Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, the gland that produces the liquid portion of semen. This is the most common disease of the reproductive system in mature men. Acute bacterial prostatitis is a relatively rare disease, its frequency does not exceed three percent of all inflammatory processes in the prostate.
Causes of Acute Prostatitis
The main cause of acute prostatitis in humans is bacteria, some of which are part of the body's normal microbiota, that is, they constantly live on the skin, in the intestine. Once in the tissues and ducts of the prostate, they cause acute inflammation.
The infection can enter the prostate in two ways:
- ascending canalicular - bacteria with urethritis, cystitis, after cystoscopy enters the prostate.
- Hematogenous - Microbes enter the prostate with blood flow from distant foci of acute and chronic infection - boils, carbuncles, sinusitis, diseased teeth and tonsils.
In addition to bacteria, stagnation of prostate secretion and venous blood stagnation are important, which develop during irregular sexual activity with rare intercourse, with prolonged restrictions on mobility, especially in a sitting position and wearing tight underwear.
The gland consists of two sections - the follicles, in which secretion is produced, and the excretory ducts, through which the liquid part of the semen enters the urethra. Depending on which part of the prostate is inflamed, there are different forms of acute prostatitis in men, which are treated with different methods.
Signs of Acute Prostatitis
The symptoms of acute prostatitis depend on the form and severity of the inflammatory process. Doctors distinguish between three ways:
- catarrhal.The main symptoms are disturbances when urinating. The excretory ducts become inflamed, the prostate enlarges and blocks the urethra, resulting in prolonged urination, accompanied by pain and a burning sensation in the urethra. There are nocturnal impulses, the patient suffers from insomnia.
- follicular.As the process progresses, the tissue in the follicles begins to become infected. Urinary disorders are accompanied by pain in the perineum, with irradiation to the anus, the temperature rises to 38 degrees.
- parenchymal.The follicles continue to become infected, a large number of small abscesses form. Difficulty urinating becomes acutely painful, pain appears during the act of defecating. The temperature rises to forty, in the groin, perineum, sacro - sharp pains.
diagnostic tests
The urologist makes a diagnosis based on a comprehensive study, which includes:
Complications of Acute Prostatitis
If the correct treatment of acute prostatitis is not started in time, it can lead to the development of the following complications:
- Prostate abscess.If prostatitis is not treated, sooner or later small abscesses fuse into one large one, which is called an abscess. This complication is only promptly treated by opening the prostate and carefully clearing the pus from there.
- Inflammation of the paraprostatic venous plexus.Prostate inflammation can spread to nearby veins. The large number of bacteria released into the bloodstream leads to a systemic inflammatory response - sepsis - which can be fatal.
- Paraprostatitis.It occurs when an abscess breaks up in the tissue surrounding the prostate. Treat only promptly.
- Transition to a chronic form.Untreated acute prostatitis becomes chronic, requiring a course of treatment that lasts several years. Fifty percent of patients with chronic prostatitis develop mental disorders that require correction with antidepressants and tranquilizers.
What To Do With Acute Prostatitis
A patient with an attack of acute prostatitis needs urgent hospitalization. Treatment for acute prostatitis should be performed in a hospital and includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and restoratives.
Antibacterial therapy includes broad-spectrum agents and is prescribed for long periods - from fifteen to thirty days, until the bacteria are completely destroyed. For acute prostatitis, doctors generally use the following antibiotics and antibacterial drugs:
- fluoroquinolones- levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin;
- trimethoprim;
- doxycycline;
- cephalosporins- cefotaxime, ceftriaxone.
In addition to antibiotics for acute prostatitis, the following medications are used:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac) - helps relieve pain;
- bioregulatory peptides (prostate extract, vitaprost, prostatilen) - used in the form of suppositories. The prostate not only produces the liquid part of the semen, but also plays a regulatory role by releasing hormones. Suppositories help to compensate for the lack of hormones and prevent complications associated with it.
