typical of pregnancy (increase in progesterone which favors the relaxation of the smooth muscles of the urinary tract, with consequent slowdown in the flow of urine which, therefore, has a lower washing effect);
All these factors favor and facilitate the engraftment of vaginal or intestinal germs - in particular, bacteria such as E. coli - which go up the urethra thus favoring the onset of cystitis in pregnancy. In light of what has just been said, therefore, it is possible to state that cystitis in pregnancy is generally caused by bacterial infections.
consist of:
- Difficulty urinating
- Pain and burning when urinating
- Need to urinate more frequently
- Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- Presence of blood in the urine;
- Low fever (if the fever is very high, the infection may have spread to the kidneys).
However, it should be noted that, in some cases, pregnant women can experience asymptomatic urinary infections.
Cystitis in Pregnancy: is it dangerous?
Although rarely, cystitis in pregnancy can give rise to complications that can adversely affect the fetus. In particular, kidney infections may occur which have been associated with a slight increase in premature births and developmental problems in the newborn. For this reason, it is of paramount importance to promptly treat cystitis in pregnancy.
For further information: Cystitis in PregnancyThe information on medications to treat cystitis in pregnancy in this article is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking any medications for the treatment of cystitis in pregnancy of any kind.
, its treatment involves the use of antibiotic drugs, the use of which must, of course, be safe for both the mother and the fetus.Shutterstock
As soon as the first symptoms of cystitis appear, patients should immediately contact their doctor, who will prescribe an "adequate antibiotic therapy (usually after carrying out a urine culture test, carried out to identify the type of microorganism responsible for the" infection). In addition to antibiotic therapy, if deemed appropriate, the doctor may prescribe the administration of paracetamol to relieve symptoms of cystitis such as fever and pain.
Of course, if the microorganism responsible for the onset of cystitis is not bacterial, the doctor will not prescribe antibiotic drugs, but drugs suitable for counteracting and eradicating the pathogen responsible for the infection. These cases, however, will not be considered in this article. .
Below are the drugs most used in the therapy against cystitis in pregnancy and some examples of medicines that contain them. It is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the pregnant woman and her response to treatment.
Antibiotic for Cystitis in Pregnancy
For the treatment of cystitis in pregnancy due to a "bacterial infection, the doctor may prescribe the patient to use appropriate antibiotic drugs, such as:
- Phosfomycin (Monuril®, Berny®, Danifos®): fosfomycin is an antibiotic of natural origin with a broad spectrum of action which has specific therapeutic indications for the treatment of urinary tract infections, including acute bacterial cystitis. during pregnancy it can only be carried out if strictly necessary and only under the strict supervision of the doctor.
- Ampicillin (Amplital®): Ampicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic belonging to the penicillin class with a broad spectrum of action. It is an active ingredient widely used in the treatment of cystitis and can also be used for the treatment of cystitis in pregnancy, provided that its use is under the strict control of the doctor and only in cases of real need. Ampicillin is available in pharmaceutical formulations suitable for both oral and parenteral administration.
- Amoxicillin (Amox®, Zimox®): amoxicillin is another beta-lactam antibiotic belonging to the penicillin class. It can also be used in the treatment of cystitis in pregnancy, but - like the other antibiotics mentioned above - only in in case of real need and only under the strict supervision of the doctor. For the treatment of cystitis in pregnancy, amoxicillin can be administered orally.
Paracetamol for Cystitis in Pregnancy
If deemed appropriate, the doctor may also decide to prescribe the administration of paracetamol (Tachipirina®, Efferalgan®) to combat symptoms such as pain and fever, often associated with cystitis in pregnancy.
Paracetamol is an active ingredient with antipyretic and analgesic activity, available in different pharmaceutical formulations suitable for different routes of administration.Generally, for the treatment of symptoms of cystitis in pregnancy, paracetamol is given orally. It will be the doctor who will provide the appropriate information about the amount of paracetamol that each patient will have to take.