Inflammation of the prostate gland is one of the most common urological problems in men of all ages. 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 clinical manifestations and complaints from the patient, 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 remind itself.
- Subacute form.Occurs when, against the background of the manifestations of an acute illness, the patient turns to self-medication, or initially does not fully complete the course of prescribed medication. In certain situations, this may initially be a wrong treatment tactic. As a result, a significant portion of the symptoms gradually disappear, but some manifestations (urinary disorders, deterioration of sexual function, discomfort in the genital area) can persist and cause discomfort. If not taken in time, the disease becomes chronic with frequent irritations. Depending on the characteristics of the infection, the initial development of a subacute form of the disease is also possible.
- Chronic type of disease.Almost always, chronic prostatitis is a neglected disease, untreated or improperly treated. Most symptoms consistently bring on palpable discomfort. Any unfavorable condition quickly causes a deterioration with a worsening of the condition.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
The disease always starts acutely and develops rapidly. Initially, an overall 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 urine flow, 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 accompanies only the process of urination, then after a while it can bother you constantly, including at rest. In addition to the manifestations of pain, the patient has a decrease in sexual desire and a worsening of the erection.
It is with these signs of bacterial prostatitis that the patient comes to the 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 can be taken 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 the diagnosis based on laboratory tests and patient complaints. He then describes the treatment, which usually includes:
- Antibiotic therapy with broad-spectrum drugs. If there is evidence of susceptibility of microorganisms, it is possible to choose the most effective antibiotics for the patient.
- Painkillers 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 urine flow.
- Current preparations aimed at activating the mechanisms of resistance. One of the most prescribed are preparations with extracts from prostate gland tissue, 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 cure.
Subacute inflammation of the prostate
The subacute form in the initial stage does not differ from the acute one. 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 most often disappear completely. But other symptoms - dysuric disorders, discomfort in the intimate sphere, pain or discomfort in daily life - remain, albeit with minimal manifestations. Gradually, the patient is taught not to pay attention to them.
A slow continuous process gradually turns into a chronic process. Very often, any weakening of the immune system leads to a deterioration of the process with the development of the clinical picture. Treatment of subacute prostatitis is based on:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of susceptibility of microorganisms.
- Painkillers, and most often with a long period of action.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve urine flow. 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 prescribed are preparations containing an extract of prostate tissue.
It is extremely important that the subacute prostatitis completes the course of treatment and consciously follows all the necessary recommendations. In this case, there is a chance to cure the disease and prevent its transition to a chronic form, which will be impossible to save.
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 gland, and outside of exacerbation, minimal pronounced symptoms are constantly present.
The 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 slow attenuated vapor. There is no feeling 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 are discomforts during sexual intercourse, and pain during ejaculation may be observed. An important sign of the disease is the decrease in the quality of the erection, as well as the decrease in the ability to get pregnant, up to complete infertility.
- Chronic pain syndrome. He 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 susceptibility of microorganisms that cause inflammation.
- Painkillers, and most often with a long period of action.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve urine flow. Often, long-term intake in fairly large doses is needed, as existing changes are virtually irreversible and permanent. The main task in this case is to reduce the severity of dysuric phenomena.
- Bacterial prostatitis drugs with local action with an organotropic and organoprotective mechanism of resistance. One of the most prescribed drugs are products with an extract from prostate gland tissue.
Proper prevention of any form of bacterial prostatitis
At present, experts recognize three main areas of prevention that initially help reduce the risk of disease, and in its chronic forms, reduce the frequency of irritations and their severity. This is achieved by reducing the impact of risk factors, such as:
- Stagnation of blood circulation in glandular tissues with irregular sexual activity;
- Frequent change of partners during unprotected relationships;
- A long break in sex life or excessive, 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 a predominantly sedentary lifestyle;
- Physical fatigue, exhausting physical activity;
- Trauma to the genitals.
Primary preventionaimed at preventing the onset of the disease. An important role here is given to ensuring personal and intimate hygiene, normalization of physical and sexual activity, avoidance of stressful situations and hypothermia of the perineum.
Secondary preventionaimed at more complete cure of the infectious process. The best result is a complete recovery. The more accurately the treatment is chosen and the more responsible the person is to comply with the doctor's prescriptions, the higher the probability of a complete cure.
Tertiary preventionBacterial prostatitis is necessary in situations where the disease has already taken a chronic form. Its main purpose is to prevent the occurrence of exacerbations of the disease.
Not all of the above preventative measures can always provide complete protection against deterioration. Recently, drugs that increase the level of local immunity have appeared and been actively used. This increases the resistance of prostate tissue. Some of the preparations are of plant origin. These act due to plant analogues of hormonal compositions. However, the degree of effectiveness of these funds is still under investigation and has not been fully established.
Preparations based on animal tissue extracts 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 from bovine prostate tissue extract. They have a proven level of clinical effectiveness in reducing the risks of adverse effects on the prostate. When you use these funds, there is an increase in the protective reserves of the gland itself. In addition, resistance increases and the prostate is provided with the necessary biologically active molecules. In this way reinforcement is achieved at the "minimum resistance point".