Cystitis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. A doctor on Maple will be able to offer cystitis treatment options, but only after you receive a cystitis diagnosis.

The doctor will need to discuss your medical history and evaluate your symptoms. In some cases, they may request additional testing to confirm the condition.

Yes. Our physicians can provide cystitis medicine online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or have it delivered to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Cystitis is the medical term used to describe bladder inflammation.

There are a few types of cystitis depending on the cause of the condition.

The most common type of cystitis is bacterial cystitis, also called a urinary tract infection or UTI. This condition is caused by a bacterial infection.

Other types include:

• Chemical cystitis
• Radiation cystitis
• Interstitial cystitis
• Foreign body cystitis
• Drug-induced cystitis
• Cystitis associated with other conditions

While cystitis in men is possible, it’s far more common for cystitis to appear in women. Healthy men experiencing cystitis should have their doctor investigate further.

The most common signs and symptoms of cystitis include:

• Discomfort in the pelvic region
• Low-grade fever
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Cloudy or very fragrant urine
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Having frequent, small bouts of urination
• Pressure in the lower abdomen

If you notice blood in your urine from cystitis, you should contact your doctor immediately.

While normally affecting the bladder, cystitis can also cause symptoms to appear in other areas.

Cystitis causing back pain and side pain, fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting should be reported to your doctor right away, as they could be signs of a kidney infection.

If you believe you might be experiencing symptoms of cystitis, a doctor on Maple will likely suggest you have some testing performed to confirm the cystitis diagnosis.

Some additional tests that could be recommended include:

• Imaging tests, such as X-rays or ultrasound
• Urine analysis tests
• Cystoscopy

When the cause of cystitis is an infection, the doctor will normally treat it with cystitis antibiotics.

The length of the antibiotic course will depend on whether this is your first time having this condition or if the cystitis is chronic or recurrent.

Cystitis on its own isn’t dangerous. However, if the cause of cystitis is an infection (bacterial cystitis), then it can become dangerous if left untreated.

In some cases, bacterial cystitis in the bladder can “backtrack” into the kidney and cause a kidney infection, which is much more dangerous and can be potentially life-threatening.

Yes. Bacterial cystitis can sometimes feel like stomach bloating or cause bloating pain in the lower abdomen.

How long cystitis lasts without treatment depends on the exact cause of the condition.

Mild cases will typically resolve themselves in a few days. However, if it’s bacterial cystitis, the infection can actually “backtrack” and make its way into the kidneys, making it much more dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

If cystitis causes pain or lasts longer than four days, you should consult a doctor on Maple.

While both bacterial cystitis and pyelonephritis are caused by infections, the biggest difference between them is that cystitis affects the bladder, while pyelonephritis affects the kidneys. Pyelonephritis is also more dangerous than cystitis.

If left untreated, a cystitis infection can sometimes travel into the kidneys, where it may become pyelonephritis.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is actually another name for bacterial cystitis.

So, while UTIs and cystitis aren’t always the same, whenever the condition is determined to be bacterial cystitis, it’s just another name for a urinary tract infection.

With Maple, you can start talking to a doctor about your symptoms in minutes. We’re a healthcare platform for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

Simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll connect you to a doctor via live chat or video. You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Our doctors can assess symptoms and provide treatment, including prescriptions as necessary.