Prostatitis is a dangerous but unfortunately very common disease of the male genitourinary system. Previously, the disease mainly occurred 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.
Reasons for the development of prostatitis
An acute hypothermia of the prostate is the "sure" way to get prostatitis.
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate. 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. Infectious causes of this disease include:
- opportunistic pathogens that are always present in the human body;
- fungi;
- sexually transmitted bacteria;
- virus;
- mycobacteria.
The opportunistic pathogens of this disease are Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as infectious prostatitis is most often caused by these pathogens. They enter the prostate from the gastrointestinal tract with the movement of blood or lymph. In addition, the disease can be caused by the penetration of pyogenic bacteria (pneumococci, staphylococci) from the urethra or via the hematogenous route.
The fungi that cause prostatitis are most often the microflora of yeasts of the Candida genus. Infection with this fungus can occur sexually, but Candida is an important part of 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 sex.
In rare cases, viruses become the cause of illness. Thus, prostatitis can develop against the background of the flu 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 by 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 Organs pelvic organs;
- genital hypothermia;
- Varicose veins.
In general, non-infectious prostatitis is often called "office worker's disease", as its development is directly related to physical inactivity.
Risk factors
If before the main risk group for the development of this disease were men over 50 years old, today there are many more risk factors, which is why young people aged between 23 and 25 are increasingly facing prostatitis. The risk of developing prostate inflammation increases due to:
- lack of regular sex life;
- sedentary work and hypodynamia;
- endocrine disorders;
- hormonal disorders;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- malnutrition;
- bad habits;
- unprotected sexual intercourse.
The lack of sex life is the main enemy of the prostate. But at the same time, a very intense sex life also harms this organ. If, with prolonged abstinence, inflammation can be triggered by the stagnation of prostate secretion, which comes out during ejaculation, a rich sex life depletes the prostate, also causing the development of prostatitis.
A man's body needs regular physical activity. Otherwise, the blood circulation of Organs pelvic organs worsens, which leads to the swelling of the prostate and the rupture 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 several diseases of the genitourinary system, which can be a potential source of infection.
Prostatitis classification
To understand what prostatitis is, 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 discomfort, you should consult a urologist. It should be understood that different types of prostatitis manifest 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 start as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and timely therapy are 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 the inflammation and the degree of involvement of prostatic tissue in the pathological process. Each form of the disease has specific signs that are detected during the examination. Thus, the results of the analysis of the prostatic secretion, which must be taken by all men with suspected inflammation of the prostate, will inform in more detail 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 of the prostate. Most often it is a disease caused by any pathogen. However, the non-infectious form of the disease can also occur acutely, for example, during the initial manifestation.
Acute prostatitis is characterized by vivid symptoms. Men complain of severe urination disorders, intense pain radiating to the perineum, lower back, anus. Discomfort increases when trying to urinate and ejaculate.
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 mainly associated with lack of treatment or inadequate therapy for acute prostatitis. The pathology is characterized by slow inflammation, which can sometimes get worse.
Symptoms of the disease: weak urine flow, slow erection, weak arousal. In chronic prostatitis, the night urge to go to the toilet increases, during defecation he feels discomfort in the prostate, manifested by a sensation of tightness or bursting of the organ.
With hypothermia or decreased immunity, symptoms intensify, pain and spasms appear in the bladder and the urge to go to the bathroom 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. 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 the prostate;
- high body temperature;
- general intoxication symptoms: nausea, dizziness, weakness;
- perineal pain;
- excretion of blood in the urine.
This form of the disease progresses quickly 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 both acute and chronic forms. 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 may serve as a catalyst for the development of viral prostatitis
The most dangerous and understudied 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, flu. Often, inflammation of the prostate occurs against the background of the spread of the usual SARS causative agent.
The problem with viral prostatitis is that antibiotic therapy is ineffective and antiviral agents do not penetrate prostate tissues well.
As a result, a long course of therapy with antiviral and immunomodulatory agents 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 Candida genus. The main characteristic of this type of inflammation is the almost complete absence of symptoms in the initial phase. Thus, fungal prostatitis does not manifest itself in an acute form, but immediately turns into a chronic disease.
purulent prostatitis
This is the most serious and dangerous form of infectious inflammation caused by pyogenic bacteria. The 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 a prostate abscess, which requires urgent hospitalization and surgical intervention, otherwise the abscess can rupture and become infected with purulent masses of blood.
Calculus form of inflammation
Stones or stones can form in the prostate. These are phosphate deposits and calcifications on the walls of the organ. Stones irritate the 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 prostate tissue. This form of the disease is experienced by older men. In addition, calculous prostatitis is considered to be a complication of congestive prostatitis that the man has not treated.
Diagnosis
Having understood the types of prostatitis in men and the symptoms of different types of inflammation, it is clear that the diagnosis must be made exclusively by a specialist. It is necessary to contact a urologist at the first signs of discomfort and undergo tests. To make the diagnosis, palpation of the prostate, analysis of prostatic secretion and ultrasound of the organ are performed.
The cause of inflammation is determined by the composition of the prostate juice, its consistency and amount. 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
The 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 illness, antiviral drugs and drugs to boost 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 secretion of the prostate and stimulate its output. These medications improve the body's functions.
In addition, 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 that relax the muscles of the bladder and urethra - alpha-blockers are used.
In addition, herbal diuretics, suppositories that improve blood circulation in the gland, anti-inflammatory drugs with a natural composition and other groups of drugs are used.
It is important to remember that self-medication can be very harmful to health. Drug therapy should only be prescribed by the attending physician.
How to prevent the development of the disease?
To prevent the disease, you must undergo regular medical checkups.
Prostatitis prevention is a current issue for all men. For a healthy prostate, you should:
- 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 contraceptive methods;
- live an active lifestyle;
- do sports;
- refuse bad habits;
- eat properly.
For prevention, all men are advised to consume pumpkin seeds in small amounts as this product is a natural prostate protector.
In addition, all men over 40 should visit a urologist annually, even in the absence of complaints.