Acute or chronic prostatitis is found in almost half of men of active age. Bacteria, congestion, stones are diagnosed more often in older age. Infections provoke disease in the young part of the male population. Therapy is long, complex, does not always give a complete recovery. Therefore, contacting a urologist at the earliest stages of identifying symptoms is important for a quick recovery.
Etiology of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate gland is called prostatitis. Men of active age 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. Malignant ones lead to cancer. Tumors tend to develop in older men.
The growing infection refers to the predominant causes of the onset of the disease. The harmful agent from the urinary tract reaches the prostate gland. There is a harmful effect on the tissues of the organ. This type of inflammation is called non-specific.
This scenario of disease development is typical for the spread of foreign microflora and its own. Its own bacteria cause inflammation under certain conditions. This can occur with a reduced protective function due to hypothermia, a concomitant disease. An important role is played by a chronic focus of infection - caries, tonsils. Prostatitis of a non-specific nature accounts for the majority of problems occurring in the prostate gland.
The following pathogens provoke non-specific infectious inflammations:
- viruses;
- gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria;
- gardnerella - small sticks;
- chlamydia;
- mycoplasma.
Non-specific infectious prostatitis can occur due to the infection of the patient after sexual contact. There is also a way for a foreign agent to penetrate through purulent foci of the skin, mucous membranes and other sources of infection, for example, with the tonsils.
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. Provocative factors include reduced or excessive sexual activity, prolonged abstinence, frequent interrupted sexual intercourse, addiction to nicotine and alcohol.
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 concomitant diseases in a timely manner and get rid of sources of infection. Chronic prostatitis is often caused by several pathogens.
Risk factors
The possibility of problems with the prostate increases if there is a history of infectious diseases, as well as conditions associated with stagnation. Hypothermia and reduced immunity also affect. Factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis:
- not the right rhythm of sexual activity;
- hypothermia (frequent or one time);
- sedentary lifestyle, work that forces you to sit for a long time;
- frequent constipation;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- perineal injury;
- Sexually transmitted diseases;
- chronic pathology or foci of infection (cholecystitis, caries, tonsils);
- nervous stress, depression;
- frequent colds.
With continuous intoxication after the use of nicotine, alcohol, drugs, the risk of developing the disease increases. All the above causes contribute to the appearance of pathology, increasing the latent inflammatory process in the prostate.
Stagnation phenomena play the main role in the development of the disease. Blood circulation problems in the capillaries provoke metabolic disorders. The addition of specific and non-specific 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 process definitions 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 etiology, prostatitis is:
- bacterial;
- infectious;
- calculator;
- stagnant;
- purulent.
Flow form:
- spicy;
- chronic.
Statistical data show that most often the pathology is provoked by causes of a non-bacterial nature. There is also a significant relapse of the disease. It used to be 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, enterococci, Proteus and others. Many microorganisms are part of their flora. Under conditions of reduced immune response, they become pathogenic and cause damage to the prostate gland.
The presence of sources of infection - caries, tonsils, chronic pathological processes increase the likelihood 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, in the lower back. Possible pain during defecation, myalgia. Urine comes out with difficulty, the desire to empty the bladder is frequent, with delays. Patients note deterioration 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: stagnation phenomena, penetration 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 injured the prostate gland and is often hypothermic.
Also, chronicity is due to an untreated acute process. It may be asymptomatic. In this case, there is inflammation, but pathogenic flora is not detected.
The disease appears 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 deterioration 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 the acute course. After the examination, changes in the fluid media are detected, on this basis a diagnosis is made.
This disease is more common in young people. Contribute to its development is a decrease in the immune response, the influence of external factors - stress, frequent alcohol consumption, cold, poor motor mode. Infectious foci and chronic pathologies of the body, operations are also important.
In an acute course, patients notice symptoms of intoxication - chills, weakness, hyperthermia, myalgia. Painful sensations of the perineum, anus and genitals are manifested locally. Problems with urination, deterioration of erection are also expressed. In the blood, the secreted fluids change characteristically.
In its chronic course, the symptoms are not so obvious. The deterioration is manifested by signs of an acute course.
Infectious prostatitis
The 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 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 or exogenous origin.
The first appear due to stagnation in the body. They are small and may not appear. They are rarely detected, as there are no painful sensations.
The latter are similar in composition to those found in the bladder and kidneys. It is formed due to chronic inflammation of the gland or adenoma. Usually they give a pronounced pain syndrome. Localization of sensations - sacrum, lower back, small pelvis. After sex, when moving, walking, the pain intensifies. The ejaculate may contain a few drops of blood. Other symptoms of the disease are also expressed - nervousness, worsening of erection, problems with emptying the bladder.
congestive prostatitis
It refers to the chronic form. Its appearance is provoked by the stagnation of the secretion of an organ or blood in the small pelvis. Development goes unnoticed. The symptoms are mild:
- urination disorders;
- general intoxication;
- discomfort, pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum;
- decrease in sperm quality, orgasm;
There are no specific changes in the 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 symptoms - the appearance of pus from the canal. Works at high temperatures. Its varieties:
- catarrh;
- follicular;
- parenchymal;
- abscess.
It occurs against the background of flu, tonsillitis, SARS, weakened immunity. These types differ in the severity of the flow. A varying 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 the excreted fluids for the presence of PSA antigen (a specific protein in the disease). An ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed.
The test for pathogens, sexually transmitted, allows you to distinguish the bacterial or infectious process. Congestive is diagnosed according to the results of a study of the veins of the small pelvis. Calculus is determined by assessing 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 the 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. Prostate massage is added to chronic processes. With a stone disease, massages are prohibited, surgical treatment is possible.
Consequences and prevention
Any type and form of prostatitis requires urgent diagnosis and appropriate 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, abscess, formation of stones and tumors in the organ.
Prevention means proper lifestyle, sports, regular sex, exclusion of promiscuity.