Cystitis and candida. How to treat simultaneous cystitis with thrush? Some differences between the two diseases

The female genitourinary system has a number of anatomical features, because of this, often a disease in one area causes complications in another. This is due to the close proximity of the urethra to the vestibule of the vagina. The most striking and common example of such a combination is cystitis and thrush, which develop simultaneously.

Etiology and clinical manifestations of infections

Cystitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder, which in 90% of patients is caused by microorganisms such as:

In the remaining 10% of cases, the disease is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungi.

Fungal cystitis is most often caused by fungi of the genus Candida, which belong to the opportunistic microflora. Under certain conditions, fungal colonies begin to grow and candidiasis or thrush develops.

70% of women experienced bladder inflammation and thrush at least once in their lives, and in 30% both of these diseases were observed in parallel.

A number of factors can provoke cystitis, namely:

Factors provoking thrush include the following:

Thus, quite often cystitis and candidiasis are caused by the same reasons.

The inflammatory process in the bladder is usually manifested by the following symptoms:

Candidiasis is also characterized by:

• nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
• pain when urinating;
• itching and burning in the intimate area;
• discomfort during sexual intercourse;
• intense white discharge, resembling cottage cheese in appearance.

Cystitis and thrush have similar symptoms, and distinguishing them from each other on your own is quite problematic.

Despite the similar clinical picture, the treatment of these diseases is different, so it is important to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe adequate therapy. Most often, candidiasis develops during treatment of cystitis with broad-spectrum antibiotics. But sometimes thrush develops first, and then Candida fungi enter the bladder and cause inflammation. Therefore, thrush can provoke cystitis.

Candidal cystitis has similar symptoms to bacterial cystitis. It is also characterized by:

It is possible to distinguish between bacterial and fungal cystitis only by identifying the causative agent of the disease. To do this, you need to take a smear from the vagina and urethra and inoculate it on a nutrient medium, and then examine the grown colonies under a microscope.

How to treat diseases that occur at the same time?

If candidiasis and cystitis develop simultaneously, then treating inflammation of the genitourinary system with broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs is unacceptable in this case. Antibiotic therapy in such patients will only worsen the progression of thrush.

In this case, cystitis can be treated with nitrofuran medications, such as:

Cystitis in such patients can also be treated with narrow-spectrum antibiotics such as:

• Nitroxoline;
• Monural.

When candidiasis and cystitis develop simultaneously, it is permissible to prescribe fluoroquinolones and macrolides, such as:

It is acceptable to use diuretic and anti-inflammatory drugs of plant origin, such as:

• Cyston;
• Canephron;
• Phytolysin;
• Phytonephrol.

Any of the above drugs does not cause abnormal growth of fungal colonies and is not capable of aggravating the course of thrush. Treatment of acute cystitis should last at least 14 days. An exception is the drug Monural, which is taken for only 1 day.

If the disease is chronic, then therapy is carried out in courses. In any case, the dosage and duration of the course are selected by the doctor on an individual basis.

Candidiasis can be treated with medications for external and internal use. Douching with decoctions of medicinal herbs also gives visible results. But only a specialist can select a course of therapy.

In most cases, the course of treatment for thrush lasts 10 days. The exception is fluconazole-based drugs. To treat common candidiasis, it is enough to take them orally just once. These drugs include:

• Mikosist;
• Mycomax;
• Flucostat;
• Fluconazole.

To treat thrush the following is prescribed:

If a woman suffering from thrush has a sexual partner, he should also take antifungal medications, even if he does not have obvious signs of candidiasis.

A man can be a carrier of the infection and if he is not treated, there is a high probability of relapse of candidiasis in a woman, and, consequently, cystitis.

It is not difficult to cure inflammation of the bladder and candidiasis, but preventing re-exacerbation or chronicity of the disease is more difficult, especially if both diseases occur simultaneously. After all, if diseases are neglected, they can cause serious complications, for example, infertility. Therefore, it is important to contact a specialist as soon as possible with the initial symptoms of cystitis and thrush and carry out adequate treatment.

The anatomical feature of the female genitourinary system determines the development of certain ailments. The distance between some organs, such as the urethral opening and the vagina, is very small. This explains the adverse reactions of one system to the progressive disease of another. Thus, cases of cystitis appearing with developing thrush are not uncommon.

Causes of the phenomenon

Can thrush cause cystitis in women? The answer is yes. Medical practice demonstrates the more frequent development of secondary cystitis. Being a fungal disease, candidiasis primarily affects the female body. Due to its long course, the disease spreads to the bladder. Due to the anatomical features of the structure of the genitourinary system, yeast fungi from the vagina quickly enter the urethra.

