Definition
Repeated bladder infections, commonly defined as two in six months or three in a year.
Symptoms
Burning, frequency and urgency during episodes.
How it may be discovered
Repeated symptoms, sometimes after sex.
When to seek care
Seek confirmation; fever or flank pain is not typical of simple cystitis.
Investigations and tests
Context-appropriate cultures, risk-factor assessment and targeted tests for atypical signs.
Reaching a diagnosis
Distinguish confirmed infection from irritation, dryness and bladder pain syndrome.
Treatment options
Individual prevention, correction of contributing factors and selected medication strategies; avoid repeated unsupervised antibiotics.
Explore this topic further
Continue with related explanations of how the body works and treatment options.