Prostatitis is a disease based on inflammation of the tissue of the prostate gland (prostate gland), which is manifested by various symptoms. This disease is observed in only half of the population because the prostate gland is located only in the male body.
Etiology (cause) of inflammation
There are many factors that lead to the development of the disease. The most popular of them are:
- The presence of a foci of infection in the body (tonsillitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, etc. )
- Injury to the external genitalia.
- Injury to the soft tissues of the pelvic region.
- Frequent hypothermia.
- Low level of physical activity.
- Urinary retention.
- Stagnation of the secretion of semen, due to the presence of an irregular sex life.
- Overweight.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Chronic inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, urethritis, orchitis, cystitis, epididymitis)
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Intestinal disorders, manifested by a violation of the path of food (constipation, diarrhea)
- The presence of an inflammatory process in the rectum (prostatitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, adnexitis)
- Have a history of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Stress.
- Smoke.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Avitaminosis.
- Overwork.
- Violent sexual activity.
- Immunosuppression.
pathogens
The most common microorganisms that cause the development of inflammation in the prostate gland are:
- Escherichia coli (about 80%)
- Serratia Pseudomonas.
- Klebsiella Pseudomonas.
- Proteus Pseudomonas.
- cocci.
- Staphylococcus aureus.
Classification of pathological processes
In medicine, several classifications have been adopted to describe the infectious process in the prostate gland.
Clinical-pathological-etiological classification:
- Acute prostatitis.
- Prostate abscess.
- Lie.
- Chronic prostatitis.
- Prostatitis granuloma.
- Congestive prostatitis.
- Hardened prostate gland.
- Prostate hypersecretion.
- Atypical forms of chronic prostatitis.
- Nervous prostate disease.
In addition, the described disease is distinguished by classes:
- Grade 1 - acute prostatitis.
- Grade 2 - chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Grade 3 a - chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with inflammatory markers.
- Grade 3 b - chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation.
- Grade 4 - asymptomatic chronic prostatitis.
Types and forms of disease
Based on the above classifications, the main types of prostatitis can be identified as:
- Spicy.
- Chronic.
The acute inflammatory process, depending on the degree of damage to the prostate tissue, is divided into several forms:
- Catarrhal.
- Capsule form.
- Parenchyma (diffusion).
The catarrhal form is characterized by a mild, superficial inflammatory process that affects the acini of the prostate gland. As a result, the functioning of the excretory ducts is subsequently disturbed. This leads to the accumulation of secretions inside the prostate gland. The prostate gland is enlarged and edematous.
The cystic form of acute prostatitis is the next stage in the development of the pathological process. As a result, individual lobules of the prostate gland are affected, and pus-filled substances 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, prostatic abscesses can form.
Well-expressed chronic forms of pathology are not currently found in the medical literature.
Stages of the disease
Despite the fact that there is no pronounced form in the chronic process, this pathology is divided into several stages.
The first is the alternative change phase. It is manifested by a mild effect of inflammation on the prostate tissue. If treatment is started in time (at this stage), the disease is cured very quickly. As a rule, recurrent episodes of the disease are not observed.
If the patient is left untreated, then a period of proliferative change begins. During that time, prostate tissue grows to suppress inflammation. Then comes the third stage - fibrotic changes.
There is a lot of growing tissue, 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 the disease, and it has a long course.
Symptom
Acute pathology is manifested by the following clinical symptoms:
- Body temperature rises to 38 - 40 ° C.
- General deterioration.
- Chills.
- Pain above the uterus, in the perineum, anus, glans penis.
- Discomfort while urinating and/or defecating.
- Slow stools, flatulence.
- Increased need to urinate.
- Urinary retention.
- Increase excitement.
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Irritability.
- White discharge from the penis.
- Increase intercourse time.
- Weakened urine stream.
- Incomplete bladder emptying.
Complications of the pathological process
In the absence of timely initiation or an inadequate course of treatment, the development of acute pathology can take different directions.
In the first case, acute inflammation of the prostate gland flows into a chronic process. The latter is characterized by a change in the phases of exacerbations and remissions. Chronic prostatitis is very difficult to cure, as a rule, you will have to face it and be ready for the next episode.
If the inflammatory process develops very rapidly, it can lead to the formation of a prostate abscess. In other words, a large abscess is formed 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 is well supplied with blood. If this happens, a very terrible complication is revealed in a person - sepsis. It is very difficult to beat sepsis, so the mortality rate with this disease is very high.
Untreated disease can lead to male infertility because the seminal vesicles are located next to the prostate gland. In addition, the gland is closely related to the testes, in which the formation of sperm occurs.
An inflamed prostate gland can lead to narrowing of the urethra. Due to the alignment of the posterior canal with the urethra, inflammation from the prostate gland can spread to the urethra. This leads to the formation of scar tissue in the urethra and reduces its diameter.
In addition to spreading the infection to the urethra, it can spread to the bladder. As a result, the patient may develop recurrent (recurrent) cystitis. If there is a drop of infected urine from the bladder back into the kidney, then this leads to the development of pyelonephritis.
Cure
It is worth noting that the therapy of prostatitis must be comprehensive. In the treatment of acute prostatitis should adhere to the following points:
- The fight against the inflammatory process in the prostate is impossible without the indications of antibacterial drugs. The attending physician must identify the causative agent and prescribe medication to destroy it. It is better when your doctor prescribes multiple antibiotics at the same time.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are very effective in reducing pain and reducing inflammation. These drugs are recommended not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of suppositories for rectal use.
- In severe general condition or elevated body temperature, detoxification therapy may be performed.
- When diagnosing a prostate abscess in a patient, surgical intervention is required.
To recover from chronic inflammation in the prostate gland, the following are necessary:
- Prostate massage (by urologist only)
- The drug improves metabolism in the prostate gland.
- Are using NSAIDs.
- Immunosuppressive drugs.
- Physical therapy.
- Sedative.