an infection characterized by inflammation of the urinary bladder mucosa caused predominantly by uropathogenic bacteria, most commonly Escherichia coli. The pathogenesis involves bacterial colonization of the urethra followed by ascension into the bladder, triggering an inflammatory response. Clinically, it presents with dysuria, urinary frequency, urgency, and suprapubic pain without systemic signs of infection. It is a subset of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and is distinguished from pyelonephritis by the absence of fever and flank pain. The condition is significant due to its high prevalence, especially in women, and potential to cause recurrent infections or progress to upper urinary tract involvement if untreated.