Among the factors that can trigger the development of thrush, there are both local and general ones. Often the disease worries the patient against the background of endocrine and metabolic disruptions observed during menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation. Alternative factors that cause the spread of Candida include:

• weakened immunity;
• hypothermia;
• failure to comply with the principles of personal hygiene;
• development of diabetes mellitus (provokes the proliferation of fungus by creating a sweet environment);
• promiscuous sex life;
• antibacterial therapy;
• sexual infections.

Cases cannot be excluded in which thrush and cystitis develop in feedback – the second disease becomes the cause of the first.

How to distinguish diseases?

Both diseases, occurring simultaneously, form a vicious circle. The diseases are characterized by similar symptoms: itching, burning sensation, general discomfort - this clinical picture manifests itself in both cystitis and thrush. How can you recognize the disease if there are certain signs? How to distinguish candidiasis from cystitis? The patient should listen to her own body and pay attention to the peculiarities of the manifestation of symptoms. The table below shows the main differences between the ailments, allowing you to determine the clinical picture of a particular disease:

The nature of the above symptoms will help distinguish cystitis from thrush. In some cases, the clinical picture is not so clear - only a specialist can accurately diagnose the disease.

Combined course of diseases - features of the clinical picture

Candidiasis with thrush is characterized by the gradual manifestation of the following symptoms:

• increased pain during sexual activity;
• the appearance of liquefied brown discharge and pus from the urethra;
• temperature increase;
• increased (appearance) burning sensation when urinating;
• the occurrence of frequent urge to go to the toilet;
• discharge of a minimal amount of blood from the urethra;
• manifestation of pain in the suprapubic region.

The combination of these signs indicates a developing inflammatory process in the urinary tract and bladder.

Thrush on the background of cystitis is a rare phenomenon, but possible. The development of candidiasis can be suspected by the following characteristic signs that complement the clinical picture of inflammation:

• the appearance of vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese;
• the presence of constant discomfort and pain during sex;
• the occurrence of itching, burning in the vagina (become more intense during intimacy, after a shower, bath);
• manifestation of discomfort during each trip to the toilet “in a small way”;
• sensation of unpleasant odor of the external genitalia, vagina, underwear.

Read also on the topic

How does gastric candidiasis manifest and how to treat it?

Diagnostic features

If cystitis begins to develop against the background of thrush, comprehensive information about the diseases should be obtained before therapy. This is ensured through laboratory tests and instrumental procedures:

• general urine and blood tests;
• discharge sample;
• blood chemistry;
• urine analysis according to Nechiporenko;
• identifying the sensitivity of microflora to the use of antifungal drugs;
• urine sample in three glasses;
• cervical examination;
• examination of the inner surface of the bladder.

In addition to the above diagnostic methods, they resort to a number of more standard measures. We are talking about collecting anamnesis, visual examination of the genitals and vagina, palpation of the area where the uterus and ovaries are located. In some cases, the patient is prescribed an ultrasound examination of the bladder.

Important! A comprehensive examination answers all questions posed by specialists. Only upon completion of this stage can we begin to confirm the diagnosis and plan treatment.

Treatment strategy

When cystitis and thrush develop simultaneously, active treatment is provided. A wide range of medications helps to influence this kind of pathology.

Features of the treatment of candidal cystitis

Therapeutic measures in case of disease development involve taking the following combination of drugs:

• antifungal series: (Nystatin, Diflucan);
• antipyretics: (Paratetamol, Ibufen);
• painkillers: (Analgin, No-shpa);
• a diuretic used in cases of severe edema (Trifas).

In addition to the above measures, they resort to urinary lavage. Amphotericin is used for these purposes.

Folk remedies will be an excellent weapon in the fight against the disease. The main components can be: birch leaves, dill, lavender, eucalyptus and a number of others. These components stop the development of infectious diseases.

Inflammation in the bladder is often caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. These include Escherichia coli, streptococcus, and staphylococcus. There are cases when candidal cystitis occurs against the background of thrush caused by the Candida fungus.

During cystitis, which occurs in parallel with thrush, a woman experiences pain and itching when urinating. To cope with unpleasant symptoms, you should visit a gynecologist and begin treatment.

During pregnancy

In women during pregnancy, cystitis and thrush occur most often in the early stages. This occurs due to decreased immunity and hormonal changes. With a weakened immune system, the body cannot cope with pathogens, and inflammation of the bladder begins.

When the first symptoms appear during pregnancy, you should consult your doctor to avoid complications, in particular pyelonephritis (kidney infection).

Causes of cystitis and thrush

In medical practice, cystitis most often appears after thrush. In the absence of proper therapy, the fungus penetrates the bladder. This is explained by the anatomical features of the female reproductive system: the urethra is located in close proximity to the vagina and is short in length. Therefore, thrush and cystitis often occur together.

