Acute or chronic prostatitis is found in almost half of men of active age. Bacteria, congestion, stones are diagnosed more often at an older age. Infections provoke illness in the young part of the male population. The therapy is long, complex, does not always give a complete recovery. Therefore, contacting a urologist at the earliest stages of identifying symptoms is important for a speedy cure.
Etiology of prostatitis
The inflammation of the prostate gland is called prostatitis. Men of active age suffer from the disease. It depends on the causes, the presence of aggravating factors, the patient's lifestyle. There are different types of prostatitis. Often the disease contributes to the development of other prostate problems. Among them are tumors.
Benign processes cause the development of adenoma. Malignant ones lead to cancer. Tumors tend to develop in older men.
Ascending infection refers to the predominant causes of the onset of the disease. The harmful agent from the urination canal reaches the prostate gland. There it has a damaging effect on the tissue of the organ. This type of inflammation is called non-specific.
This scenario of the development of the disease is typical for the spread of alien and its own microflora. Own bacteria cause inflammation under certain conditions. This can occur with a reduced protective function due to hypothermia, a concomitant disease. An important role is played by a chronic focus of infection - caries, tonsillitis. Prostatitis of a non-specific nature makes up the majority of problems that occur in the prostate gland.
The following pathogens provoke infectious nonspecific inflammations:
- viruses;
- gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria;
- gardnerella - small sticks;
- chlamydia;
- mycoplasmas.
Infectious prostatitis nonspecific may appear due to infection of the patient after sexual contact. There is also a way for a foreign agent to penetrate from purulent foci of the skin, mucous membranes, and other sources of infection, for example, with tonsillitis.
The causes of inflammatory processes in the prostate can be congestive (stagnant) phenomena. Venous or secretory stasis in the gland is possible in certain situations. Provoking factors include reduced or excessive sexual activity, prolonged abstinence, frequently practiced interrupted sexual intercourse, nicotine and alcohol dependence.
Men often ignore the initial manifestations of the inflammatory process. Postponing a visit to the doctor is dangerous. It is also important to lead a proper lifestyle, treat comorbidities in a timely manner, and get rid of sources of infections. Chronic prostatitis is often caused by several pathogens.
Risk factors
The possibility of problems with the prostate increases if there is a history of infectious diseases, as well as conditions that are accompanied by stagnation. Hypothermia and a decrease in immunity also affect. Factors contributing to the development of prostatitis:
- not the correct rhythm of sexual activity;
- hypothermia (frequent or one-time);
- inert lifestyle, work that forces you to sit for a long time;
- frequent constipation;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- perineal injury;
- diseases that are sexually transmitted;
- chronic pathologies or foci of infection (cholecystitis, caries, tonsillitis);
- nervous stress, depression;
- frequent colds.
With constant intoxication after the use of nicotine, alcohol, drugs, the risk of developing the disease increases. All of the above causes contribute to the appearance of pathology, enhancing the latent inflammatory process in the prostate.
The main role in the development of the disease is played by the phenomena of stagnation. Problems of blood flow in the capillaries provoke metabolic disorders. The addition of specific and nonspecific flora against the background of the situations described is the most common cause of prostatitis.
Classification of types and forms
Currently, there are many classifications of prostatitis. This includes definitions of the process by frequency of occurrence, cause of occurrence, route of infection. Let us dwell on the simplest and most popular varieties from a practical point of view. According to the etiology, prostatitis is:
- bacterial;
- infectious;
- calculous;
- stagnant;
- purulent.
Flow shape:
- spicy;
- chronic.
Statistical data indicate that more often pathology is provoked by causes of a non-bacterial nature. There is also a significant rejuvenation of the disease. Previously, it was considered a problem for older men. Now more and more young patients suffer from prostatitis.
Acute prostatitis
It occurs quickly, the symptoms are growing actively, rapidly. Usually the process is infectious, provoked by harmful agents - bacteria, fungi, protozoa. A common cause may be Escherichia coli, enterococci, Proteus and others. Many microorganisms are part of their own flora. In conditions of reduced immune response, they become pathogens and cause damage to the prostate gland.
The presence of sources of infection - caries, tonsillitis, chronic pathological processes increase the likelihood of the disease. Men determine their illness almost immediately. There are symptoms of general intoxication.
Expressed pain in the perineum, groin, radiating to the anus, lower back. Possible pain during defecation, myalgia. Urine comes out with difficulty, the urge to empty the bladder is frequent, with delays. Patients note worsening of erection, ejaculation. There is pus in urine and secretions, usually when the disease is neglected.
