Acute or chronic prostatitis is found in almost half of active-age men. Bacteria, congestion, and stones are more often diagnosed at older ages. Infections can cause disease in young men. Treatment is long and complicated, and a full recovery doesn't always result. Therefore, contacting a urologist at the earliest stages of recognizing symptoms is important for quick healing.
Causes of Prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate is called prostatitis. Men of active age have this disorder. It depends on the cause, the presence of aggravating factors, and the patient's lifestyle. There are different types of prostatitis. Often this disease leads to the development of other prostate problems. These include tumors.
Benign processes lead to the development of adenomas. Malignant ones can lead to cancer. Tumors tend to occur in older men.
Ascending infection refers to the main cause of disease flares. Harmful substances from the urinary tract reach the prostate. There, it has a damaging effect on organ tissues. This type of inflammation is called nonspecific inflammation.
This scenario of disease development is typical for the spread of foreign microorganisms and their own microbial communities. Under certain conditions, your own bacteria can cause inflammation. This may lead to reduced protection due to hypothermia, a concomitant disease. Chronic infection foci - caries, tonsillitis play an important role. Nonspecific prostatitis constitutes most of the problems that occur in the prostate.
The following pathogens cause infectious nonspecific inflammation:
- Virus;
- Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria;
- Gardnerella - small stick;
- Chlamydia;
- Mycoplasma.
Nonspecific infectious prostatitis may occur because patients become infected after sexual contact. There is also a way to infiltrate foreign substances from purulent lesions of the skin, mucous membranes, and other sources of infection (eg, tonsillitis).
The cause of the inflammatory process of the prostate may be the phenomenon of hyperemia (stasis). In some cases, the glands may develop venous or secretory stagnation. Predisposing factors include reduced or excessive sexual activity, prolonged abstinence, frequent interruption of sexual intercourse, and nicotine and alcohol dependence.
Men often ignore the initial manifestations of the inflammatory process. Delaying medical treatment is dangerous. It is also important to develop a correct lifestyle, timely treatment of comorbidities, and elimination of the source of infection. Chronic prostatitis is usually caused by a variety of pathogens.
risk factor
Prostate problems are more likely if there is a history of infectious disease and if it is accompanied by stagnation. Hypothermia and weakened immunity can also affect. Factors that lead to the development of prostatitis:
- Incorrect rhythm of sexual activity;
- hypothermia (frequent or one-time);
- An inert lifestyle, a sedentary job that forces you;
- frequent constipation;
- Genitourinary diseases;
- perineal injury;
- sexually transmitted diseases;
- Chronic conditions or foci of infection (cholecystitis, caries, tonsillitis);
- Nerve stress, depression;
- Frequent colds.
The risk of developing the disease increases with continued intoxication after nicotine, alcohol, and drug use. All of the above reasons contribute to the appearance of the pathology, enhancing the underlying inflammatory process in the prostate.
The phenomenon of stasis plays a major role in the development of the disease. Problems with blood flow in the capillaries can cause metabolic disturbances. The addition of specific and non-specific flora in the context of said conditions is the most common cause of prostatitis.
Classification of Types and Forms
At present, prostatitis has various classifications. This includes the definition of processes by frequency of occurrence, cause of occurrence, and route of infection. Let's detail the simplest and most popular varieties from a practical standpoint. Depending on the cause, prostatitis is:
- bacteria;
- contagious;
- careful calculation;
- stagnate;
- purulent.
Manifold:
- Spicy;
- chronic.
Statistics suggest that more common pathologies are caused by causes that are not bacterial in nature. There is also a marked rejuvenation of the disease. Previously, this was thought to be a problem for older men. Now more and more young patients suffer from prostatitis.
acute prostatitis
It happened quickly and symptoms were growing aggressively and rapidly. Often the process is contagious and caused by harmful substances - bacteria, fungi, protozoa. Common causes may be Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Proteus, etc. Many microorganisms are part of their own flora. With a reduced immune response, they can become pathogens and cause damage to the prostate.
The presence of a source of infection - caries, tonsillitis, chronic pathological processes increase the likelihood of the disease. Men can determine their condition almost instantly. There are general symptoms of poisoning.
Pain in the perineum, groin, radiating to the anus, lower back. May be painful, myalgia during bowel movements. Difficulty passing urine and the urge to empty the bladder is frequent and delayed. The patient noted worsening erections and ejaculation. Pus in urine and secretions, usually when the disease is ignored.
chronic prostatitis
The disease can be caused by a variety of causes: stasis phenomena, entry of microorganisms, age-related changes. After a complete cure, the prostate is often attacked by the autoimmune system. This is possible if the patient is under stress, has damaged the prostate and is often hypothermic.
