Prostatitis is a dangerous, but unfortunately very common disease in the male urinary system. Previously, the disease occurred mainly in older men, today urologists are increasingly diagnosing this disease in young patients. Every man who cares about his health should know what types of prostatitis and how they manifest.
Causes of prostatitis
Acute hypothermia of the prostate is the surest way to get prostatitis.
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. This disease must be diagnosed and treated in time, otherwise serious consequences may occur.
The causes of this disease can be divided into two large groups - infectious and non-infectious. The infectious causes of this disease are:
- opportunistic pathogens that are always present in the human body;
- mushrooms;
- sexually transmitted bacteria;
- viruses;
- mycobacteria.
The opportunistic pathogens of the disease are Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, since infectious prostatitis is most often caused by these pathogens. From the gastrointestinal tract, they enter the prostate via blood or lymphatic movement. The disease can also be caused by the penetration of pyrogenic bacteria (pneumococcus, staphylococcus) from the urethra or via the hematogenous route.
The fungi that cause prostatitis are most often yeast microflora of the genus Candida. Fungal infection can also occur sexually, but Candida is an important part of the normal human microflora, so it can also enter the prostate from other organs and systems. In rare cases, fungal prostatitis is caused by molds.
Prostatitis can be caused by syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other infections spread through unprotected intercourse.
In rare cases, viruses cause the disease. So, prostatitis can develop against the background of influenza or SARS, if the virus spreads through the body through the bloodstream. Prostate tuberculosis is isolated separately. This is a dangerous disease associated with the infection of the organ with Koch's bacillus, the causative agent of tuberculosis.
Non-infectious causes of prostatitis:
- stagnation of prostate 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 "disease of office workers" because its development is directly related to physical inactivity.
Risk factors
If earlier the main risk group for the development of the disease was men over 50 years old, today there are many more risk factors, so young men aged 23-25 years are increasingly faced with prostatitis. The risk of developing prostatitis increases due to:
- lack of regular sex life;
- sedentary work and hypodynamia;
- endocrine disorders;
- hormonal disorders;
- hypothermia;
- tension;
- malnutrition;
- bad habits;
- unprotected intercourse.
Lack of sex life is the main enemy of the prostate. But at the same time too intense sexual life also damages this organ. If in the case of long-term abstinence inflammation can be caused by stagnation of prostate secretions that come out during ejaculation, then a rich sex life exhausts the prostate gland, thereby provoking the development of prostatitis.
The human body needs regular physical activity. Otherwise, the blood circulation of the pelvic organs deteriorates, which leads to swelling of the prostate and disruption of the trophism of the tissues of the organ, and this is the main reason for the development of non-infectious inflammation. the prostate.
Risk factors also include a decrease in immunity, promiscuity and various diseases of the urogenital system, which can be a potential source of infection.
Classification of prostatitis
In order to understand prostatitis, the classification of diseases is primarily helpful. However, it is not recommended to diagnose yourself by describing the symptoms. At the first signs of feeling unwell, you should consult a urologist. It should be understood that different types of prostatitis manifest themselves in different ways, but all of them pose a threat to men's health in the absence of timely treatment.
Regardless of the form of prostatitis, treatment should be started as early as possible. Early diagnosis and timely therapy give you the chance to get rid of the disease within 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. So, the results of the analysis of the secretion of the prostate, which should be taken by all men with suspicion of prostatitis, will most fully tell the type of the disease.
What is acute prostatitis?
Before examining the specific forms of the inflammatory process of the prostate, it is necessary to understand what prostatitis is according to the nature of the course. It has 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 in an acute form, 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. Discomfort increases during attempts to urinate and ejaculate.
Characteristics of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is a consequence of acute prostatitis. This type of prostatitis in men is associated with less pronounced symptoms and is mainly associated with the lack of treatment or inadequate therapy of acute prostatitis. The pathology is characterized by slow inflammation, which can sometimes worsen.
