Prostatitis is a dangerous, but, unfortunately, a very common disease of the male genitourinary system. If earlier the disease was predominantly found in older men, today urologists are increasingly diagnosing this disease in young patients. Every man who cares about his health needs to know what types of prostatitis are and how they manifest themselves.
Reasons for the development of prostatitis
A sharp hypothermia of the prostate is the most "sure" way to earn prostatitis.
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. This disease must be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, otherwise serious consequences are possible.
The causes of this disease are divided into two large groups - infectious and non-infectious. The infectious causes of this disease include:
- conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that are always present in the human body;
- fungi;
- sexually transmitted bacteria;
- viruses;
- mycobacteria.
The opportunistic pathogens of this disease are Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, since most often infectious prostatitis is caused by these pathogens. They enter the prostate from the gastrointestinal tract with blood or lymph movement. Also, the disease can be caused by the penetration of pyogenic bacteria (pneumococcus, staphylococcus) from the urethra or by the hematogenous route.
Fungi that cause prostatitis are most often yeast microflora of the genus Candida. Infection with this fungus can occur sexually, but Candida is an important part of the normal human microflora, so it can enter the prostate from other organs and systems. In rare cases, fungal prostatitis is caused by mold fungi.
Inflammation in the prostate can be caused by infection with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other infections that are transmitted through unprotected intercourse.
In rare cases, viruses become the cause of the disease. So, prostatitis can develop against the background of influenza or SARS, in the case of the spread of the virus throughout the body with blood flow. Prostate tuberculosis is isolated separately. This is a dangerous disease associated with infection of the organ with Koch's bacillus, the causative agent of tuberculosis.
Non-infectious causes of prostate inflammation:
- stagnation of prostatic secretion;
- violation of blood circulation and outflow of lymph from the pelvic organs;
- hypothermia of the genitals;
- Varicose veins.
In general, non-infectious prostatitis is often called the "disease of office workers", since its development is directly related to physical inactivity.
Risk factors
If earlier the main risk group for developing this disease was men over 50 years old, today there are many more risk factors, so young men aged 23-25 are increasingly facing prostatitis. The risk of developing inflammation of the prostate increases due to:
- lack of regular sexual life;
- sedentary work and hypodynamia;
- endocrine disorders;
- hormonal disorders;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- malnutrition;
- bad habits;
- unprotected intercourse.
Lack of sexual life is the main enemy of the prostate gland. But at the same time, too intense sex life also harms this organ. If, with prolonged abstinence, inflammation can be triggered by stagnation of the prostate secretion, which comes out during ejaculation, a rich sex life depletes the prostate gland, thereby also provoking the development of prostatitis.
The body of a man needs regular physical activity. Otherwise, the blood circulation of the pelvic organs worsens, which leads to swelling of the prostate gland and disruption of the trophism of the tissues of the organ, and this, in turn, is the main cause of the development of non-infectious inflammation of the prostate.
Among the risk factors, there is also a decrease in immunity, promiscuity and various diseases of the genitourinary system, which can be a potential source of infection.
Classification of prostatitis
To understand what is prostatitis, the classification of diseases will help in the first place. However, it is not recommended to diagnose yourself by describing the symptoms. At the first sign of malaise, you should consult a urologist. It should be understood that different types of prostatitis manifest themselves in different ways, but they all pose a threat to men's health in the absence of timely treatment.
Regardless of the form of prostatitis, treatment should begin as early as possible. Early diagnosis and timely therapy is a chance to get rid of the disease in a few weeks without the risk of complications.
Prostatitis is classified according to the nature of inflammation and the degree of involvement of prostate tissues in the pathological process. Each form of the disease has specific signs that are detected during the examination. So, the results of the analysis of the prostatic secretion, which should be taken by all men with suspected inflammation of the prostate, will most fully tell about the type of disease.
What is acute prostatitis?
Before considering the specific forms of the inflammatory process in the prostate, it is necessary to understand what prostatitis is according to the nature of the course. There are two main forms - acute and chronic inflammation.
Acute prostatitis is a rapidly spreading inflammation in the prostate. Most often it is a disease caused by any pathogens. However, the non-infectious form of the disease can also occur in an acute form, for example, during the initial manifestation.
Acute prostatitis is characterized by vivid symptoms. Men complain of severe urination disorders, severe pain radiating to the perineum, lower back, anus. Discomfort increases when trying to urinate and ejaculation.
Features of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease results from acute prostatitis. This type of prostatitis in men has less pronounced symptoms and is associated primarily with the lack of treatment or inadequate therapy for acute prostatitis. Pathology is characterized by sluggish inflammation, which can sometimes worsen.
Symptoms of the disease: weak urine stream, sluggish erection, weak arousal. In chronic prostatitis, the nighttime urge to go to the toilet increases, during defecation he feels discomfort in the prostate gland, manifested by a feeling of squeezing or bursting of the organ.
With hypothermia or a decrease in immunity, the symptoms intensify, pain and spasms in the bladder appear, and the urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent.
