What is prostatitis - this question worries many representatives of the stronger sex. People in the modern world have many temptations that lead to the development of pathology. A man should not disregard any symptoms indicating the presence of prostatitis. Men try to keep various pathologies in the reproductive system secret, although this is wrong. In modern medicine, prostatitis with timely and proper treatment is quickly stopped.
Etiology of the disease
In the male body there is a gland that is characteristic only for the stronger sex. This gland is called the prostate or prostate. The prostate is responsible for the production of male hormones in the body. The gland consists of soft tissues and has ducts. Through the ducts, various infections and pathogenic microorganisms can enter the prostate. Microbes cause an inflammatory process in the soft tissues of the gland. The prostate, under the influence of inflammation, begins to increase in size and put pressure on the internal organs of the small pelvis. This whole process is called prostatitis.
What causes the disease
The development of prostatitis in the human body is influenced by many factors. Many reasons remain invisible to men. The disease begins to actively develop and cause discomfort, in some cases it can cause serious complications. The reasons for the formation of prostatitis are:
- infections;
- non-infectious factors.
Various infectious agents affect the appearance of inflammation in the prostate. The main danger is represented by infections that are sexually transmitted. STIs do not respond well to drug treatment, and some are incurable. Prostatitis can also be caused by microorganisms that have entered the bloodstream from other pathogenic foci. The development of the disease can be affected by chronic diseases of the nasopharynx, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. Malicious microbes can get into the prostate during surgery.
Other reasons doctors refer to non-infectious factors. Prostatitis can appear with an inactive lifestyle, malnutrition, reduced immunity. In people suffering from diabetes and hypertension, prostatitis is a concomitant disease. Various injuries of internal organs or soft tissues cause the development of pathology in the body of a man. Alcohol abuse and smoking also affect inflammation in the gland. Obese men are at risk, as excess fat mass and displaced internal organs press on the prostate.
Types of disease
The disease has a different etiology. Due to the formation process, prostatitis is divided into two large groups:
- Prostatitis of a bacterial form;
- Not a bacterial disease.
The bacterial form of the disease can occur unexpectedly, such a pathology is called the acute form. Acute bacterial prostatitis is the most dangerous type of disease. Pathology appears abruptly and is accompanied by high body temperature. A man with this type of disease begins to fever, he has severe cutting pains in the lower abdomen, the process of urination becomes difficult. Bacterial prostatitis must be treated in a hospital. If you do not seek help from a specialist in time, a fatal outcome may occur.
Pathology caused by bacteria does not always proceed abruptly. The most common form of prostatitis is chronic.
The first symptoms of the disease go unnoticed. The disease is detected during a stationary examination or during the delivery of tests. This form is dangerous because the causes that caused inflammation remain unrecognized. The bacterium can die during a long stay in the body, and the inflammation remains and develops further. The chronic form of bacterial prostatitis is treated for a long time.
The non-bacterial form of pathology is divided into chronic and asymptomatic types. The chronic form is similar to the bacterial one, but is caused by external factors. Non-bacterial prostatitis is affected by an unhealthy lifestyle, trauma to the pelvic organs, prolonged sitting, and obesity. The non-bacterial form is treated much faster than all the others, since the inflammation is removed by monotherapy.
Asymptomatic prostatitis is a latent form of the disease that occurs without visible symptoms. The danger of such a pathology is the development of cancerous tumors and abscesses. This type of prostatitis can be detected only with ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs. Therefore, men are advised to visit an ultrasound room at least once every 6 months.
Symptoms of the disease
Prostatitis can occur in men both at a young age and in adulthood. Most often, the disease occurs in people in their 30s and 40s. With age, the percentage of patients increases. Prostatitis can be detected in the early stages with a careful attitude to your body. The appearance of the following signs indicates the presence of pathology:
- problems with urination;
- Cutting or aching pain in the lower abdomen;
- Pain during urination or defecation;
- Frequent urge to go to the toilet (especially more frequent at night);
- The presence in the urine of any inclusions or impurities of blood;
- erectile dysfunction;
- Pain during intercourse.
When collecting an anamnesis, the patient complains of problems with urination. Urine can come out slowly or drip. In severe cases, fluid is secreted involuntarily. The patient has pain in the lower back, which is aggravated by going to the toilet. A man becomes irritable, inattentive, depression may occur. Frequent nightly visits to the toilet cause nervous strain and prolonged stress. Sex life becomes inactive. Some patients lose their libido. A severe form of pathology causes impotence. Acute bacterial disease can lead to the development of sepsis. In this case, immediate medical treatment is required.
The long course of the disease can cause problems with conception. The seminal fluid loses its density, the structure of the spermatozoa changes, in some cases their death is possible. In a laboratory study, seminal fluid has a weak consistency, becomes lighter and more transparent. Treatment of infertility caused by prostatitis is very long and costly.
Disease diagnosis
To make an accurate diagnosis, a man needs to be examined by a doctor and take tests. With prostatitis, the patient experiences pain from palpation in the perineum. Internal palpation of the rectum shows the presence of swelling in the prostate gland, it becomes dense to the touch. The patient complains of problems with the genitourinary system. After collecting anamnesis, the patient must pass a detailed blood test for the presence of protein surpluses, an increased content of leukocytes and prostate antigen.
To exclude infection, the patient must pass a smear from the urethra. The laboratory will culture the identified bacteria and test their sensitivity to certain types of antibiotics.
For an accurate picture, an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs is performed. It clearly shows inflammation and enlargement of the prostate. If the gland has grown strongly, then on ultrasound you can see the presence of residual urine in the bladder.
After all the tests and studies passed, the man will be given a complete diagnosis and treatment will be prescribed.
Treatment of inflammation of the prostate gland
Therapy of prostatitis is complex and includes several groups of drugs. For treatment, medicines such as:
- antibiotics;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances;
- Reductase blockers;
- Analgesic drugs.
Antibiotics are the main treatment for prostatitis. To select an effective drug, the sensitivity of the microorganisms that caused the disease is ascertained. Medicines are selected from the groups of macrolides, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to stop the inflammatory process in the prostate gland. Substances are used in various forms. With prostatitis, NSAIDs are most often prescribed in the form of suppositories. The local effect of the drug quickly removes swelling from the soft tissues of the gland.
Reductase blockers are used to treat urinary problems. Medicinal substances help block the process of converting testosterone to dihydrosterone. Dihydrosterone affects the growth of the prostate. After two days of taking the medicine, the pressure on the base of the bladder decreases and the outflow of fluid is restored. The therapy is long. The drug is taken during the entire course of therapeutic exposure.
Analgesics are prescribed for patients with sharp and severe pain. The drug is selected by the doctor. It is not recommended to take analgesics for more than 5 days.
Self-treatment is not recommended. What is prostatitis and how to deal with it should tell the doctor.