Symptoms of the disease: weak urine flow, slow erection, weak arousal. In chronic prostatitis, the desire to go to the toilet increases at night, during defecation you feel discomfort in the prostate gland, which manifests itself as a feeling of tightness or rupture of the organ.
With hypothermia or a decrease in immunity, the symptoms intensify, pain and spasms appear in the bladder, and the desire 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. The reason for this is the penetration of various bacteria into the prostate gland. The causative agent is most often Escherichia or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or other opportunistic bacteria living in 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 soreness during urination, which is associated with irritation of the urethra by bacteria entering from the prostate;
- high body temperature;
- symptoms of general poisoning: nausea, dizziness, weakness;
- pain in the perineum;
- excretion of blood in the urine.
This form of the disease develops rapidly and can lead to a prostate abscess. When the first symptoms appear, contact a specialist immediately.
Infectious prostatitis
The infectious disease is called prostatitis, which is caused by bacteria, fungi, and 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 acute and chronic form. Usually, the chronic form of the disease develops due to complications of the acute inflammatory process or inadequate treatment.
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 viral inflammation. It can be caused by herpes, human papillomavirus, measles, rubella, and influenza. Often, inflammation of the prostate occurs against the background of the spread of the usual SARS pathogen.
The problem with viral prostatitis is that antibiotic therapy is ineffective and antiviral drugs do not penetrate the prostate tissue well.
As a result, a long course of therapy with antiviral drugs and immunomodulators is required, after which the disease probably becomes chronic, and treatment with other drugs is continued. 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 belonging to 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 in an acute form, but immediately becomes a chronic disease.
Purulent prostatitis
This is the most serious and dangerous form of infectious inflammation caused by pyogenic bacteria. The pathology takes place in an acute form, which is caused by high body temperature and the release of purulent masses from the urethra. The disease can lead to the formation of a prostate abscess, which requires urgent hospitalization and surgical intervention, otherwise the abscess may rupture and become infected with purulent blood masses.
The calcified form of inflammation
Tartar or stones can form in the prostate gland. These are phosphate deposits and calcifications in the organ wall. Tartar irritates the prostate tissue, causing 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. In addition, calculous prostatitis is considered a complication of congestive prostatitis, which the man has not treated.
Diagnostics
After understanding the types of prostatitis in men and the symptoms of different types of inflammation, it becomes clear that the diagnosis should be made only by a specialist. At the first signs of malaise, you should contact a urologist and undergo tests. To establish the diagnosis, palpation of the prostate, analysis of prostate secretions and ultrasound of the organ are performed.
The cause of inflammation is determined by the composition, consistency and amount of prostate juice. 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
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. Generally, all bacterial inflammatory processes are treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobial antibiotics. Antiviral drugs and immune-boosting drugs are used to treat viral diseases. The fungal form of the disease requires the use of special drugs - antimycotics.
So-called prostate biostimulators are used to eliminate non-infectious inflammation. These are drugs that improve the trophism of the tissues of the inflamed organ, dilute the secretion of the prostate and stimulate its outflow. These drugs improve the body's functions.
In addition, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. In the acute form of the disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain and fever. If a man has severe problems urinating, drugs are used that relax the muscles of the bladder and urethra - alpha blockers.
In addition, they use herbal diuretics, suppositories to improve the blood circulation of the gland, anti-inflammatory agents of natural composition and other groups of drugs.
It is important to remember that self-medication can greatly harm your health. Medication can only be prescribed by the attending physician.
How can the disease be prevented?
In order to prevent the disease, regular medical examinations must be carried out.
Prevention of prostatitis is a current topic for all men. For a healthy prostate:
- timely treatment of all diseases;
- always dress for the weather and avoid genital hypothermia;
- take care of your health and use contraception;
- lead an active lifestyle;
- do sports;
- to refuse bad habits;
- eat properly.
For prevention, we advise all men to consume small amounts of pumpkin seeds, as this product is a natural prostate protector.
Also, every man over 40 years of age should visit a urologist every year, even if there are no complaints.