About the ACSS

About the ACSS

The Acute Cystitis Symptoms Score (ACSS) is a self-reporting symptom questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms in women with symptomatic lower urinary tract infections (LUTIs) and their impact on quality of life as well as to differentiate from other urogenital disorders with the possibility to monitor treatment efficacy.

The ACSS was initially developed in Uzbek language and validated in native Uzbek speaking female respondents with further translation and validation in other languages.Currently, ACSS is available in following languages (year of publication)

  • Uzbek in Cyrillic script (source; linguistically and clinically validated 2015)
  • Uzbek in Latin script (linguistically and clinically validated 2015)
  • Russian (linguistically and clinically Validated 2014)
  • German (linguistically and clinically validated, updated 2017)
  • UK English (linguistically and clinically validated 2017)
  • Hungarian (linguistically and clinically validated 2018)
  • US American English (linguistically and clinically validated 2020)
  • Italian (linguistically and clinically validated 2020)
  • Greek (linguistically and clinically validated 2021)
  • Ukrainian (linguistically validated 2022)
  • Korean (linguistically and clinically validated 2022)
  • Dutch (linguistically and clinically validated 2022)
  • French (linguistically validated 2022 and clinically used 2025)
  • Polish (linguistically and clinically validated 2023)
  • Turkish (linguistically and clinically validated 2023)
  • Chinese – Honkong (linguistically validated 2023)
  • Spanish (linguistically and clinically validated 2023)
  • Tajik (linguistically and clinically validated 2023)
  • Chinese – Taiwan (linguistically and clinically validated 2024)
  • Romanian (linguistically validated 2023, not published yet)

These versions of the ACSS are available for download via our page Downloads. All available and further language versions of the ACSS are copyrighted.

The ACSS may be used for personal purpose for self-assessment of the symptoms and calculation of probability of acute cystitis. Prior to use, we strongly recommend to read the table of probability of acute cystitis depending on scores, available on Do I have an acute cystits? page.

Caution

Although the ACSS is among the most powerful diagnostic tools, results of self-assessment by ACSS cannot guarantee precise diagnosis. If you have any suspicious symptoms, we strongly recommend to consult a physician.

The ACSS has also been used in different epidemiological and interventional studies (see Publications). Individual researchers and organizations (clinics, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, etc.), willing to use the ACSS for research or economical purposes are requested to contact the copyright holders.

E-Mail: info@acss.world

FAQ on the Use of the ACSS

What is the ACSS used for?

The ACSS is designed to:

  • Help in self-diagnosing acute cystitis;
  • Evaluate symptom severity and their impact on quality of life
  • Monitor the course of acute cystitis symptoms over time
  • Assess the treatment efficacy effectiveness for acute cystitis

Which language versions of the ACSS are currently available?

As of today, the ACSS has been translated and clinically validated in over 20 languages worldwide. For detailed information on available language versions, please visit: ACSS Downloads

I have filled out the ACSS. How can I know if I have acute cystitis?

Your probability of having acute cystitis based on your ACSS summary scores is explained here: Do I have an acute Cystitis?

Is the use of the ACSS free of charge?

  • Yes, individual use (e.g., self-assessment by patients) is free of charge.
  • For research or institutional use, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the copyright holders via the form below.

Short Explanations of the ACSS Domains

  • The „Typical“ Domain helps determine whether you have acute cystitis.
    • Supposing your summary score is six or higher, there is a high probability that you are experiencing an episode of acute cystitis. (Link)
  • The „Differential“ Domain comprises questions that help distinguish uncomplicated cystitis from other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
      • Suppose any item in this domain is scored higher than „No symptom“. In that case, this may indicate the need for further medical evaluation to rule out alternative diagnoses or complications such as urolithiasis, pyelonephritis, or gynaecological disorders.

     

      • The „Quality of Life (QoL)“ Domain assesses how your symptoms negatively impact your general well-being, daily activities, and social life, including activities such as going out, exercising, or socialising with friends.
      • The „Additional“ Domain provides contextual information that may influence the choice of treatment, such as different types of antibiotics, painkillers, or herbal preparations.

     

    • The „Dynamics“ Domain (Follow-up Part B) is used after the start of treatment to evaluate your perceived change in symptoms.

       

    • Supposing your scores remain above 1 („The majority of symptoms are gone“), it may be time to reconsider your therapy or consult your healthcare provider.