Bladder inflammation: what is it?

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Bladder inflammation is irritation of the tissues in the bladder wall and surrounding structures. Patients with bladder inflammation commonly experience pain and tenderness in the abdomen and may have difficulty urinating. There are a number of reasons your bladder can become inflamed, and a doctor can perform an evaluation to learn more about the cause and develop a treatment plan. Failure to treat the problem can lead to chronic inflammation of the bladder and an increased risk of bladder cancer and other medical problems.

One reason for developing inflammation in the bladder is an infection. When bacteria, fungi, and other organisms enter the bladder and begin to reproduce, the immune system responds by producing inflammation. Specialized cells rush to the site of infection to attack and remove infectious organisms. The bladder wall becomes warm and thickened as the inflammation progresses. Often, the urine will become cloudy and sometimes blood will be present.

Autoimmune disease can also cause inflammation of the bladder. In this case, the body’s immune system gets confused and starts identifying the body’s tissues as dangerous. The immune system sets in motion to destroy the “dangerous” cells. As the inflammation progresses, lesions may appear, caused by damage to the cells.

Bladder inflammation can be associated with injury to the abdomen. Sometimes, inflammation spreads from nearby tissue or can flare up following surgery, biopsies, and other procedures where health care workers come into contact with the bladder. This inflammation may resolve on its own, disappearing as the blister heals. It can become a problem if the bladder becomes inflamed in response to something like catheter placement, where a doctor cannot remove the catheter to allow the bladder to heal because this could interfere with proper bladder drainage.

Chronic bladder inflammation, in which the bladder remains inflamed for an extended period of time, can pose health risks. It is usually uncomfortable for patients. Inflammation also causes cellular changes in the bladder wall over the long term, as cells shed in response to inflammation and new cells must grow rapidly to replace the lost tissue. This can cause growths in the bladder and some of these can be malignant, turning into bladder cancer. If a patient has a history of painful urination, inflammation and pain in the stomach, they may not realize that the symptoms have changed and an invasive tumor is making its way through the bladder wall. People with chronic bladder inflammation should see a doctor regularly for evaluation and treatment.

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