chronic cystitis

Chronic cystitis, also known as interstitial cystitis, is a recurrent or persistent inflammation of the urinary bladder for which no specific virus or bacterium is identified as the cause. It may stem from an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks healthy bladder cells, or from a defect in the bladder's protective protein coating, allowing urine toxins to inflame the bladder wall.1

Diagnosis involves ruling out bacterial infections and examining the bladder's interior with a cystoscope. As there is no known cure, treatment focuses on pain and discomfort relief, with surgery considered in severe cases. Chronic cystitis can lead to thickened bladder walls, reducing its capacity, and in cases with obstruction, the walls may eventually atrophy.1