One of the most dangerous "male" diseases is prostatitis - 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 in order to start treatment at an early stage of the disease.
Forms of the disease, symptoms
The disease can occur in 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.
Therapy of prostatitis at any stage of development has 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 gland is exacerbated. Other causes of acute prostatitis include:
- Reduced or weakened immunity. Men who have chronic diseases of the genitourinary system and are often prone to colds are more likely than others to have problems with the prostate.
- 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 production of estrogen. 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 provoke the spread of germs throughout the body and cause bacterial prostatitis.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis:
- severe aching pain in the muscles and lower back;
- delays and frequent urge to urinate;
- 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 an examination by a doctor, sometimes hospitalization may be necessary. Upon examination, the specifics of the pathology are established and treatment is prescribed. Self-medication can cause the transition of an acute form to a chronic one and serious complications (abscess of nearby tissues and vascular thrombosis).
Chronic prostatitis
The most dangerous and serious form of the disease. It is characterized by a "sluggish" course: more often the signs of prostatitis do not appear in any way. All types of chronic prostatitis occur as a result of ignoring the symptoms and lack of timely treatment, sometimes it can occur 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 therapy can lead to adenoma. Often the disease is asymptomatic, so men should undergo regular medical examinations, especially after 30 years.
Consequences of chronic prostatitis:
- dysfunction of the genitourinary and system;
- 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 a 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
It is an inflammation of the prostate caused by pathogenic microflora. It can occur in both acute and chronic forms. Most often it develops against the background of transferred infectious and fungal diseases, such as influenza, rubella, chicken pox, herpes.
Factors that influence the development of bacterial prostatitis include smoking, alcohol consumption, weakened immunity, SARS. Most often this form occurs in patients from 20 to 40 years. For treatment, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
Bacterial
A rare type of prostatitis, the main cause of which are bacteria - E. coli, staphylococci, Trichomonas, chlamydia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Diagnosed by blood, urine and secretion tests. Symptoms correspond to the acute form.
The disease is provoked by nervous disorders, smoking, alcohol addiction, stress, depression. Sometimes infection can occur in the postoperative period.
Treatment includes antibiotics and non-steroidal drugs to relieve inflammation. Violation of the treatment course can lead to the transition of prostatitis into a chronic form.
Fungal
The cause of the pathology is the ingestion of fungi (aspergillus or candida) into the tissue of the prostate gland. Fungal infection can occur as a result of hormonal changes and long-term use of antibiotics and antibacterial drugs. 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 timely 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 in the circulatory system in the pelvic area or stagnation of prostate secretion. It can occur in a latent form or with mild symptoms. Signs may include mild nagging pain in the genitals, groin, or pelvis, fever, and pain when urinating.
Sometimes it manifests itself in the form of sexual disorders (reduced 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 canal 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 manifests itself in the form of frequent urge to urinate with a weak, aching pain. The prognosis is favorable. Usually prescribed complex treatment of concomitant diseases.
- Follicular.The acute stage 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, the respiratory system, the urethra, etc. It manifests itself in the form of acute pain, a sharp increase in body temperature, and purulent discharge appears at an advanced stage. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable. If the course of treatment is not completed in time, it can go to the parenchymal stage.
- Parenchymal. It is one of the most difficult and dangerous stages. Purulent nature extends to all lobes of the prostate gland. In this subtype of the disease, the outflow of prostate secretion is disturbed and clogged with pus and mucus. The chronic form is often of a protracted nature. The patient has functional disorders of the genitourinary system, decreased erection and dissatisfaction with orgasm. Among the most common causes of purulent prostatitis, gonococcal infection is noted. Treatment is long, but gives a positive effect. Self-medication can lead to life-threatening complications.
- Abscessing. The stage is the most dangerous and requires immediate treatment. Manifested in the form of an abscess of the 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.
calculous
It is a complicated form that manifests itself with a long course of the disease. The reason 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 block the urethra, causing the patient to experience acute pain during sexual intercourse, walking and urination.
It can lead to complications such as impotence and infertility. Treatment takes place in a hospital, sometimes the patient undergoes surgery. Prolonged lack 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 likelihood of infection. The simplest preventive measures are:
- regular sexual relations;
- personal hygiene;
- quitting smoking and alcohol;
- wearing comfortable cotton underwear;
- maintaining immunity;
- proper nutrition;
- hypothermia protection.
At home, you can prevent the development of pathology by daily performing simple physical exercises - a bicycle, a bridge, a birch.
Allocating every day for 10 minutes for physical education, you can reduce the risk of prostatitis in half.
Simple exercises will also help improve well-being:
- Stand 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.
- Tilts. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and tilt your body alternately to the right and left.
- During the day, try to hold your breath for 10-15 seconds several times. Repeat breathing exercises at least 5 times a day.
Treatment of prostatitis is a long and complicated process that can cause a lot of trouble. To protect the body from the development of this pathology, regular examinations and preventive measures should be taken.