Final answer:
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the bladder lining. Symptoms include dysuria, urgency, nocturia, and pelvic pain. Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, medications, and sometimes surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the bladder lining. The clinical features of interstitial cystitis include dysuria (painful urination), urgency (strong, frequent need to urinate), nocturia (awakening at night to urinate), and pelvic pain. Other symptoms may include hematuria (blood in the urine), urinary frequency, and bladder spasms.
Patients with interstitial cystitis often experience a worsening of symptoms with certain triggers such as stress, certain foods or drinks, or physical activity. Diagnosis typically involves a detailed medical history, physical examination, urine tests, and sometimes cystoscopy or bladder biopsy.
Treatment for interstitial cystitis may include lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding trigger foods, pelvic floor physical therapy, bladder instillations, medications, and in severe cases, surgery.