Differential Diagnosis for Bladder Pain with Normal Urine Analysis
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Interstitial Cystitis: This condition is characterized by chronic bladder pain, pressure, and sometimes pelvic pain, without any evidence of urinary tract infection or other pathology. The normal urine analysis supports this diagnosis, as interstitial cystitis does not typically cause abnormal urine test results.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Overactive Bladder: This condition can cause bladder pain, urgency, and frequency, even with a normal urine analysis. The pain may be related to muscle spasms or other non-infectious causes.
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Weakness or tension in the pelvic floor muscles can cause bladder pain, as well as other symptoms like urinary incontinence or constipation.
- Bladder Outlet Obstruction: This condition, often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia in men or urethral stricture, can lead to bladder pain due to the increased effort required to urinate.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Bladder Cancer: Although less likely, bladder cancer can cause bladder pain and must be ruled out, especially in patients with risk factors like smoking or exposure to certain chemicals.
- Tuberculosis of the Urinary Tract: This rare infection can cause bladder pain, frequency, and other symptoms, and may not always be detected by a standard urine analysis.
- Kidney Stones: Small stones may not show up on a urine analysis, but can still cause significant bladder pain, especially if they are obstructing the ureter.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Eosinophilic Cystitis: A rare condition characterized by an eosinophilic infiltration of the bladder wall, which can cause bladder pain, frequency, and other symptoms.
- Bladder Endometriosis: A rare condition where endometrial tissue grows in the bladder, causing pain, frequency, and other symptoms, often related to the menstrual cycle.
- Schistosomiasis: A parasitic infection that can cause bladder pain, frequency, and other symptoms, typically seen in patients who have traveled to or lived in endemic areas.