Acute or chronic prostatitis is found in nearly half of working-age men. Bacteria, congestion, stones are more often diagnosed at an older age. Infections cause disease in the young part of the male population. Therapy is long, complex, does not always give a complete recovery. Therefore, contacting a urologist in the early stages of identifying symptoms is important for a quick cure.
Etiology of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate is called prostatitis. Working-age men 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. Evil ones lead to cancer. Tumors tend to develop in older men.
Ascending infection refers to the predominant causes of disease onset. The harmful agent from the urinary tract reaches the prostate. There it has a harmful effect on the tissue of the organ. This type of inflammation is called non-specific.
This scenario of disease development is typical for the spread of exotics and their own microflora. The bacteria themselves cause inflammation under certain conditions. This can occur with reduced protective function due to hypothermia, a concomitant illness. 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.
The following pathogens cause nonspecific infectious inflammation:
- virus;
- gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria;
- gardnerella - small sticks;
- chlamydia;
- mycoplasmas.
Nonspecific infectious prostatitis 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 various pathogens.
Risk factors
The possibility of problems with the prostate increases if there is a history of infectious diseases, as well as conditions accompanied by stagnation. Hypothermia and reduced immunity also affect. Factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis:
- not the correct rhythm of sexual activity;
- hypothermia (frequent or single);
- inert lifestyle, work that forces you to sit for a long time;
- frequent constipation;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- perineal injury;
- sexually transmitted diseases;
- 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 the above causes contribute to the appearance of the 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. Blood flow problems in the capillaries cause metabolic disorders. The addition of specific and non-specific flora in the context of the situations described is the most common cause of prostatitis.
Classification of types and shapes
Currently, there are many classifications of prostatitis. This includes process definitions by frequency of occurrence, cause of occurrence, route of infection. Let's look at the simplest and most popular varieties from a practical point of view. According to the etiology, prostatitis is:
- bacterial;
- infectious;
- calculating;
- stagnant;
- purulent.
Flow form:
- spicy;
- chronic.
Statistical data indicate that the pathology is most often caused 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 are suffering from prostatitis.
acute prostatitis
Occurs quickly, symptoms are growing actively, rapidly. Usually the process is infectious, caused by harmful agents - bacteria, fungi, protozoa. A common cause can be Escherichia coli, enterococci, Proteus and others. Many microorganisms are part of their own flora. Under conditions of reduced immune response, they become pathogens and cause damage to the prostate.
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.
Pain expressed 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 the urine and secretions, usually when the disease is neglected.
chronic prostatitis
The disease can be caused by several reasons: stagnation phenomena, the entry 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 under stress, has damaged the prostate and is often hypothermic.
In addition, chronicity is due to an untreated acute process. May be asymptomatic. In this case, there is inflammation, but the pathogenic flora is not revealed.
The disease manifests itself less pronounced than in the acute course. Patients observe 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 both acute and chronic. It is caused by various pathogenic organisms. Symptoms as in the acute course. After the examination, changes in the fluid medium are detected, based on this, a diagnosis is made.
This disease is more common in young people. Contributing to its development is a decrease in the immune response, the influence of external factors - stress, frequent consumption of alcohol, cooling down, poor motor mode. Infectious foci and chronic pathologies of the body, surgeries are also important.
In an acute course, patients observe symptoms of intoxication - chills, weakness, hyperthermia, myalgia. Painful sensations from the perineum, anus and genitals are manifested locally. Problems with urination, worsening of erection are also expressed. In the blood, the characteristic changes of the secreted fluids.
In its chronic course, symptoms are not so obvious. 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 protozoa, fungal pathogens. Among other types of the disease, it is rare, especially in young patients. The reasons are common factors and the penetration of pathogens into the gland from foci of infection.
calculous prostatitis
The inflammatory process develops due to the presence of stones. A very rare form, it almost always occurs in elderly patients. Appears after untreated chronic inflammation. Stones can be of endogenous and exogenous origin.
The first appear due to stagnation in the body. They are small and may not show up. They are rarely detected, as 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. Location of sensations - sacrum, lower back, small pelvis. After sex, moving, walking, the pain intensifies. Ejaculation may contain a few drops of blood. Other symptoms of the disease are also expressed - irritability, worsening erection, problems with emptying the bladder.
congestive prostatitis
Refers to the chronic form. Its appearance is caused by the stagnation of secretion from an organ or blood in the small pelvis. Development goes unnoticed. Symptoms are mild:
- urinary disorders;
- general intoxication;
- discomfort, pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum;
- decreased sperm quality, orgasm;
There are no specific changes in the fluids excreted. There are infectious and non-infectious. Symptoms like 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. It works at high temperatures. Its varieties:
- catarrhal;
- follicular;
- parenchyma;
- abscess.
It 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 diagnosis. The clinic depends on the characteristics of the course. Be sure to analyze excreted fluids for the presence of PSA antigen (a disease-specific protein). An ultrasound of Organs pelvic organs is performed.
Test for pathogens, sexually transmitted, allows to differentiate the bacterial or infectious process. Congestive is diagnosed according to the results of a study of the veins of the small pelvis. The calculation is determined by evaluating the patient's general condition, organ palpation data, 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-inflammatories, substances that reduce swelling and improve urinary flow, immunomodulators, therapeutic microclysters and physical therapy are prescribed. The use of medicinal suppositories is recommended. In chronic processes, prostate massage is added. With a calculating 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 process. 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 correct lifestyle, sports, regular sex, the exclusion of promiscuity.