Bladder disease may refer to several types of infections and structural problems with the urinary bladder. All of them present the same or similar types of symptoms, which require specific tests and diagnoses. Your doctor will conduct these in order to determine if you might be suffering from an everyday bladder infection or something more serious such as chronic cystitis or bladder cancer.
Types
Bladder disease may occur as an infection, incontinence, cancer or a condition known as interstitial cystitis. An infection may originate from anywhere within the urinary tract, and may also be known as cystitis. Incontinence is the inability to hold urine and losing control of the bladder, and interstitial cystitis is chronic inflammation of the bladder wall which contributes to frequent infections and pain during urination. Bladder cancer is actually the sixth most common type of cancer occurring in the U.S., according to MedlinePlus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a possible bladder disease include frequent or painful urination, passing little urine even when the urge to urinate is great, cloudy or bloody urine, abdominal pressure and even a low-grade fever. The sudden onset of bed and accidental wetting in children may also indicate bladder disease. If you are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms, schedule a visit with your doctor immediately to determine the cause.
Diagnosis
Initial diagnosis of a bladder infection is usually done with a simple urinalysis in the doctor's office or lab. This test requires you to submit a sample of urine which is then tested for leukocytes, or white blood cells, blood and protein. A urine culture may also be ordered to determine the specific type of bacteria present in the sample.
More aggressive diagnosing such as cytoscopy and imaging may also be used if there are no signs of a bacterial infection. Cytoscopy uses a tiny tube that can allow the physician to view the bladder from the inside with a light and camera. Cytoscopes are also used to biopsy any growth that may be found in the bladder. Finally, traditional x-rays, ultrasounds and scans may be used to rule out any structural defects or injuries.
Treatment
Bacterial infections of the bladder require a round of antibiotics, and specific types of bacteria may need to be treated with sulfa or full-spectrum drugs if they are difficult to treat. Interstitial cystitis may be treated using electrical pulses, medication and surgery to reduce the pain and inflammation experienced by patients. Special drugs may also be used to reduce incontinence, and bladder cancer is typically treated with both surgery and chemotherapy drugs and radiation, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Prevention/Solution
Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice or taking cranberry tablets may reduce the risk of bladder disease and frequency of bladder infections if you are prone to them. The Mayo Clinic also states that drinking plenty of fluids, urinating after sex and wiping front to back after using the restroom can reduce the occurrence of bacteria in the urinary tract.
