Cystitis Case Studies

The symptoms that Brittany is presenting, dysuria, frequent urge to urinate, low-grade fever and pain at her bladder, all tend to lead to a diagnosis of cystitis. If correct, cystitis may present urine that is cloudy due to the presence of white blood cells and bacteria but a urinalysis would be needed to confirm whether bacteria, pus or blood is in the urine. If bacteria are present, causing the urinary tract infection, it will produce an enzyme that changes the urinary nitrates to nitrites. If the patient’s symptoms consisted of a high fever and back pain, that would be indicative of pyelonephritis (Brittany’s kidneys are infected) which is a serious infection, more complicated than a bladder infection. The doctor prescribing antibiotic regimen
is considered the first line of treatment for cystitis, and taking and completing the antibiotics is essential to eliminate the bacterial infection. Although it has been believed that cranberry juice, which contains proanthocyanidins, would help reduce the risk of recurrent UTIs, there is minimal research supporting this and does not have the capability of eliminating the bacterial infection.