Customer question:
How is the cystitis test performed? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
Testing for bladder inflammation (a condition also known as cystitis) usually begins with a detailed discussion with your doctor about symptoms such as frequent and painful need to urinate, a burning sensation during urination, and cloudy or bloody urine. The doctor will then often perform a physical exam, focusing primarily on the abdomen and bladder area, to check for tenderness or pain.
The next step is to collect a urine sample. The patient will have to pass a medium stream of urine, which means he first begins urinating and then collects the middle part of the stream in a sterile container. This method helps prevent contamination of the sample with bacteria from the urethra.
The urine sample is then sent to a laboratory and examined using urine strips and a microscope. Urine strips can quickly detect the presence of leukocytes, nitrites, and protein, which are indicators of infection. The microscopic examination enables a more precise analysis, where bacteria, white blood cells, and red blood cells are checked.
If the urine test results are positive for bacteria, the doctor usually prescribes antibiotic treatment. In case of recurrent infections or complicated cases, the doctor may order additional tests, such as urine culture testing, to determine the exact type of bacteria and its sensitivity to antibiotics or perform imaging tests, such as ultrasound, cystoscopy, or CT, to rule out other causes of bladder problems.
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