Cystitis
Cystitis is inflammation in the bladder. The usual cause is bacterial infection, and is much more common in females than males. This is because the distance between the bladder and the outside world is much shorter in females than males, and bacteria from the bowel or the vulva can crawl up the urethra and cause infection. Besides pain, urgency, and frequency there may be blood in the urine, and an increase in nocturnal urination. The small child, having developed continence, may lose it. In the infant it may cause vomiting, lethargy, reluctance to feed, high temperature and febrile convulsion.
Initial attacks in children may need to be investigated in order to rule out any underlying abnormality in the structure of the urinary tract. Adolescent girls who suffer repeated attacks may need advice about suitable clothing and personal hygiene, and those who find attacks are related to sexual intercourse may be well advised to empty their bladders afterwards.
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