Eosinophilic Cystitis is a rare type of cystitis characterized by the build-up of eosinophils in the bladder.
It expresses similarly to normal cystitis or interstitial cystitis with increased frequency, painful urination, pelvic pain, nocturia and blood in the urine.
What are eosinophils?
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells that are part of the body’s immune system. They help the body fight off infections.
If there is a high build-up of eosinophils they can cause inflammation.
The symptoms of Eosinophilic Cystitis stem from the inflammation caused by the build-up of eosinophils.
What causes Eosinophilic Cystitis?
A high level of eosinophils may be caused by:
- Allergic disorders
- Skin conditions
- Parasitic and fungal infections
- Autoimmune diseases
- Some cancers
- Bone marrow disorders
- Certain medication
- Trauma
How is Eosinophilic Cystitis treated?
Conventionally, Eosinophilic Cystitis is considered to be curable. The following medications are usually used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressant drugs
However, recurrence seems to be frequent.
For a more natural and holistic approach we would look at the root cause of the eosinophil build-up and treat that instead. This may even be located somewhere else than the bladder itself, e.g. a parasitic infection in the gut.
An anti-inflammatory diet is important to help reduce inflammation in the body, so it should be part of the treatment.
Sources
NIH Eosinophilic Cystitis 2014 https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6347/eosinophilic-cystitis
Medline Plus Eosinophilic Disorders 2017 https://medlineplus.gov/eosinophilicdisorders.html
YVETTE Helena DUBARRY
April 4, 2017Awesome blog! Keep on survivin’ !
Layla
April 4, 2017Thanks so much, Yvette! 🙂