Published On:Tuesday, August 24, 2010

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

THERE is a reason why parents say to their little girs wipe from front to back after urinating.

The close proximity of the vaginal opening to the anus, makes it susceptible to e-coli, a bacteria present in faeces. When this bacteria enters the body and begins duplicating, it causes a number of bladder infections.

Dr Patrick Whitfield at Oxford Medical Center and a consultant in family medicine at the Department of Family Planning at Princess Margaret Hospital told Tribune Health in a recent interview, that there is more than one way the e-coli bacteria enters the body.

"When e-coli gets into the body it enters the bladder and causes a urinary tract infection, he explained.

Urinary tract infections are characterised by a persistent urge to urinate, a burning sensation of the urethra during urination, passing frequent, small amounts of urine, urine that appears cloudy, urine that appears bright pink or cola coloured, blood in the urine, pelvic pain in women, and rectal pain in men.

The bacteria can also be contracted during intercourse which can then lead to cystitis (infection of the bladder). "The e-coli bacteria can also enter the body during sexual activity. This is the reason why women are advised to empty their bladders prior to intercourse. A man's anatomy is much different than a woman, and the anatomy of the female body is what causes women to be more susceptible to urinary infections," he explained.

Interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory condition that is characterised by a combination of uncomfortable bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pain in the pelvis, which can range from mild burning or discomfort to severe pain.

Dr Whitfield said there are no proven facts as to how interstitial cystitis originates. However www.mayoclinic.com suggests that nerve signals from the brain become perplexed.

"The bladder is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that stores urine until it is emptied. In adults, the bladder expands until it's full and then signals the brain that it's time to urinate by communicating through the pelvic nerves. This creates the urge to urinate in most people. With interstitial cystitis, these signals somehow get mixed up, and people feel the need to urinate more often and with smaller volumes of urine than most people," the website explained.

When a person has interstitial cystitis it leads to the stiffening of the wall of the bladder which causes the bladder to hold less urine.

Dr Whitfield said that there is no cure for interstitial cystitis. However, it can be treated with respective medications. According to www.mayoclinic.com they include ibuprofen (advil, motrin,) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or imipramine (tofranil) can also be used to help relax your bladder and block pain. Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (benadryl), and loratadine (claritin, others) can be used which may reduce urinary urgency and frequency and relieve other symptoms.

Two other cystitis, chemical and drug induced, are non-bacterial and non infectious disorders that are experienced by some as well.

Chemical cystitis is the irritation of the bladder and has been associated with the use of bubble baths, and feminine hygiene sprays.

"This occurs when the body has an allergic reaction to a substance. Things like sanitary napkins, spermicidal jellies, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can cause chemical cystitis to develop," he explained.

Some symptoms include painful urination, pressure on the low pelvis, frequent need to urinate decrease ability to hold in urine.

Drugs used in chemotherapy also causes drug induced cystitis to develop Dr Whitfield said.

Bladder incontinence is another common problem associated with the bladder. Sometimes is affects a persons everyday activities.

"There is a valve the controls the outflow of urine. It is called the sphincter muscles. In certain conditions the muscle weaken and a person's ability to keep urine in the bladder is lost," Dr Whitfield said.

He added that any pressure on the pelvic region can cause one to lose control which will cause an unfortunate "accident".

In most cases people who have extreme urinary incontinence have catheters, a tube that allow drainage of fluids, inserted.