One of the most dangerous "male" diseases is prostatitis - an acute inflammation of the prostate gland. The disease is accompanied by discomfort during urination and can threaten infertility. Different types of prostatitis develop at different rates and require a specific therapeutic method. The disease has a number of serious complications and requires timely diagnosis. This will help to determine the specifics and type of the disease in time to start treatment at an early stage of the disease.
Forms of the disease, symptoms
The disease can occur in both acute and chronic forms. The method of treatment is selected depending on the symptoms that characterize the course of the pathology. Signs of acute and chronic forms differ and have a number of features. The acute form always precedes the chronic form, which can progress to more serious diseases such as adenoma and cancer.
Treatment of prostatitis at any stage of development has a favorable prognosis, if complications do not appear.
Acute prostatitis
Prostate tissues are exposed to pathogenic microorganisms. Also, the acute form develops as a result of damage to the organ by a fungus. Due to the inflammatory process, the balance of microflora is disturbed and immunity is reduced. As a result, inflammation of the prostate is exacerbated. Other causes of acute prostatitis include:
- Reduced or weakened immunity. Men who have chronic diseases of the genitourinary system and who are often prone to colds are more likely than others to have prostate problems.
- Operational intervention. Any surgical operation can cause various diseases.
- Pathology of internal organs. The presence of pathogenic microorganisms can provoke the development of prostatitis.
- Hormonal failure and increased estrogen production. The risk group includes men aged 30-40 years.
- Caries. Untreated dental disease is one of the most common causes of prostate disease. Bad teeth cause germs to spread throughout the body and cause bacterial prostatitis.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis:
- severe, aching pain in the muscles and lower back;
- delays and frequent urination;
- erectile dysfunction.
The acute phase requires immediate treatment. The patient is prescribed medication and physiotherapy.
Important! At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately undergo a medical examination, sometimes hospitalization may be required. After examination, the specifics of the pathology are established and treatment is prescribed. Self-medication can lead to the transition from an acute to a chronic form and serious complications (abscess of neighboring tissues and vascular thrombosis).
Chronic prostatitis
The most dangerous and severe form of the disease. It is characterized by a "slow" course: most often signs of prostatitis do not appear in any way. All types of chronic prostatitis occur due to ignorance of symptoms and lack of timely treatment, sometimes without an acute form. Other possible causes of chronic prostatitis include:
- congestion in the internal organs;
- sedentary work, hypodynamia;
- weakened immunity;
- malnutrition;
- bad habits;
- trauma;
- infectious diseases of the genital organs;
- stress;
- hypothermia.
Lack of treatment can lead to an adenoma. Often the disease is asymptomatic, so men should undergo regular medical examinations, especially after 30 years.
Consequences of chronic prostatitis:
- genitourinary and systemic dysfunction;
- burning pain in the groin;
- decreased libido, lack of erection;
- general malaise, weakness.
Chronic prostatitis is treated on an outpatient basis, but sometimes the patient may be admitted to hospital. Therapy includes a complex of physiotherapy, antibiotics and a therapeutic diet. As additional therapeutic measures, massage is prescribed, in especially neglected cases, an operation is performed.
Classification
Infectious
This is an inflammation of the prostate caused by pathogenic microflora. It can occur in acute and chronic forms. Most often it develops against the background of transferred infectious and fungal diseases, such as influenza, rubella, chickenpox, herpes.
Factors that influence the development of bacterial prostatitis include smoking, alcohol consumption, weakened immunity, SARS. Most often, this form occurs in patients 20-40 years old. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are used for treatment.
Bacterial
A rare type of prostatitis, the main causes of which are bacteria - E. coli, staphylococci, Trichomonas, chlamydia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Diagnosed by blood, urine and secretion tests. The symptoms correspond to the acute form.
The disease is provoked by nervous disorders, smoking, alcohol addiction, stress, depression. Sometimes an infection can occur in the postoperative period.
Treatment includes antibiotics and nonsteroidal medications to relieve inflammation. Violation of treatment can lead to the transition of prostatitis to a chronic form.
Fungal
The cause of the pathology is the ingestion of fungi (aspergillus or candida) into the tissue of the prostate. A fungal infection can occur as a result of hormonal changes and long-term use of antibiotics and antibacterial medications. It also occurs against the background of chronic diseases and reduced immunity. Treatment with folk methods and self-medication can lead to a chronic form and serious complications.
