Prostatitis is a disease based on inflammatory lesions of the prostate tissue (prostate), which are manifested by various symptoms. The disease is observed only in a strong half of the population due to the fact that the prostate is found only in the male body.
Etiology (causes) of inflammation
There are many factors that lead to the development of the disease. The most common of them are:
- The presence of foci of infection in the body (tonsillitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, etc. )
- Trauma to the external genitalia.
- Damage to the soft tissues of the pelvis.
- Frequent hypothermia of the body.
- Low level of physical activity.
- Urinary retention.
- Stagnation of seminal secretions, due to the presence of an irregular sex life.
- Excessive weight.
- 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 passage of food (constipation, diarrhea)
- The presence of an inflammatory process in the rectum (proctitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, paraproctitis)
- Presence of sexually transmitted diseases in the anamnesis.
- Stress.
- Smoking.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Avitaminosis.
- Overwork.
- Violent sexual activity.
- Immunodeficiency.
causative agents of disease
The most common microorganisms that cause the development of inflammation in the prostate are the following:
- Escherichia coli (about 80%)
- Serratia Pseudomonas.
- Klebsiella Pseudomonas.
- Proteus Pseudomonas.
- enterococcus.
- Staphylococcus aureus.
Classifications of pathological processes
In medicine, several classifications have been adopted that describe the course of infection in the prostate.
Clinical-pathomorphological-etiological classification:
- Acute prostatitis.
- Prostate abscess.
- 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 differs by class:
- Stage 1 - acute prostatitis.
- Stage 2 - chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Grade 3 a - chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation.
- Grade 3 b - chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation.
- Stage 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 prostate tissue damage, is divided into several forms:
- Catarrhal.
- Follicular.
- Parenchymal (diffuse).
The catarrhal form is characterized by a mild, superficial inflammatory process affecting the acini of the prostate. Because of this, the patency of the outlet channels of the latter is disturbed. This leads to accumulation 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 prostate lobules are affected and purulent contents are formed in them.
In the parenchymal form, the inflammation covers the entire prostate tissue. It becomes edematous and very painful. A prostate abscess can form against the background of parenchymal prostatitis.
Clearly expressed forms of chronic pathology are currently not found in the medical literature.
Stages of the disease
Despite the fact that there are no pronounced forms in the chronic process, this pathology is divided into several stages.
The first is the phase of alternative changes. It is manifested by a mild effect of inflammation on the prostate tissue. If the treatment is started on time (at this stage), the disease stops very quickly. As a rule, relapses of the disease are not observed.
If the patient is not treated, then the phase 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, the person starts relapsing the disease and it gets a long course.
Symptoms
Acute pathology is manifested by the following clinical symptoms:
- Increase in body temperature up to 38-40°C.
- Worsening of the general condition.
- The chills.
- Pain above the uterus, in the perineum, anus, glans penis.
- Discomfort during urination and/or defecation.
- Passed stool, gas.
- Increased urge to urinate.
- Urinary retention.
- Increased irritability.
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Irritability.
- White discharge from the penis.
- Extending the duration of sexual intercourse.
- Weakening 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, acute inflammation of the prostate turns into a chronic process. The latter is characterized by a change in periods of exacerbations and remissions. It is very difficult to cure chronic prostatitis, as a rule, you will have to come to terms with it and be ready for the next aggravation.
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 prostate abscess is surgery.
Bacteria from the lesion can enter the bloodstream, because the prostate is very well supplied with blood. If this happens, a very terrible complication is revealed in a person - sepsis. It is very difficult to defeat sepsis, therefore the percentage of death, 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 connected to the testicles, in which sperm are produced.
Inflammation of the prostate can lead to a narrowing of the urethra. Due to the latter being attached to the urethra, inflammation from the prostate can spread to the urethra. This leads to the formation of scar tissue in the urethra and a reduction in its diameter.
In addition to the inflammatory process spreading to the urethra, it can also spread to the bladder. Thus, the patient may experience recurrent cystitis. If infected urine from the bladder returns back to the kidney, it leads to the development of pyelonephritis.
Treatment of diseases
It is worth paying attention to the fact that prostatitis therapy must be comprehensive. In the treatment of acute prostatitis, it is necessary to observe the following points:
- The fight against the inflammatory process in the prostate is impossible without the appointment of antibacterial drugs. The doctor must determine the cause of the disease and prescribe a medicine to destroy it. It is better if the doctor prescribes taking more 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 use.
- In 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 recover from chronic inflammation of the prostate, you need the following:
- Prostate massage (only performed by a urologist)
- Medicines that improve metabolism in the prostate.
- Taking NSAIDs.
- Immunomodulatory drugs.
- Physiotherapy.
- Sedative drugs.