Chronic prostatitis
The disease can be caused by various reasons: the phenomena of stagnation, the ingress of microbes, age-related changes. Often the prostate is attacked by its own immune system after an absolute cure. This is possible if the patient is subject to stress, has injured the prostate gland, and is often hypothermic.
Also, chronicity is due to an untreated acute process. May be asymptomatic. In this case, there is inflammation, but the pathogenic flora does not reveal itself.
The disease manifests itself less pronounced than in the acute course. Patients note some problems with urination against the background of discomfort. There may be a decrease in sexual activity, weakness appears, sometimes there is pain in the groin, a burning sensation.
Periods of exacerbation are characterized by symptoms of an acute process.
Bacterial prostatitis
This type of inflammation is acute and chronic. It is caused by various pathogenic organisms. Symptoms as in acute course. After the examination, changes in fluid media are detected, on this basis a diagnosis is made.
This disease is more common in young people. Contribute to its development is a decrease in the immune response, the influence of external factors - stress, frequent alcohol consumption, cooling, weak motor mode. Infectious foci and chronic pathologies of the body, surgeries are also important.
In an acute course, patients note symptoms of intoxication - chills, weakness, hyperthermia, myalgia. Painful sensations of the perineum, anus, and genital organs are locally manifested. Problems with urination, worsening of erection are also expressed. In the blood, secreted fluids characteristic changes.
In its chronic course, the symptoms are not so obvious. The exacerbation is manifested by signs of an acute course.
Infectious prostatitis
Inflammatory process of the gland caused by foreign microbes. There are acute and chronic. Symptoms and course resemble a bacterial type of pathology. This disease is distinguished by the fact that it is caused by protozoan, fungal pathogens. Among other types of the disease, it is rare, mainly in young patients. The reasons are common factors and the penetration of pathogens into the gland from the foci of infection.
Calculous prostatitis
The inflammatory process develops due to the presence of stones. A very rare form, it occurs almost always in elderly patients. Appears after untreated chronic inflammation. Stones can be of endogenous origin and exogenous.
The first appear due to stagnation in the body. They are small and may not show up. They are rarely detected, since there are no painful sensations.
The latter are similar in composition to those found in the bladder and kidneys. Formed due to chronic inflammation of the gland or adenoma. Usually they give a pronounced pain syndrome. Localization of sensations - sacrum, lower back, small pelvis. After sex, in motion, walking, the pain intensifies. The ejaculate may contain a few drops of blood. Other symptoms of the disease are also expressed - irritability, worsening of erection, problems with emptying the bladder.
congestive prostatitis
Refers to the chronic form. Its appearance is provoked by stagnation of the secretion of an organ or blood in the small pelvis. Development goes unnoticed. Symptoms are mild:
- urination disorders;
- general intoxication;
- discomfort, pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum;
- decreased quality of sperm, orgasm;
There are no specific changes in the excreted fluids. There are infectious and non-infectious. Symptoms such as weakness, depression are possible.
Purulent prostatitis
Severe form of the acute course of the infectious process. Diagnosis is based on the main symptom - the appearance of pus from the canal. Runs at high temperatures. Its varieties:
- catarrhal;
- follicular;
- parenchymal;
- abscessing.
Occurs against the background of influenza, tonsillitis, SARS, weakened immunity. These types differ in the severity of the flow. A different amount of pus is released.
Differential Diagnosis
All types and forms of prostatitis require a medical examination, laboratory diagnostics. The clinic depends on the characteristics of the course. Be sure to do analyzes of excreted fluids for the presence of PSA antigen (a specific protein in the disease). An ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed.
A test for sexually transmitted pathogens allows you to differentiate between a bacterial or infectious process. Congestive is diagnosed according to the results of a study of the veins of the small pelvis. Calculous is determined by assessing the general condition of the patient, palpation data of the organ, urine and blood tests.
Features of treatment depending on the type and stage of the disease
Acute prostatitis is treated in a hospital. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, substances that reduce swelling and improve urine outflow, immunomodulators, therapeutic microclysters, and physiotherapy are prescribed. It is recommended to use medicinal suppositories. In chronic processes, prostate massage is added. With a calculous disease, massages are prohibited, surgical treatment is possible.
Consequences and prevention
Any types and forms of prostatitis require urgent diagnosis and proper treatment. It is difficult to cure a chronic process, so it is important not to start an acute one. Under the influence of inflammation, iron changes irreversibly. This leads to infertility, impotence, abscess, formation of stones and tumors in the organ.
Prevention implies the right lifestyle, sports, regular sex, the exclusion of promiscuity.