Prostate inflammation is one of the most common urological problems in men of all ages. Bacteria and viruses predominate among the causes of prostate inflammation.
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 clinical manifestations and patient complaints, as well as deviations in laboratory tests. But despite the acute form, the prognosis is favorable. In most cases, full recovery is possible. Of course, only with correct diagnosis and treatment. And with prevention, the disease can no longer remember itself.
- Subacute form.This happens when, against the background of the manifestations of an acute disease, the patient resorts to self-medication or does not completely complete the prescribed course of medication. In some 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 discomfort. If not caught 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.
- Type of chronic disease.Almost always, chronic prostatitis is a neglected, untreated or poorly treated disease. Most of the symptoms constantly bring tangible discomfort. Any unfavorable condition quickly provokes an exacerbation with a deterioration of the condition.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
The disease always begins acutely and develops rapidly. Initially, a general temperature reaction occurs, which often reaches values above 38. 5 degrees. Almost immediately, dysuric disorders occur (frequent and difficult urination in small portions, imperative (sudden) urge to urinate, weakening of the urine stream, and sometimes up to complete retention of urination).
A very important symptom is pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum, lower abdomen. If initially the pain only accompanies the process of urination, then it can constantly annoy, including at rest. In addition to painful manifestations, the patient has a decrease in sexual desire and deterioration of erection.
It is with these signs of bacterial prostatitis that the patient presents to a specialized urologist. The doctor orders blood and urine tests and in most cases this may be enough. If there is no severe pain, prostate secretion can be removed for microscopic examination.
In the acute form of the disease, a characteristic manifestation will be severe pain during 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 susceptibility of microorganisms, it is possible to select more effective antibiotics for the patient.
- Analgesics can be prescribed in the form of tablets and in the form of rectal suppositories for topical use. With a strong pain syndrome, they are often combined.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve the flow of urine.
- Topical preparations aimed at activating resistance mechanisms. One of the most prescribed are preparations with an extract from the tissues of the prostate gland, which stimulate local immunity and resistance, since they contain biologically active organotropic molecules.
This list of therapeutic measures, followed by compliance with medical prescriptions and prevention, guarantees complete recovery.
Subacute inflammation of the prostate
The subacute form at the initial stage does not differ from the acute form. However, it forms due to incomplete or interrupted treatment. At the same time, the vigilance of the patient is lulled by the fact that the most acute symptoms disappear, such as fever, which most often disappears completely. But other symptoms - dysuric disorders, disorders of the intimate sphere, pain or discomfort in daily life - remain, albeit with minimal manifestations. Gradually, the patient gets used to not paying attention to it.
A constant and slow process gradually turns into a chronic process. Very 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 susceptibility of microorganisms.
- Analgesics, and most often with a long period of action.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve the flow of urine. In this case, longer courses are needed, as some of the changes become difficult to reverse.
- Topical preparations with activation of local immune and organotropic mechanisms of resistance. One of the most commonly prescribed are preparations containing an extract of prostate tissue.
It is extremely important for subacute prostatitis to complete treatment and conscientiously follow all the necessary recommendations. In this case, there is a chance to cure the disease and prevent its transition to a chronic form, 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 inflammation of the prostate, and apart from the exacerbation, not very pronounced symptoms are constantly present.
Main signs of bacterial prostatitis in remission:
- Dysuric disorders. Most often they are represented by a decrease in the speed of urine flow in the form of a weakened and sluggish stream. There is no sensation of complete emptying of the bladder. 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 sexual intercourse, and pain during ejaculation can also be observed. An important sign of the disease is a decrease in erection quality, as well as a decrease in the ability to conceive, up to complete infertility.
- Chronic pain syndrome. It is constantly present, reducing the quality of life of a man 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 most often with a long period of action.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve the flow of urine. Often a long-term intake in sufficiently large doses is necessary, since the existing changes are practically 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 an organotropic and organoprotective resistance mechanism. One of the most prescribed drugs are products containing an extract of prostate tissue.
Adequate prevention of any form of bacterial prostatitis
Currently, experts recognize three main areas of prevention that initially help 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 tissues of the gland with irregular sexual activity;
- Frequent change of partners during unprotected sex;
- A long interruption of sex life or excessive and debilitating sexual activity;
- Brutal mechanical stimulation of the urethra, particularly dangerous due to microtrauma and direct bacterial infection;
- General and local hypothermia;
- Low physical activity and predominantly sedentary lifestyle;
- Physical exhaustion, strenuous physical activity;
- Traumatization of the genitals.
Primary preventionaimed at preventing the onset of disease. An important role is given here to ensure personal and intimate hygiene, normalization of physical and sexual activity, avoidance of stressful situations and hypothermia of the perineum.
Secondary preventionaimed at the most complete healing of the infectious process. The best result is full recovery. The more correctly the treatment is chosen and the more responsible the man is for complying with the doctor's prescriptions, the higher the likelihood of a full recovery.
Tertiary preventionbacterial prostatitis is necessary in situations where the disease has already acquired a chronic form. Its main purpose is to prevent the occurrence of exacerbations of the disease.
All of the above preventive measures can not always provide complete protection against exacerbation. Recently, drugs that increase the level of local immunity have appeared and are actively used. This increases the resistance of the prostate tissue. Some preparations are of vegetable origin. These act due to plant analogues of hormonal compounds. However, the degree of effectiveness of these funds is still under study and is not fully proven.
Preparations based on animal tissue extracts have a more substantial evidence base. Organic compounds perfectly adapted to the human body. Among them, the most commonly prescribed are suppositories and ampoules based on bovine prostatic tissue extract. They have a clinically proven level of effectiveness to reduce 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, the resistance increases and the prostate is equipped with the necessary biologically active molecules. In this way, the reinforcement is achieved at the "point of minimum resistance".