Sometimes it is asymptomatic, which makes it difficult to make a quick diagnosis. The latent form can cause cancer cells to multiply. Diagnosed by biopsy. With fungal prostatitis, there are disturbances in the functioning of the genitourinary system, urethritis, cystitis, pain in the groin and pelvis, fever.
stagnant
It is a chronic type of non-infectious origin. The causes are congestion of the circulatory system in the pelvic region or stagnation of prostate secretion. It can occur in a latent form or with mild symptoms. Signs may include mild throbbing pain in the genitals, groin, or pelvis, fever, and pain when urinating.
Sometimes it manifests itself in the form of sexual disorders (decreased libido, insufficient erection, liquefaction or retention of sperm). For treatment, drugs that stimulate blood circulation, hormonal agents are used. Physiotherapy exercises will also be effective.
Purulent
The most dangerous for the health of the patient is the purulent type. It is characterized by discharge from the urinary tract and fever, indicating the presence of an infection.
Stages and subtypes:
- catarrhal.This subtype of prostatitis is isolated as a separate disease of infectious origin. The difference is the absence of purulent discharge. All inflammatory processes take place only in the excretory ducts of the gland. The causes are complications of influenza, tonsillitis and SARS. It is manifested by a frequent urge to urinate accompanied by weak, aching pain. The prognosis is favorable. Usually prescribed complex treatment of concomitant diseases.
- Follicular.The acute phase begins with inflammatory processes in the ducts of the gland and is a consequence of pathological manifestations in other organs. Symptoms are mild and often invisible to the patient. It can be triggered by infection or inflammation of the ENT organs, respiratory system, urethra, etc. It manifests itself in the form of sharp pain, a sharp increase in body temperature and purulent discharge at an advanced stage. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable. If the treatment is not completed in time, it may pass into the parenchymal stage.
- parenchymal. This is one of the most difficult and dangerous stages. Purulent nature extends to all lobes of the prostate. In this subtype of the disease, the outflow of secretion from the prostate is disturbed and clogged with pus and mucus. The chronic form is often protracted in nature. The patient has functional disorders of the genitourinary system, decreased erection and dissatisfaction with orgasm. Among the most common causes of purulent prostatitis is gonococcal infection. The treatment is long, but gives a positive effect. Self-medication can lead to life-threatening complications.
- Abscess. The stage is the most dangerous and requires immediate treatment. Manifested in the form of abscess of prostate tissue. It can cause kidney failure, infertility, cystitis and sepsis. Complications can lead to death.
One of the main methods of treatment is taking antibacterial drugs. In advanced cases, the patient undergoes surgery. Self-medication can lead to the death of the patient.
calculator
It is a complicated form that manifests itself with a long course of the disease. The reason for this is incorrect therapy or a complete lack of treatment. It is characterized by the formation of stony inclusions in the ducts of the gland. Endogenous stones can obstruct the urethra, causing the patient to experience sharp pain during intercourse, walking and urination.
This can lead to complications such as impotence and infertility. Treatment takes place in a hospital, sometimes the patient undergoes surgery. Prolonged absence of treatment can cause prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia and adenoma.
Prevention
Preventive measures will help to avoid the development of pathology and reduce the risk of infection. The simplest preventive measures are:
- regular sex;
- personal hygiene;
- quit smoking and alcohol;
- wear comfortable cotton underwear;
- maintain immunity;
- adequate nutrition;
- protection against hypothermia.
At home, you can prevent the development of pathology by daily performing simple physical exercises - a bicycle, a bridge, a birch.
By allocating 10 minutes to physical education every day, you can halve the risk of prostatitis.
Simple exercises will also help improve well-being:
- Stand up straight with emphasis on one leg. With the other leg, do big, wide swings back and forth. It is recommended to do 100 swings with each leg.
- Inclines. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and tilt your body alternately to the right and to the left.
- During the day, try to hold your breath for 10-15 seconds several times. Repeat the breathing exercises at least 5 times a day.
The treatment of prostatitis is a long and complicated process that can cause a lot of problems. To protect the body from the development of this pathology, regular examinations and preventive measures should be taken.