What is Interstitial cystitis?

What is Interstitial cystitis?

• Interstitial cystitis: A rare condition involving inflammatory disease of the bladder which progresses slowly.

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Interstitial cystitis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Name and Aliases of Interstitial cystitis

Main name of condition: Interstitial cystitis

IC

Types of Interstitial cystitis:

Subtypes of Interstitial cystitis: Ulcerative Interstitial Cystitis, Nonulcerative Interstitial Cystitis, Autoimmune Interstitial Cystitis
Parent types of Interstitial cystitis: Bladder conditions, Possibly autoimmune diseases, Urinary disorders, Cystitis

Organs Affected by Interstitial cystitis:

bladder

How many people get Interstitial cystitis?

Prevalance of Interstitial cystitis: 847,000 in the USA 1988-1994 (Weighted Analysis of 1988-1994 National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2003)
Prevalance Rate of Interstitial cystitis: approx 1 in 321 or 0.31% or 847,000 people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Interstitial cystitis: About 700,000 people (90 percent of whom are women) (Source: excerpt from Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States: NIDDK) ... "Estimates of the number of people who have IC run as high as 500,000, but no one knows for sure how many people have it. (Source: excerpt from Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder disorder): NWHIC)

Who gets Interstitial cystitis?

Patient Profile for Interstitial cystitis: Typically younger adults (two-thirds in 20's to 40's); rare in children.
Profile for Interstitial cystitis: IC is far more common in women than in men. Of the more than 700,000 Americans estimated to have IC, 90 percent are women. (Source: excerpt from Interstitial Cystitis: NIDDK) ... While people of any age can be affected, about two-thirds of patients are in their twenties, thirties, or forties. IC is rare in children. (Source: excerpt from Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder disorder): NWHIC)
Gender Profile for Interstitial cystitis: 90% women
Gender Profile for Interstitial cystitis: About 90 percent of IC patients are women. (Source: excerpt from Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder disorder): NWHIC)

How serious is Interstitial cystitis?

Complications of Interstitial cystitis: see complications of Interstitial cystitis

What causes Interstitial cystitis?

Cause of Interstitial cystitis: Unknown. Some cases possibly autoimmune.
Class of Condition for Interstitial cystitis: autoimmune possibly
Causes of Interstitial cystitis: see causes of Interstitial cystitis

Can anyone else get Interstitial cystitis?

Inheritance: see inheritance of Interstitial cystitis

How is it treated?

Treatments for Interstitial cystitis: see treatments for Interstitial cystitis
Research for Interstitial cystitis: see research for Interstitial cystitis