| A urine test will confirm whether or not you have | | | | week. In either case, be sure to take all the |
| a bladder infection that requires treatment. If you | | | | prescribed medication as directed by your doctor. |
| do have cystitis, and it is a mild enough case, | | | | Elderly patients, or those suffering from a chronic |
| there is a good chance that it may resolve itself | | | | condition, may take up to two weeks of |
| without treatment, or by simply drinking more | | | | medication before results can be seen. In some |
| fluids. If treatment for your bladder infection is | | | | cases, those who get frequent urinary tract |
| necessary due to the risk of the infection | | | | infections, may be advised to take low-dose |
| spreading to your kidneys antibiotics are usually | | | | antibiotics daily as a preventive measure. The |
| recommended. There are a wide variety of | | | | same situation may apply for those who have |
| antibiotics available for the treatment of a bladder | | | | contacted their infections as a result of sexual |
| infection. Some commonly prescribed antibiotics | | | | activity. They may be advised to take a small |
| would include: * Amoxicillin * Nitrofurantoin * | | | | dose of antibiotic prior to sexual intercourse. For |
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole * Cephalosporins | | | | women, who are postmenopausal, the doctor |
| * Sulfa drugs * Doxycycline - not for children | | | | may prescribe the hormone estrogen. This may |
| under 8 years old * Quinolones - not to be used | | | | either be in the form of a topical cream, or a pill. |
| by children In addition to these antibiotics, the | | | | After completion of your antibiotic cycle you will |
| drug Phenazopyridine hydrochloride (pyridium)may | | | | be asked to return to your doctor for a follow-up |
| be used to relieve the burning associated with the | | | | urine test to make sure that your bladder is now |
| infection. Ascorbic acid may be added to reduce | | | | free of infection. It is possible in cases where the |
| the amount of bacteria in the urine. While cystitis | | | | infection is the result of a blockage, such as a |
| is uncomfortable, it usually responds well to | | | | kidney stone, or an enlarged prostate that |
| treatment. Most minor cases of infection should | | | | surgery may be the only effective bladder |
| clear up in 3 days, while others may take up to a | | | | infection treatment. |