It happens that thrush appears after sex, transmitted from an infected partner to a healthy one. Experts say that you can become infected after oral sex, since the fungus can multiply on the urethral mucosa.

Another cause of thrush is changes in the functioning of the endocrine system and metabolic disorders. They may appear during pregnancy or lactation, during menstruation.

Symptoms of cystitis and thrush

If cystitis and thrush occur at the same time, the symptoms are similar to signs of inflammation in the bladder. A woman experiences pain and burning when urinating. At the same time, you may feel general weakness, malaise, and headache.

The first signs of cystitis and thrush are a nagging pain in the lower abdomen and a burning sensation when emptying the bladder, frequent urination.

Along with this, the woman constantly experiences itching, accompanied by an unpleasant odor and cheesy discharge from the vagina.

Another symptom is purulent discharge from the urethra.

Diagnostics

The effectiveness of therapy depends on the correct diagnosis. Treatment should begin after diagnosis, which allows you to accurately determine the disease. Candidal cystitis has similar symptoms to other infectious diseases, for example, gardnerellosis and trichomoniasis.

Methods for diagnosing the bladder include a comprehensive examination, which allows you to determine the causative agent. First of all, the doctor sends the patient for a blood test. Changes in indicators may indicate the presence of a focus of infection in the body.

Along with this, you should take a urine test. With pathologies of the bladder, its composition changes, and blood particles may be present. This indicates damage to the mucous membrane. Exceeding the norm of leukocytes in the urine indicates the development of an inflammatory process.

A woman should undergo a serological test to detect the presence of antibodies to candidal infection.

Another mandatory analysis is bacteriological urine culture. The study allows you to identify and identify microorganisms (bacteria) found in the urine.

An ultrasound of the bladder can determine inflammation by external signs, in particular by thickening of the walls of the organ.

How to treat diseases that occur at the same time

If the diagnosis showed the presence of cystitis and thrush caused by bacteria and fungus, the diseases will be treated by 2 specialists - a gynecologist and a urologist.

To prevent the proliferation of candida fungi and eliminate the causes of cystitis, a complex of drugs is prescribed for treatment.

With the simultaneous development of thrush and cystitis, take antifungal drugs - suppositories, tablets, creams, ointments, drops. The specialist selects all medications individually, based on the data obtained during diagnosis. The drugs to which the pathogen is most sensitive should be selected.

The course of treatment for thrush must be completed to the end, even if the unpleasant symptoms have passed. After treatment, tests must be taken to ensure that the treatment was effective and the patient is healthy.

Treatment can be carried out with two groups of medications - antibacterial and antifungal.

Pills

With the simultaneous development of cystitis and thrush, you will need not one medicine, but several drugs from different groups; Additionally, the doctor may prescribe ointment or suppositories to eliminate pain, burning and itching.

Candles

Suppositories can be used to treat thrush and cystitis as a local treatment. They are indicated for mild forms of the disease, when there are no complications.

Pimafucin suppositories are the most effective and safe. They can be used during pregnancy. Suppositories cause the death of fungus and quickly eliminate pain, burning and itching. It is important to use the full course of treatment, although symptoms may subside within a few days after use.

Antibiotics

If thrush and cystitis develop in parallel, a specialist may prescribe antibacterial drugs. Drugs are selected individually based on test data; the duration of therapy depends on the severity of the disease, foci of infection and other factors.

Home Remedies

If the diseases are mild, they can be cured with folk remedies - infusions and decoctions. Treatment of cystitis and candidiasis at home is allowed only after consultation with a doctor, so that the diseases do not become chronic.

Natural anti-inflammatory drugs, which include garlic, onion, honey, chamomile, St. John's wort, eucalyptus, and calendula, help cope with the symptoms of diseases.

If the diseases are mild, they can be cured with folk remedies - infusions and decoctions.

Another effective treatment method is douching. They can be made with alkaline solutions, such as baking soda solution. Fungus requires a special environment to multiply.

Douching with alkaline solutions (soda) makes the microflora unsuitable for fungal growth, which leads to a decrease in the population of fungus and pathogenic bacteria. It is important to remember that using this method too often can cause an imbalance in the microflora, which, in turn, will only provoke fungal growth, burning and dryness.

Simultaneous prevention of thrush and cystitis

To prevent thrush and cystitis from bothering you, it is necessary to take preventive measures. The most important thing is genital hygiene.

Diet and avoidance of alcohol are important factors affecting the likelihood of symptoms of thrush and the development of cystitis. It is necessary to limit the consumption of salty, sweet and spicy foods.

If the treatment complex includes taking antibacterial drugs, you should take drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora and vitamins.

Having noticed the first manifestations of diseases, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to begin treatment in a timely manner and avoid complications such as infertility, pyelonephritis, etc.

