Acute or chronic prostatitis is found in almost half of men of working age. Bacteria, congestion, and stones are more often diagnosed at a later age. Infections cause disease in the young part of the male population. Therapy is long, complex, does not always give complete recovery. Therefore, contacting a urologist in the early stages of identifying symptoms is important for quick healing.
Etiology of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate is called prostatitis. Men of active age suffer from the disease. It depends on the causes, the presence of aggravating factors, the lifestyle of the patient. There are different types of prostatitis. The disease often contributes to the development of other prostate problems. Among them are tumors.
Benign processes cause the development of adenoma. The malignant ones lead to cancer. The 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 urine channel reaches the prostate gland. There it has a damaging effect on the organ tissue. This type of inflammation is called non-specific.
This scenario of disease development is typical for the spread of foreign and 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 nonspecific nature constitutes the majority of problems that occur in the prostate gland.
The following pathogens provoke nonspecific infectious inflammations:
- 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 the 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. Triggering factors include reduced or excessive sexual activity, prolonged abstinence, frequent practice of 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, timely treat comorbidities and eliminate foci of infection. Chronic prostatitis is often caused by various pathogens.
Risk factor's
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 reduced immunity also affect. Factors contributing to the development of prostatitis:
- not the correct rhythm of sexual activity;
- hypothermia (frequent or unique);
- 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 nonspecific flora against the background of the described situations 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's dwell on 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, most often, the 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 happens quickly, the symptoms are actively growing, rapidly. Usually the process is infectious, provoked by harmful agents: bacteria, fungi, protozoa. A common cause can be Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Proteus and others. Many microorganisms are part of their own flora. Under conditions of reduced immune response, they become pathogenic and cause damage to the prostate gland.
The presence of sources of infection: caries, tonsillitis, chronic pathological processes increase the probability 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 the 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 a complete cure. This is possible if the patient is under stress, has injured the prostate gland, and is often hypothermic.
In addition, the chronicity is due to an untreated acute process. It can 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 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 examination, changes in liquid media are detected, on this basis 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 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 from the perineum, anus and genital organs are manifested locally. Problems with urination, worsening of erection are also expressed. In the blood, characteristic changes of secreted fluids.
In its chronic course, the 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 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 almost always occurs in elderly patients. It 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 appear. They are rarely detected, since there are no painful sensations.
The latter have a similar 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. Sensation localization: sacrum, lower back, small pelvis. After sex, on the move, 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. The development goes unnoticed. Symptoms are mild:
- urination disorders;
- generalized intoxication;
- discomfort, pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum;
- decreased sperm quality, orgasm;
There are no specific changes in 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. The diagnosis is based on the main symptom - the appearance of pus in the canal. Works at high temperatures. Its varieties:
- catarrhal;
- follicular;
- parenchymal;
- 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 diagnostics. The clinic depends on the characteristics of the course. Be sure to test excreted fluids for the presence of PSA antigen (a disease-specific protein). An ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed.
Pathogen test, sexually transmitted, allows to differentiate the bacterial or infectious process. Congestive is diagnosed based on the results of a study of the small pelvic veins. The calculation is determined by evaluating 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 flow, immunomodulators, therapeutic microclysters, and physiotherapy are prescribed. The use of medicinal suppositories is recommended. In chronic processes, prostate massage is added. With a calculous disease, massages are prohibited, surgical treatment is possible.
Consequences and prevention
Any type and form of prostatitis requires 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, abscesses, stone formation and tumors in the organ.
Prevention implies the correct lifestyle, sports, regular sex, the exclusion of promiscuity.