Bacterial prostatitis: features and symptoms
One of the most common types of the disease is bacterial prostatitis. It is caused by the penetration of various bacteria into the prostate gland. Most often, the causative agent is Escherichia or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or other opportunistic bacteria that inhabit the human body.
The main reasons for its development are a decrease in immunity, severe stress, smoking and other conditions that weaken the body.
Bacterial prostatitis is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain and pain when urinating, associated with irritation of the urethra by bacteria penetrating from the prostate;
- high body temperature;
- symptoms of general intoxication: nausea, dizziness, weakness;
- pain in the perineum;
- excretion of blood in the urine.
This form of the disease progresses rapidly and can lead to prostate abscess. When the first symptoms appear, you should immediately make an appointment with a specialist.
Infectious prostatitis
Infectious is called prostatitis caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses. In fact, bacterial prostatitis is a type of infectious inflammation. This type of pathology has the same symptoms as bacterial inflammation.
The infectious form of the disease can occur in acute and chronic form. As a rule, the chronic form of the disease develops due to complications or improper treatment of an acute inflammatory process.
Viral prostatitis
Acute respiratory viral infection can serve as a catalyst for the development of viral prostatitis
The most dangerous and poorly understood form of infectious prostatitis is inflammation of a viral nature. It can be triggered by herpes, the human papillomavirus, the causative agent of measles, rubella, influenza. Often inflammation of the prostate gland occurs against the background of the spread of the causative agent of the usual SARS.
The problem of viral prostatitis is that antibiotic therapy is ineffective, and antiviral agents do not penetrate well into the tissues of the prostate gland.
As a result, a long course of therapy with antiviral agents and immunomodulators is required, after which the disease is likely to become chronic, and treatment is continued with other drugs. This form of prostatitis often leads to infertility at a young age.
Fungal prostatitis
This is a rare form of the disease caused by a fungus of the genus Candida. The main feature of this type of inflammation is the almost complete absence of symptoms at the initial stage. Thus, fungal prostatitis does not manifest itself in an acute form, but immediately turns into a chronic disease.
Purulent prostatitis
This is the most severe and dangerous form of infectious inflammation caused by pyogenic bacteria. Pathology proceeds in an acute form, manifested by high body temperature and the release of purulent masses from the urethra. The disease can lead to an abscess of the prostate, which requires urgent hospitalization and surgical intervention, otherwise the abscess may rupture and become infected with purulent masses of the blood.
Calculous form of inflammation
Calculi or stones may form in the prostate gland. They are deposits of phosphates and calcifications in the walls of the organ. Calculi irritate prostate tissue, causing an inflammatory response. This form of the disease is characterized by the excretion of blood in the urine and a sharp pain during defecation due to the movement of salt deposits due to muscle tension and damage to the prostate tissue. This form of the disease is experienced by older men. In addition, calculous prostatitis is considered a complication of congestive prostatitis that the man has not treated.
Diagnostics
Having understood the types of prostatitis in men and the symptoms of different types of inflammation, it becomes clear that the diagnosis should be made exclusively by a specialist. It is necessary to contact a urologist at the first signs of malaise and undergo examinations. To make a diagnosis, palpation of the prostate, analysis of the prostatic secretion, and ultrasound of the organ are performed.
The cause of inflammation is determined by the composition of prostate juice, its consistency and quantity. Ultrasound is done to rule out calculous prostatitis. Based on the results of these tests, a diagnosis is made and an optimal treatment regimen is prescribed.
Treatment of inflammation
Signs and symptoms of prostatitis depend on the type of disease. Treatment is selected individually for each patient, depending on the nature of the inflammatory process. In general, all bacterial inflammatory processes are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics with antimicrobial activity. To treat a viral disease, antiviral drugs and drugs to enhance immune defenses are used. The fungal form of the disease requires the use of special drugs - antimycotics.
To eliminate non-infectious inflammation, so-called prostate biostimulators are used. These are drugs that improve the trophism of the tissues of the inflamed organ, dilute the prostate secretion and stimulate its outflow. These drugs improve the functions of the body.
Additionally, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. In the acute form of the disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used, which relieve pain and fever. If a man has severe problems with urination, drugs are used that relax the muscles of the bladder and urethra - alpha-blockers.
Additionally, herbal diuretics, suppositories that improve blood circulation in the gland, anti-inflammatory drugs with a natural composition and other groups of medicines are used.
It is important to remember that self-medication can greatly harm health. Drug therapy should be prescribed only by the attending physician.
How to prevent the development of the disease?
To prevent the disease, you should undergo regular medical examinations.
Prevention of prostatitis is an urgent issue for all men. For a healthy prostate, you must:
- treat all diseases in a timely manner;
- always dress according to the weather and avoid hypothermia of the genitals;
- take care of your health and use contraception;
- to live an active lifestyle;
- do sport;
- to refuse from bad habits;
- eat properly.
For prevention, all men are advised to consume pumpkin seeds in small quantities, as this product is a natural prostate protector.
Also, all men over 40 years of age should visit a urologist annually, even in the absence of complaints.