Cystitis in the fair sex occurs quite often, especially during reproductive age. This is due to the structural features of the female genital organs. Cystitis and thrush often occur simultaneously, however, inflammation of the bladder occurs primarily, and then the pathogenic flora enters the vagina and disrupts its microflora, however, it also happens the other way around - genital infections that cause thrush become the cause of cystitis. Next, we will look at how cystitis occurs against the background of thrush and how to treat them.

How to distinguish cystitis from thrush?

In view of the fact that cystitis and thrush have similar symptoms, and their treatment has fundamental differences, differential diagnosis between these diseases should be carried out.

Thus, the first symptom of acute inflammation of the bladder is sharp pain in the lower abdomen and a burning sensation when urinating. The described complaints may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature and symptoms of general intoxication (weakness, malaise, body aches).

With thrush, patients may also complain of painful urination, but in this case there will be no symptoms of inflammation. With thrush, the patient may be bothered by discomfort during sexual intercourse, curdled vaginal discharge, and also.

Differential diagnosis of these diseases is difficult in chronic and sluggish forms of the diseases in question. A correctly collected anamnesis will allow you to make a correct diagnosis. Thus, cystitis most often occurs after hypothermia, decreased immunity, after childbirth, and thrush after a change of sexual partner or unprotected sexual intercourse.

Cystitis and thrush - treatment

Treatment for thrush and cystitis differs, as they have completely different causes. The etiological factor of cystitis is bacterial flora, and thrush is fungal flora (candidiasis).

So, for cystitis, antibacterial agents (4th generation fluoroquinolones) and (Furomag) are prescribed. For thrush, antifungal drugs (Fluconazole, Diflucan) are prescribed. If thrush occurs after cystitis, then the listed groups of drugs are combined.

Thus, we looked at such unpleasant diseases as thrush and cystitis in women. Often, the appearance of thrush can secondary cause cystitis and vice versa. To accurately diagnose and take adequate therapy, you should consult a doctor.

Candida fungus is a causative agent of female diseases, including thrush and candidal cystitis. Statistics show that at least 70% of women have encountered these ailments. Often, cystitis and thrush provoke the development of each other: a woman has had bacterial cystitis - the development of thrush should be expected, and vice versa. Pharmacology has stepped forward and can help get rid of the discomfort caused by the fungus. But prevention is better than cure. Therefore, in order not to cause Candida activity, you need to know the causes of the development of ailments.

Does thrush provoke cystitis or does cystitis cause thrush?

The human body contains a huge number of bacteria and fungi, among them Candida, which are present in small quantities in the intestines and vagina. This value is considered normal and does not cause discomfort. The immune system constantly maintains a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria. Problems begin when the fungus gets out of control and begins to multiply rapidly. With thrush, pathogenic fungi cause inflammation of the mucous membranes, and due to the close distance between the vagina and urethra, they are able to spread into the urinary system. This is how cystitis of a candidal nature appears.

Bladder inflammation can be caused by bacteria. Treatment involves active use of antibiotics. In the pursuit of eliminating inflammation, the state of the internal flora, which primarily suffers from the destructive effects of antibacterial drugs, fades into the background. It turns out that not only bad bacteria die, but also beneficial microorganisms, which is why dysbacteriosis occurs. The immune system is not able to control the fungus, and, taking advantage of the opportunity, it begins to actively colonize the vagina. This is how thrush appears after cystitis.

What causes thrush/cystitis?

The sources of disease development are presented in the table:

Classic symptoms and characteristic signs of a fungal infection

The clinical manifestations of both diseases are somewhat similar, so it can be difficult to distinguish cystitis from thrush. Let's study the clinical manifestations that accompany inflammation of the candida bladder:

• itching, burning in the urethra and vagina (especially in the evening, after a bath, during walking or intimacy);
• skin rash in the genital area;
• nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
• swelling of the genitals;
• painful and frequent urination;
• elevated temperature.

Despite the similarity of the fungal nature of cystitis and thrush, the typical symptoms of the ailments have characteristic differences that make it difficult to confuse them. How bacterial cystitis differs from thrush is indicated in the table:

What should the treatment be aimed at?

Effective drugs

Treatment will depend on the results of laboratory tests, which should determine whether the bladder inflammation was caused by a fungal species or bacteria.

Therefore, when thrush begins and symptoms of cystitis appear (or vice versa), you should not immediately run to the pharmacy and look for a universal medicine. It will help temporarily. It is also impossible to ignore the signs of disease - you can provoke the development of complications, not to mention daily discomfort. The pathogen can be determined through laboratory tests, after which treatment will be prescribed. Candidal cystitis and thrush are treated with drugs, depending on the nature of each pathology, as can be seen from the table.