Inflammation of the prostate gland is one of the most common urological problems in men of any age. Bacteria and viruses predominate among the causes of inflammation of 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 the patient's clinical manifestations and complaints, as well as deviations from laboratory tests. But despite the acute form, the prognosis is favorable. In most cases, a full recovery is possible. Of course, only with the right diagnosis and treatment. And with prevention, the disease can no longer remind itself.
- Subacute form.This occurs when a patient undergoes self-medication on the background of an acute illness, or does not initially fully complete the prescribed course of medication. In some situations, this may be the wrong treatment tactic at first. As a result, a significant portion of the symptoms gradually disappear, but some manifestations (urinary incontinence, deterioration of sexual function, discomfort in the genital area) may persist and cause discomfort. If not taken 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.
- Chronic type of disease.Almost always, chronic prostatitis is a neglected, untreated or improperly treated disease. Most of the symptoms constantly bring tangible discomfort. Any unfavorable condition quickly leads to aggravation by worsening the condition.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
The disease always starts acutely and develops rapidly. Initially, a general temperature reaction occurs, which often reaches values above 38. 5 degrees. Dysure disorders occur almost immediately (frequent, difficult urination in small portions, urgent (sudden) need to urinate, weakening of urine flow, and sometimes until complete urinary retention).
A very important symptom is pain in the perineum, esophagus, scrotum, lower abdomen. If at first the pain is only accompanied by the process of urination, then after a certain period of time it can be constantly irritating, including at rest. In addition to the onset of pain, the patient experiences a decrease in sexual desire and a worsening of the erection.
It is with these signs of bacterial prostatitis that the patient goes to a specialist urologist. Your doctor will order a blood and urine test and in most cases this may be enough. In the absence of severe pain, prostate secretion may be obtained for microscopic examination.
A characteristic manifestation of the acute form of the disease will be severe pain during digital examination. However, prostate massage is not performed because of the risk of provoking the spread of infection.
The urologist makes a diagnosis based on laboratory tests and the patient's complaints. He then prescribes treatment, which usually includes:
- Antibiotic therapy with a wide range of drugs. If there are data on the susceptibility of microorganisms, it is possible to select more effective antibiotics for the patient.
- Painkillers can be prescribed in the form of tablets and rectal suppositories for topical use. With severe pain syndrome, they are often combined.
- Antispasmodics and medications that improve urine drainage.
- Topical drugs aimed at activating the mechanisms of resistance. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs is prostate gland extract, which stimulates local immunity and resistance because it contains biologically active molecules.
This list of therapeutic measures, followed by adherence to medical prescriptions and prevention, guarantees complete recovery.
Subacute inflammation of the prostate
The subacute form at the initial stage is no different from the acute form. However, it is formed due to incomplete or discontinued treatment. At the same time, the patient's vigilance is hampered by the fact that the most severe symptoms disappear, such as fever, which most often disappears completely. But other symptoms - dysuric disorders, intimate area disorders, pain or discomfort in daily life - remain, albeit with minimal manifestations. Gradually the patient becomes accustomed to paying attention to them.
The constant sluggish process gradually turns into chronic. Very often, any weakening of the immune system leads to aggravation of the process by developing a clinical picture. Treatment of subacute prostatitis is based on:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of susceptibility of microorganisms.
- Analgesics and most often with long-acting.
- Antispasmodics and medications that improve urine drainage. In this case longer courses are needed as reversing some of the changes becomes difficult.
- Topical drugs with activation of local immune and organotropic mechanisms of resistance. One of the most commonly prescribed preparations containing prostate tissue extract.
For subacute prostatitis it is extremely important to complete the course of treatment and follow all the necessary recommendations in good faith. In this case, there is a chance to cure the disease and prevent it from becoming chronic, which will be impossible to get rid of.
Chronic prostatitis
This clinical form of the disease can develop in different ways. The clinical picture of exacerbation resembles that of an acute form of inflammation of the prostate gland, and outside of the exacerbation there are constantly manifested minimally pronounced symptoms.
Leading signs of bacterial prostatitis during remission:
- Dysuria disorders. Most often they are presented in the form of a sluggish weakened cannon by reducing the speed of urine flow. There is no feeling of complete emptying of the bladder. Frequent desire to urinate in small portions, especially at night - this symptom is called nocturia.
- Disorders of the intimate sphere. In this case discomfort occurs during sexual intercourse, pain may also be observed during ejaculation. An important sign of the disease is a decrease in the quality of erection, as well as a decrease in the ability to conceive until complete infertility.
- Chronic pain syndrome. It is constantly present, reducing a man's quality of life and adversely affecting his performance and ability to work. At the same time, factors such as hypothermia, physical activity, stress, often increase pain.
With exacerbation of chronic disease, treatment of bacterial prostatitis is no different from treatment of acute or subacute forms:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of susceptibility of microorganisms that cause inflammation.
- Analgesics and most often with long-acting.
- Antispasmodics and medications that improve urine drainage. It is often necessary to take long enough doses, since the existing changes are practically irreversible and permanent. In this case, the main task is to reduce the severity of dizziness phenomena.
- Topical treatments for bacterial prostatitis by organotropic and organoprotective mechanisms of resistance. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs is products containing prostate tissue extract.
Proper prevention of any form of bacterial prostatitis
At the moment, experts recognize three main preventive measures that reduce the risk of disease from the outset, and in its chronic forms, reduce the frequency of exacerbations 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 sexual intercourse;
- Prolonged break in sexual life, or excessive, tiring sexual activity;
- Mechanical rough stimulation of the urethra, especially due to dangerous microtrauma and direct bacterial infection;
- General and local hypothermia;
- Low physical activity and predominantly sedentary lifestyle;
- Physical exhaustion, tiring physical activity;
- Trauma to the genitals.
Primary preventionAims to prevent disease. An important role here is provided by personal and intimate hygiene, normalization of physical and sexual activity, prevention of stressful situations and perineal hypothermia.
Secondary preventionAims for the most complete cure of the infectious process. The best result is complete recovery. The more correctly the treatment is selected and the more responsible it is to follow the male doctor's prescription, the greater the likelihood of complete recovery.
Tertiary preventionBacterial prostatitis is necessary in situations where the disease has already acquired a chronic form. Its main purpose is to prevent the aggravation of the disease.
Not all of the above preventative measures are always provided to provide complete protection against exacerbations. Recently appeared and actively used drugs that raise the level of local immunity. This increases the resistance of prostate tissue. Some drugs are of plant origin. They act because of the plant analogues of hormonal compounds. However, the degree of effectiveness of these funds is still being researched and fully confirmed.
Preparations based on animal tissue extracts have a more substantial evidence base. Organic compounds that are perfectly suitable for the human body. The most commonly prescribed are suppositories and ampoules from bovine prostate tissue extract. They have a proven level of clinical efficacy in reducing the risks of adverse effects on the prostate. By using these funds, the protective reserves of the gland itself increase. 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".