It is a common understanding for many people that infection cause cystitis, either from bacteria, fungus, or even virus. Urinary tract infection (UTI) can be divided into two parts, which are:

• Infection
  in the upper urinary tract such as kidney infection, in which the symptoms are
  often severe
• Infection
  in the lower urinary tract such as bladder infection, or as commonly known as
  cystitis

It is more common for cystitis to occur in women than men because women have a shorter urethra, and its position is closer to the anus. Statistics show that most bladder infection cases derive from local bacteria found in feces. (Why it is called local bacteria? Because it is bacteria that commonly found in such part of the body. Such local bacteria perform preventive measures over its part of the body by blocking other pathogens out, preventing diseases or infection from occurring in its area. However, it may cause illness or infection to other parts of the body apart from its own still. Bacteria that often causes severe symptoms are mostly from E.coli and P.mirabilis.

Causes of cystitis are mostly from auxiliary factors, either:

1. The use
   of toilet paper by wiping from behind to the front that may lead feces in
   contact with the vagina, which further directs the pathogen from anus to the
   frontal area as well.
2. Insufficient
   water intake that leads to non-urinating, causing an increase of bacteria in
   the bladder that stays for days instead of only 2-3 hours as it supposes to be.
3. Suppress
   of urination having the same result with no. 2.
4. Post
   sexual activity habit – lack of cleaning habit after intercourse may lead to the
   growth of pathogen
5. Patients
   with a suppressed immune system, such as diabetes, have higher risks of UTIs.
6. Use of vaginal
   douching that may lead to a decrease of local bacteria, which lessen its
   capacity to prevent harmful pathogen out. (Don’t forget that local bacteria prevent
   other pathogens from causing disease or infection in its area.)
7. Menopause
   – after menopause, the vagina would dry up, making it more vulnerable to
   infection.

Therefore, it is highly recommended to avoid or prevent no. 1-6 from occurring to prevent bladder infection.

The common symptoms of cystitis could be noticed easily by yourself. For example:

• A strong,
  persistent urge to urinate with a burning sensation when urinating
• Pelvic pain
• Urine that
  appears cloudy with a strong smell, or has a sign of blood in the urine
• Strong-smelling
  urine
• Have unexplained chill
  and fever because some pathogens
  in the bladder may release its toxin out.

Therefore, if you notice any of the above symptoms, it is recommended to get urine tests for preliminary diagnoses. If the result comes out with higher white blood cells and high bacteria, the doctor may have you do swab culture to check the type of pathogen and its response to the medicine. This method will help in getting a correct diagnosis with higher accuracy, providing excellent support for the treatment.

Note: Do not try self-medication as misuse of medicine might make pathogen resistant to medication.

Nevertheless, we can prevent cystitis by ourselves be avoiding the abovementioned causes of no. 1-6. If the infection already occurs, it is crucial to take any necessary measures in stopping the infection from spreading to the upper part of the kidney as it may cause shock symptoms that lead to death.