Acute or chronic prostatitis is found in almost half of men of active age. Bacteria, congestion, stones are more often diagnosed in older age. Infections cause illness in the young part of the male population. The therapy is long, complex, and does not always provide complete recovery. Therefore, contacting a urologist in the earliest stages of recognizing symptoms is important for a quick cure.
Etiology of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate is called prostatitis. Men of active age suffer from this disease. It depends on the causes, the presence of aggravating factors, and the patient's lifestyle. There are different types of prostatitis. Often the disease contributes to the development of other problems with the prostate. Tumors are among them.
Benign processes cause the development of adenomas. Malignants lead to cancer. Tumors usually develop in older men.
Ascending infection refers to the prevailing causes of disease. The harmful agent from the urinary canal reaches the prostate. There it has a harmful effect on the organ tissue. This type of inflammation is called non-specific.
This scenario of disease development is typical for the spread of other people's and own microflora. Your own bacteria cause inflammation under certain conditions. This can happen with reduced protective function due to hypothermia, a concomitant disease. An important role is played by the chronic focus of infection - tooth decay, tonsillitis. Prostatitis of a non-specific nature accounts for most of the problems that occur in the prostate.
The following pathogens cause infectious non-specific inflammations:
- viruses;
- gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria;
- gardnerella - small sticks;
- chlamydia;
- mycoplasma.
Non-specific infectious prostatitis can occur 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 membrane and other sources of infection, for example, with tonsillitis.
Causes of inflammatory processes in the prostate can be congestive (stagnant) phenomena. In certain situations, venous or secretory stagnation in the gland is possible. The provoking factors are reduced or excessive sexual activity, prolonged abstinence, frequently practiced interrupted sexual relations, 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, timely treat comorbidities and get rid of the source 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 that are accompanied by stagnation. Hypothermia and reduced immunity are also affected. Factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis:
- incorrect rhythm of sexual activity;
- hypothermia (frequent or one-time);
- an inert way of life, 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-mentioned causes contribute to the appearance of pathology, intensifying the latent inflammatory process in the prostate.
The main role in the development of the disease is played by the phenomena of stagnation. Problems with blood flow in the capillaries cause 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 species 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 stick to the simplest and most popular varieties from a practical point of view. According to etiology, prostatitis is:
- bacterial;
- contagious;
- calculous;
- stagnant;
- purulent.
Flow form:
- angry;
- chronically.
Statistical data show that pathology is more often caused by non-bacterial causes. 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 occurs quickly, the symptoms grow actively, quickly. Usually, the process is infectious, caused by harmful agents - bacteria, fungi, protozoa. Common causative agents can be Escherichia coli, enterococci, Proteus and others. Many microorganisms are part of their own flora. In conditions of reduced immune response, they become pathogenic and cause prostate damage.
The presence of sources of infection - caries, tonsillitis, chronic pathological processes increase the probability of the disease. Men identify their illness almost immediately. There are symptoms of general intoxication.
Pronounced 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 a delay. Patients notice 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: phenomena of stagnation, penetration of microbes, age-related changes. Often the prostate is attacked by its own immune system after absolute healing. This is possible if the patient is exposed to stress, has injured the prostate and is often hypothermic.
Also, chronicity is a consequence of 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 notice some problems with urination against the background of discomfort. There may be a decrease in sexual activity, weakness, sometimes pain in the groin, burning.
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 the acute course. After the examination, changes in the liquid media are detected, on the basis of which the diagnosis is made.
This disease is more common in young people. Its development is contributed by a decrease in the immune response, the influence of external factors - stress, frequent alcohol consumption, cooling, poor motor regime. Infectious foci and chronic pathologies of the body, operations are also important.
In the acute course, patients notice symptoms of intoxication - chills, weakness, hyperthermia, myalgia. Painful sensations of the perineum, anus and genital organs manifest locally. Problems with urination, deterioration of erection are also expressed. In the blood, the secreted fluid characteristic changes.
In the 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. The symptoms and the course resemble the bacterial type of pathology. This disease is characterized by the fact that it is caused by protozoan, fungal pathogens. Among other types of disease, it is rare, mainly in young patients. The reasons are common factors and the penetration of pathogens into the gland from the focus 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 or exogenous origin.
The first appear due to stagnation in the body. They are small and may not appear. They are rarely detected, because there are no painful sensations.
The latter are similar in composition to those found in the bladder and kidneys. It is caused by chronic inflammation of the gland or adenoma. They usually 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 were also expressed - irritability, worsening erection, problems with emptying the bladder.
congestive prostatitis
It refers to the chronic form. Its appearance is caused by stagnation of the secretion of organs or blood in the small pelvis. Development goes unnoticed. Symptoms are mild:
- urination disorders;
- general intoxication;
- discomfort, pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum;
- reduced sperm quality, orgasm;
There are no specific changes in the excreted fluids. There are contagious and non-contagious. 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 from the canal. Works at high temperatures. Its varieties:
- catarrhal;
- follicular;
- parenchymal;
- abscessation.
It appears 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 diagnostics. The clinic depends on the characteristics of the course. Be sure to analyze the secreted fluids for the presence of PSA antigen (a specific protein in the disease). An ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed.
A test for sexually transmitted pathogens allows you to distinguish between a bacterial or an infectious process. Congestive is diagnosed according to the results of the study of the veins of the small pelvis. Calculus is determined by assessing the patient's general condition, palpation of organs, urine and blood.
Characteristics 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, physiotherapy are prescribed. The use of medical suppositories is recommended. Prostate massage is added to chronic processes. In case of calculous disease, massages are prohibited, surgical treatment is possible.
Consequences and prevention
Any types and forms of prostatitis require immediate diagnosis and proper treatment. The chronic process is difficult to cure, so it is important not to start an acute one. Under the influence of inflammation, iron changes irreversibly. This leads to infertility, impotence, abscesses, formation of stones and tumors in the organ.
Prevention implies a proper lifestyle, sports, regular sex, exclusion of promiscuity.