Prostatitis is a dangerous, but, unfortunately, very common disease of the male genitourinary system. Previously, the disease occurred mainly in older men, today urologists increasingly diagnose this disease in young patients. Every man who cares about his health needs to know what types of prostatitis they are and how they manifest themselves.
Reasons for the development of prostatitis
An acute hypothermia of the prostate is the "safest" way to win 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. Infectious causes of this disease include:
- opportunistic pathogens that are always present in the human body;
- mushrooms;
- sexually transmitted bacteria;
- virus;
- mycobacteria
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 the movement of blood or lymph. Also, the disease can be caused by the penetration of pyogenic bacteria (pneumococcus, staphylococcus) from the urethra or hematogenously.
The fungi that cause prostatitis are usually 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 spread through unprotected sex.
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 the blood stream. Prostatic 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 "office worker's disease", since its development is directly related to physical inactivity.
Risk factor's
If before the main risk group for developing this disease were men over 50 years of age, today there are many more risk factors, so that young people between 23 and 25 years of age 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 sex.
The lack of sexual life is the main enemy of the prostate. But at the same time, too intense sex life also damages this organ. If, with prolonged abstinence, inflammation can be triggered by stagnation of prostatic secretion, which comes out during ejaculation, then a rich sexual life depletes the prostate gland, which also provokes the development of prostatitis.
A man's body needs regular physical activity. Otherwise, the blood circulation of the pelvic organs worsens, which leads to inflammation 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 inflammation not infectious prostate
Among the risk factors, there are also decreased immunity, promiscuity and various diseases of the genitourinary system, which can be a potential source of infection.
Classification of prostatitis
To understand what prostatitis is, the classification of diseases will help first of all. However, self-diagnosis by describing symptoms is not recommended. At the first sign of discomfort, 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 soon as possible. Early diagnosis and timely therapy is an opportunity 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 the prostate 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 prostatic secretion, which must be taken by all men with suspected inflammation of the prostate, will more fully inform 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 depending on 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 noninfectious 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, severe pain radiating to the perineum, lower back, and anus. Increases discomfort when trying to urinate and ejaculate.
Characteristics 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 a lack of treatment or inadequate therapy for acute prostatitis. The pathology is characterized by a slow inflammation, which can sometimes worsen.
Symptoms of the disease: weak urine stream, slow erection, weak arousal. In chronic prostatitis, the nocturnal need to go to the toilet increases, during defecation you feel discomfort in the prostate gland, which is manifested by a feeling of oppression or bursting of the organ.
With hypothermia or decreased immunity, the symptoms intensify, pain and spasms appear in the bladder, and the need to go to the toilet becomes more frequent.
Bacterial prostatitis: characteristics 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 during urination, 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 a 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 presents 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 least studied form of infectious prostatitis is an inflammation of a viral nature. It can be triggered by herpes, human papillomavirus, the causative agent of measles, rubella, influenza. Often, inflammation of the prostate gland 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 the 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 genus Candida. The main feature of this type of inflammation is the almost complete absence of symptoms in the initial stage. Thus, fungal prostatitis does not manifest itself acutely, but immediately turns into a chronic disease.
purulent prostatitis
This is the most serious and dangerous form of infectious inflammation caused by pyogenic bacteria. Pathology proceeds acutely, 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 blood.
calculated form of inflammation
Calculi or stones may form in the prostate. They are phosphate deposits and calcifications in the walls of the organ. The stones irritate the prostate tissue and cause an inflammatory response. This form of the disease is characterized by the excretion of blood in the urine and 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. Also, calculous prostatitis is considered a complication of congestive prostatitis that 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 carried out exclusively by a specialist. It is necessary to contact a urologist at the first signs of discomfort and undergo examinations. 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 quantity. An ultrasound is performed 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 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 prostatic secretion and stimulate its outflow. These medicines improve the functions of the body.
In addition, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. In the acute form of the disease, nonsteroidal 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 damaging to health. Drug therapy should be prescribed only by the attending physician.
How to prevent the development of the disease?
To prevent the disease, you must undergo regular medical examinations.
The prevention of prostatitis is a topical 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 contraceptive methods;
- live an active lifestyle;
- do sport;
- refuse for bad habits;
- eat properly.
For prevention, it is recommended that all men consume pumpkin seeds in small quantities, since this product is a natural protector of the prostate.
Also, all men over 40 years of age should visit a urologist annually, even in the absence of complaints.