Furthermore, chronic diseases result from untreated acute processes. May be asymptomatic. In this case, there is inflammation, but the pathogenic flora does not manifest itself.
The manifestations of the disease are not as pronounced as in the acute course. The patient noted some urination problems against the background of discomfort. There may be decreased sexual activity, weakness, and sometimes pain in the groin and a burning sensation.
The exacerbation phase is characterized by symptoms of an acute course.
bacterial prostatitis
This type of inflammation is acute and chronic. It is caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. Symptoms such as acute course. After the inspection, the change of the fluid medium is detected, and the diagnosis is made on this basis.
The disease is more common in young people. Contributing to its development is a decrease in the immune response, the influence of external factors - stress, frequent drinking, cooling, weak movement patterns. Infectious foci and chronic conditions of the body, surgery is also important.
During the acute course, patients experience symptoms of toxicity - chills, weakness, hyperthermia, myalgia. Pain in the perineum, anus, and genitalia is localized. Problems with urination and worsening of erections were also expressed. In the blood, the characteristics of the fluid secreted change.
During its chronic course, symptoms are less pronounced. Worsening manifests as signs of an acute course.
infectious prostatitis
Glandular inflammatory process caused by foreign microorganisms. There are acute and chronic. Symptoms and course are similar to bacterial-type pathology. The disease is characterized by the fact that it is caused by protozoan, fungal pathogens. In other types of disease, it is rare and occurs mainly in younger patients. The reason is the infiltration of common factors and pathogens from the foci of infection into the glands.
calculous prostatitis
Due to the presence of stones, an inflammatory process develops. A very rare form that almost always occurs in older patients. Appears after untreated chronic inflammation. Stones can be endogenous or exogenous.
The first occurrence is due to physical stagnation. They are small and probably won't show up. They are rarely found because there is no painful sensation.
The composition of the latter is similar to that in the bladder and kidneys. Forms due to chronic inflammation of a gland or adenoma. Often they develop a pronounced pain syndrome. Sensory localization - sacrum, lower back, small pelvis. The pain worsens after sex, exercise, or walking. Ejaculate may contain a few drops of blood. Also manifests other symptoms of the disease - irritability, worsening erections, problems with emptying the bladder.
congestive prostatitis
Refers to the chronic form. Its appearance is caused by stagnant secretion of organs or blood in the small pelvis. Development is ignored. Symptoms are mild:
- urination disturbance;
- general poisoning;
- perineal, groin, scrotal discomfort, pain;
- decreased sperm quality, orgasm;
There was no particular change in the fluid discharged. There are infectious and non-infectious. Symptoms such as weakness and depression may occur.
suppurative prostatitis
Severe form of the acute course of the infectious process. Diagnosis is based on the main symptom - the appearance of pus in the ducts. operate at high temperatures. Its varieties:
- catarrhality;
- follicles;
- substance;
- abscess.
Occurs against the background of influenza, tonsillitis, SARS, weakened immunity. These types of traffic vary in severity. Different amounts of pus are released.
Differential diagnosis
All types and forms of prostatitis require medical examination and laboratory diagnosis. Clinics depend on the characteristics of the course. Be sure to analyze the excretory fluid for the presence of PSA antigen (a specific protein in disease). Do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
Detects sexually transmitted pathogens, allowing you to differentiate between bacterial or infectious processes. Congestion was diagnosed based on the findings of a study of the small pelvic veins. Stones are identified by evaluating the general condition of the patient, palpation data of organs, urine and blood tests.
The characteristics of treatment depend on the type and stage of the disease
Acute prostatitis is treated in hospital. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, substances to reduce swelling and improve urine flow, immunomodulators, therapeutic microenemas, and physical therapy are prescribed. Medicated suppositories are recommended. In a chronic process, prostate massage is added. With stone disease, massage is prohibited, and surgery can be performed.
Consequences and Prevention
Prostatitis of any type and form requires urgent diagnosis and appropriate treatment. It is difficult to cure a chronic process, so it is important not to start an acute one. Under the influence of inflammation, iron can undergo irreversible changes. This can lead to infertility, impotence, abscesses, stones and the formation of organ tumors.
Prevention means the right lifestyle, exercise, regular sex, and the exclusion of promiscuity.