Prostatitis is a disease that is based on inflammatory damage to the tissue of the prostate gland (prostate), manifested by various symptoms. The disease is observed only in a strong half of the population due to the fact that the prostate is located only in the male body.
Etiology (causes) of inflammation
There are many factors leading to the development of the disease. The most common of them are:
- The presence of a focus of infection in the body (tonsillitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, etc. )
- Trauma to the external genitalia.
- Damage to the soft tissues of the pelvic area.
- Frequent hypothermia of the body.
- Low level of physical activity.
- Retention of urine.
- Stagnation of seminal secretion, due to the presence of an irregular sex life.
- Overweight.
- Sedentary way of life.
- Chronic inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, urethritis, orchitis, cystitis, epididymitis)
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Intestinal disorders manifesting in a violation of the passage of food (constipation, diarrhea)
- Presence of an inflammatory process in the rectum (proctitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, paraproctitis)
- Having a history of sexually transmitted diseases.
- stress.
- Smoking.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Avitaminosis.
- Overtired.
- Violent sexual activity.
- Immunodeficiency.
causative agents of the disease
The most common microorganisms that cause the development of inflammation in the prostate gland are the following:
- Escherichia coli (about 80%)
- Serratia Pseudomonas.
- Klebsiella Pseudomonas.
- Proteus Pseudomonas.
- enterococci.
- Staphylococcus aureus.
Classification of pathological processes
In medicine, several classifications have been accepted that describe the course of infection in the prostate gland.
Clinical-pathomorphological-etiological classification:
- Acute prostatitis.
- Abscess of the prostate.
- Prostatism.
- Chronic prostatitis.
- Granulomatous inflammation of the prostate.
- Congestive prostatitis.
- Sclerosis of the prostate.
- prostatorrhea.
- Atypical forms of chronic prostatitis.
- Neurovegetative prostatopathy.
Also, the described disease is differentiated by classes:
- 1 degree - acute prostatitis.
- Grade 2 - chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Grade 3a - chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation.
- Grade 3 b - chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation.
- Grade 4 - asymptomatic chronic prostatitis.
Types and forms of the disease
Based on the above classifications, it can be determined that the main types of prostatitis are:
- Spicy.
- Chronic.
The acute inflammatory process, depending on the degree of damage to the prostate tissue, is divided into several forms:
- Catarrhal.
- Follicular.
- Parenchymal (diffuse).
The catarrhal form is characterized by a mild, superficial inflammatory process that affects the acini of the prostate gland. Due to this, the patency of the excretory channels of the latter is disturbed. This leads to a build-up of secretions inside the prostate. The prostate gland increases in size and becomes edematous.
The follicular form of acute prostatitis is the next stage in the development of the pathological process. As a result, individual lobules of the prostate are affected and purulent contents are formed in them.
In the parenchymal form, the inflammation covers the entire tissue of the prostate gland. It becomes edematous and very painful. Against the background of parenchymal prostatitis, an abscess of the prostate gland can form.
At present, clearly expressed forms of chronic pathology are not found in the medical literature.
Stages of the disease
Despite the fact that there are no pronounced forms in the course of the chronic process, this pathology is divided into several stages.
The first is the stage of alternative changes. It manifests itself through a mild inflammatory effect on the prostate tissue. If treatment is started promptly (at this stage), the disease stops very quickly. As a rule, relapses of the disease are not observed.
If the patient does not receive treatment, then the stage of proliferative changes begins. During it, prostate tissue grows to suppress inflammation. Later comes the third stage - fibrosclerotic changes.
There is a lot of tissue growth and it replaces healthy cells. But the resulting tissue does not have the same properties as healthy prostate tissue. Because of this, a person begins to relapse into the disease, and it acquires a long course.
Symptoms
Acute pathology is manifested by the following clinical symptoms:
- Increase in body temperature to 38-40 ° C.
- Deterioration of the general condition.
- Shivering.
- Pain over the uterus, in the perineum, the anus, the head of the penis.
- Discomfort with urination and/or defecation.
- Delayed stool, gas.
- Increased urge to urinate.
- Retention of urine.
- Increased excitability.
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- irritability.
- Whitish discharge from the penis.
- Increase in the duration of intercourse.
- Weakening of the stream of urine.
- Incomplete emptying of the bladder.
Complications of the pathological process
In the absence of a timely start or an inadequate course of treatment, the development of acute pathology can have different directions.
In the first case, the acute inflammation of the prostate gland turns into a chronic process. The latter is characterized by a change in periods of exacerbation and remission. It is very difficult to treat chronic prostatitis, as a rule, you will have to put up with it and be ready for the next exacerbation.
If the inflammatory process develops very quickly, it can lead to the formation of a prostate abscess. In other words, a large abscess forms in the prostate tissue. The most common treatment for a prostate abscess is surgery.
Bacteria from the lesion can enter the bloodstream because the prostate gland is very well supplied with blood. If this happens, a very dangerous complication is revealed in a person - sepsis. It is very difficult to defeat sepsis, therefore the death rate in the presence of this disease is very high.
Untreated disease can lead to the development of male infertility due to the fact that the seminal vesicles are located next to the prostate. Also, the gland is closely related to the testicles, in which sperm are formed.
Inflammation of the prostate can cause a narrowing of the urethra. Due to the fit of the latter to the urethra, inflammation from the prostate can spread to the urethra. This leads to the formation of scars in the urethra and a reduction in its diameter.
In addition to the spread of the inflammatory process in the urethra, it can also spread to the bladder. So the patient may get recurrent (recurring) cystitis. If there is discharge of infected urine from the bladder back into the kidneys, this leads to the development of pyelonephritis.
Treatment of the disease
It is worth paying special attention to the fact that the treatment of prostatitis should be comprehensive. In the treatment of acute prostatitis, compliance with the following points is required:
- The fight against the inflammatory process in the prostate is impossible without the appointment of antibacterial drugs. The attending physician must determine the cause of the disease and prescribe a medicine for its destruction. It is better when the doctor prescribes taking several antibiotics at the same time.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have a good analgesic effect and reduce inflammation. These drugs are recommended to be taken not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of suppositories for rectal administration.
- In case of severe general condition or elevated body temperature, detoxification therapy can be carried out.
- When diagnosing a prostate abscess in a patient, surgical intervention is necessary.
To cure chronic inflammation of the prostate gland it is necessary:
- Prostate massage (performed only by a urologist)
- Medicines that improve metabolism in the prostate.
- Taking NSAIDs.
- Immunomodulatory drugs.
- Physiotherapy.
- Sedative drugs.