Prostate inflammation is one of the most common urological problems in men of any age. Bacteria and viruses predominate among the causes of inflammation in the prostate.
What is bacterial prostatitis?
Currently, several forms of bacterial prostatitis are distinguished in the classification:
- Acute inflammation of the prostate.The main feature of the disease is the severity of the patient's clinical manifestations and complaints, as well as deviations in laboratory tests. But despite the acute form, the prognosis is favorable. In most cases, complete recovery is possible. Of course, only with correct diagnosis and treatment. And with prevention, the disease may no longer remember itself.
- Subacute form.It occurs when, in the context of manifestations of an acute illness, the patient resorts to self-medication or initially does not completely complete the prescribed course of medication. In certain situations, this may be an initially incorrect treatment tactic. As a result, a significant part of the symptoms gradually disappears, but some manifestations (urination disorders, deterioration of sexual function, discomfort in the genital area) may persist and cause disorders. If not taken in time, the disease becomes chronic with frequent exacerbations. Depending on the characteristics of the infection, the initial development of a subacute form of the disease is also possible.
- Chronic type of illness.Almost always, chronic prostatitis is a neglected, untreated or inadequately treated disease. Most symptoms constantly bring tangible discomfort. Any unfavorable conditions quickly cause an exacerbation with a deterioration of the condition.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
The disease always starts acutely and develops quickly. Initially, a general temperature reaction takes place, which often reaches values above 38. 5 degrees. Almost immediately, dysuric disorders occur (frequent and difficult urination in small portions, imperative (sudden) need to urinate, weakening of the urinary stream, and sometimes even complete retention of urination).
A very important symptom is pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum, lower abdomen. If initially the pain only accompanies the urination process, after a while it can be constantly bothering, even at rest. In addition to the manifestations of pain, the patient has decreased sexual desire and erection deterioration.
It is with these signs of bacterial prostatitis that the patient seeks a specialist urologist. The doctor orders blood and urine tests, and in most cases this may be enough. In the absence of severe pain, prostate secretion may be collected for microscopic examination.
In the acute form of the disease, a characteristic manifestation will be severe pain during a digital examination. At the same time, prostate massage is not performed due to the risk of provoking the spread of infection.
The urologist makes a diagnosis based on laboratory tests and patient complaints. Then he prescribes treatment, which usually includes:
- Antibiotic therapy with broad-spectrum drugs. If there are data on the sensitivity of microorganisms, it is possible to select more effective antibiotics for the patient.
- Analgesics can be prescribed in tablet form and in the form of rectal suppositories for topical use. With a strong pain syndrome, they are often combined.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve urine output.
- Topical preparations intended to activate resistance mechanisms. One of the most prescribed are preparations with extracts from prostate tissues, which stimulate immunity and local resistance, as they contain biologically active organotropic molecules.
This list of therapeutic measures, followed by adherence to medical prescriptions and prevention, guarantee a complete recovery.
Subacute inflammation of the prostate
The subacute form in the initial stage does not differ from the acute. However, it is formed due to incomplete or interrupted treatment. At the same time, the patient's vigilance is calmed by the fact that the most acute symptoms disappear, such as fever, which in most cases disappears completely. But other symptoms - dysuric disorders, disturbances in the intimate sphere, pain or discomfort in everyday life - remain, albeit with minimal manifestations. Gradually, the patient gets used to not paying attention to them.
A slow and steady process gradually turns into a chronic process. Often, any weakening of the immune system leads to an exacerbation of the process with the development of the clinical picture. The treatment of subacute prostatitis is based on:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of the sensitivity of microorganisms.
- Analgesics and, in most cases, with a long period of action.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve urine output. In this case, longer strokes are needed as some of the changes become difficult to reverse.
- Topical preparations with activation of local immune and organotropic resistance mechanisms. One of the most commonly prescribed are preparations containing an extract of prostate tissue.
It is extremely important that subacute prostatitis complete the course of treatment and consciously follow all necessary recommendations. In this case, there is a chance to cure the disease and prevent its transition to a chronic form, from which it will be impossible to get rid of.
chronic prostatitis
This clinical form of the disease can proceed in different ways. With an exacerbation, the clinical picture becomes similar to an acute form of prostate inflammation, and outside of an exacerbation, minimally pronounced symptoms are constantly present.
Main signs of bacterial prostatitis in remission:
- Dysuric disorders. Most often they are represented by a decrease in the velocity of urine flow in the form of a slow weakened stream. There is no sensation of complete emptying of the bladder. The frequent urge to urinate in small portions, especially at night, is characteristic - this symptom is called nocturia.
- Violations of the intimate sphere. In this case, there is discomfort during intercourse, and pain during ejaculation may also be observed. An important sign of the disease is a decrease in the quality of erection, as well as a decrease in the ability to conceive, until complete infertility.
- Chronic pain syndrome. It is constantly present, reducing a man's quality of life and negatively affecting his activity and ability to work. At the same time, factors such as hypothermia, physical activity, stress often increase pain.
With an exacerbation of a chronic disease, the treatment of bacterial prostatitis does not differ from the treatment of acute or subacute forms:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of the sensitivity of microorganisms that cause inflammation.
- Analgesics and, in most cases, with a long period of action.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve urine output. Long-term ingestion in sufficiently large dosages is often necessary, as the existing changes are virtually irreversible and permanent. The main task in this case is to reduce the severity of dysuric phenomena.
- Drugs for bacterial prostatitis of local action with organotropic and organoprotective mechanisms of resistance. One of the most prescribed drugs are products with extracts from prostate tissues.
Proper prevention of any form of bacterial prostatitis
At present, experts recognize three main preventive areas that help initially reduce the risk of the disease and, in its chronic forms, reduce the frequency of exacerbations and their severity. This is achieved by reducing the influence of risk factors such as:
- Stagnation of blood circulation in the gland tissues with irregular sexual activity;
- Frequent change of partners during unprotected sex;
- A long break from sex, or excessive and debilitating sexual activity;
- Rough mechanical stimulation of the urethra, especially dangerous due to microtrauma and direct bacterial infection;
- General and local hypothermia;
- Low physical activity and predominantly sedentary lifestyle;
- Physical exhaustion, exhausting physical activity;
- Trauma to the genitals.
primary preventionaimed at preventing the occurrence of diseases. An important role here is given to ensuring personal and intimate hygiene, normalization of physical and sexual activity, avoiding stressful situations and perineal hypothermia.
secondary preventionaiming at a more complete cure of the infectious process. The best result is a full recovery. The more accurate the treatment chosen and the more responsible the man is in complying with the doctor's prescriptions, the greater the likelihood of a full recovery.
tertiary preventionbacterial prostatitis is necessary in situations where the disease has already acquired a chronic form. Its main objective is to prevent the occurrence of exacerbations of the disease.
Not all of the above preventive measures can always provide full protection against exacerbation. Recently, drugs that raise the level of local immunity have appeared and have been actively used. This increases the strength of the prostate tissue. Some of the preparations are of vegetable origin. These act due to plant analogues of hormonal compounds. However, the degree of effectiveness of these funds is still being investigated and not fully proven.
Preparations based on extracts from animal tissues have a more substantial evidence base. Organic compounds that are completely suitable for the human body. Among them, the most commonly prescribed are suppositories and ampoules of bovine prostate tissue extract. They have a proven level of clinical effectiveness in reducing the risk of negative effects on the prostate. When using these funds, there is an increase in the protective reserves of the gland itself. In addition, resistance increases and the prostate is supplied with the necessary biologically active molecules. In this way, reinforcement is achieved at the "point of minimum strength".