Don't self-medicate - it's dangerous! Do not use folk remedies such as prostate massage - secretions and pus, once in the blood, cause blood poisoning, which can be fatal. If you find signs of acute prostatitis, call an ambulance or see a doctor immediately.
Sex with acute prostatitis is contraindicated. First of all, severe pain in the perineum and sacrum, high temperature, absolutely unsuitable for intercourse. Second, the partner is at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.
Prevention of Acute Prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is much easier to prevent than to cure. Just note some important points:
- conduct meticulous personal hygiene, treat cystitis and urethritis at the right time;
- have sex regularly to prevent stagnation of prostate secretions;
- avoid sexually transmitted diseases;
- treat boils, carbuncles in time, monitor the health of your teeth;
- wear loose cotton underwear;
- get enough physical activity to avoid stasis in the prostate veins.
Treatment of prostatitis should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. The specialist develops an examination program, an individual diagnosis scheme.
It is important to consult a physician at the first suspicion of a pathology. Inattention to symptoms or self-medication can significantly complicate the situation. Timely and professional medical assistance will help to deal with the illness and prevent complications.
Symptoms and Causes of Prostatitis
As a rule, when talking about the treatment of prostatitis, they refer to the chronic stage of the pathology. This is due to the fact that the acute phase lasts only a few days and is often not much of a concern for the man. As a result, the inflammatory process becomes chronic and the treatment of prostatitis is significantly delayed.
Acute prostatitis can be recognized by the following signs:
- pain in the perineum and scrotum,
- cramps in the lower abdomen
- weakening of the erection,
- lack of voluntary erection in the morning.
These symptoms can appear all at once or one at a time. After a few days, they disappear or decrease significantly. This is precisely the danger of illness. In the absence of qualified care, prostatitis becomes chronic. This stage is characterized by:
- increased urge to urinate,
- a decrease in the amount of urine excreted,
- weakening of flow when urinating,
- erectile dysfunction,
- pain in the small pelvis, perineum.
Any of these symptoms are a reason to see a doctor. In our clinic, a urologist in Leninsky will accurately determine the cause of the disease, prescribe an effective treatment.
Identifying the etiology of prostatitis is one of the most important tasks in choosing a therapeutic course. There are several main causes of the disease:
- sexually transmitted infections - chlamydia, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis and others,
- bacteria - enter the prostate through the urethra, with the flow of blood or lymph,
- hypothermia - causes inflammation of the prostate, which, as in other cases, quickly becomes chronic.
All tests needed to identify the causes and treatment of prostatitis can be done at our clinic. The exam program is done individually by the urologist.
disease diagnosis
Among the mandatory methods for diagnosing prostatitis are:
- general urine analysis,
- microscopic examination of prostate secretion,
- Prostate ultrasound.
According to the individual clinical picture, the urologist may prescribe additional tests. If you suspect the sexually transmitted nature of prostatitis, it is recommended that you get tested on Leninsky Prospekt for STDs. Based on the results of a comprehensive diagnosis, the specialist devises a treatment regimen for prostatitis.
complex therapy
Treatment of prostatitis is usually carried out by conservative methods. Antibiotic therapy is the foundation. With the help of antibiotics, pathogens are eliminated, inflammation of the prostate is removed. Modern drugs penetrate the prostate tissue well, eliminating the main cause of the pathology. Also, the doctor may prescribe alpha blockers, hormones, muscle relaxants.
Another effective technique is prostate massage. It restores the permeability of the ducts, improves blood circulation in the prostate and increases its tone. It is most often used to treat bacterial prostatitis in the presence of pelvic pain syndrome.
The duration of the course depends on the individual condition of the disease. It is important that the treatment of prostatitis in the clinic does not aim to relieve symptoms, but rather to eliminate the main cause of the pathology. This approach allows you to get rid of a chronic illness and avoid relapses.