Many doctors jokingly call prostatitis male menopause. Such a disease is diagnosed in 20% of cases in men after forty years, in 70% - after sixty years and in 90% of cases after seventy years of age. The disease can take two forms: acute and chronic prostatitis. This disease needs to be treated, especially after it responds well to therapy. But many men ignore the unpleasant symptoms, which leads to the development of many complications that become more difficult to cure.
Reasons for development
Acute prostatitis is an acute pathology of the prostate that develops as a result of an inflammatory and infectious process in an organ due to the penetration of pathogens into its tissues. The disease is characterized by the appearance of swelling of the gland, purulent contents in its tissues.This leads to the appearance of many unpleasant symptoms, dysfunction of the genitourinary system.
There are many causes of acute prostatitis. In most cases it is provoked by pathogenic microbes.Some of the microbes can exist in the body of a healthy person in a passive form on the skin or in the intestines. Under the influence of certain factors, they are activated, penetrate into the tissues of the gland and actively multiply there. The disease often occurs due to sexually transmitted diseases, such aschlamydia, ureaplasmosis, gonorrheaand others.
Also, an acute form of prostatitis occurs as a complication ofurethritis. The microbes enter through ducts that open into the urethra. Also, the spread of bacteria from other organs of the genitourinary system often becomes the cause of prostatitis. Often the gland can be affectedduring surgical procedures, catheterization, diagnostic measures.
Because the prostate gland contains a large number of blood vessels, infection with blood flow can enter here in the presence of chronic pathologies in the body, such astonsillitis, bronchitisand others.In the presence ofanal fissuresmicrobes can enter the prostate with lymph flow.
But infections do not always lead to disease. Congestion in the vessels of the pelvic area, which developswith prolonged abstinence from sexual intercourse or a huge number of them.
Congestion is also associated withlack of physical activity, constant constipation, alcoholism, varicose veins in the pelvic area, hypothermia.
Classification
In urology there are several forms of pathology, which are its stages of development:
- Catarrhal formis characterized by the appearance of inflammation in the organ, a change in its mucous epithelium. Over time, the swelling of the gland appears, it collects mucopurulent secretion, which contributes to the progression of the disease.
- Then focal suppuration occurs. The disease enters the second stage (form) -follicular form. The urinary tract is narrowed or blocked, the secretion ceases to be secreted normally by the body. Pus can be excreted in the urinary tract, forming purulent foci there. Glandular cells change, the prostate continues to swell and grow.
- Parenchymal formdevelops when the organ is completely inflamed, it develops a purulent infection. In the absence of therapy, small purulent foci merge into one huge, developing an abscess that often opens into the urethra, intestines and bladder. In some cases, it is possible to immediately develop this form of pathology when the infection penetrates the interstitial tissue of an organ with blood or lymph flow.
Symptoms
Shows symptoms of acute prostatitis. How strongly you will see and feel the signs will depend on the form (stage) of the disease. Common signs of the disease include the following:
- pain syndrome during urination;
- symptoms of intoxication;
- pain in the genital area;
- frequent desire to use the toilet, especially at night;
- possible discharge from the urethra.
As the prostate progresses in men, the pain syndrome will spread to other areas. This is due to the transmission of impulses to the nerve endings. Urination becomes very painful. Often at this stage an acute delay develops, which is considered a dangerous condition as it can lead to rupture of the bladder.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis continue to increase. During defecation, severe pain occurs, body temperature rises. The prostate becomes enlarged, tight and painful. Urine will be cloudy due to the content of pus and mucus.
At the last stage, the disease manifests itself strongly.
Body temperature rises significantly, it is accompanied by fever and chills, loss of appetite, severe weakness, exhaustion of the body as a whole. Urination can stop completely and when he tries to go to the toilet, the man will experience severe pain. This condition is painful, the pain syndrome begins to spread throughout the pelvic region. One cannot find a place for oneself, one is forced to lie down with one's limbs folded. If the inflammation has spread to the rectum, then mucus will come out of the anus. Yellow-green mucus mixed with blood is secreted from the urinary tract.
This condition can causesepsis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, chronic prostatitis, abscess. In this case, urgent hospitalization of the patient and urgent treatment are required.
Diagnostics
As the symptoms of acute prostatitis in men are quite pronounced, the doctor may immediately suspect pathology. But he needs a thorough examination. Rectal examination in this case is strictly contraindicated.
The urologist must determine the stage (form) of the disease using laboratory and instrumental techniques. The doctor takesprostate secretionfor examination. It will increase the concentration of leukocytes, which indicates acute inflammation.
Laboratory blood and urine tests are then performed on. Urine is sent for bacteriological culture for examination, as well as to determine the cause of the infection and its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. It is also possible to hold:
- PCR for STD detection;
- uroflowmetry to identify the severity of organ disorders;
- Ultrasound of the prostate to determine the shape and size of the organ, changes in it, the stage of the disease;
- MRI of the pelvic organs is often prescribed when planning surgery;
- analysis of the concentration of SPA in the blood;
- examination of urethral discharge smears;
- puncture of parts of the body with suspected purulent infection and abscess.
Treatment
A urologist will tell you in detail how to treat acute prostatitis. The main component of therapy is an antibacterial drug, which is selected in accordance with the results of bacterial culture. Within two or three days, the antibiotic begins to help, the person feels much better, the pain begins to subside. But in this form of the disease, such drugs should be taken for a month, even if the symptoms have completely disappeared.
It is also necessary that the disease does not become chronic, which is quite common.
When choosing a drug, the doctor takes into account other factors:
- some agents do not penetrate well into glandular tissues;
- other agents accumulate in tissues in large quantities.
Treatment of acute prostatitis in men should be based on the use of powerful drugs, as well as in other life-threatening cases. Doctors usually prescribe fluoroquinolones. When macrolides are used, the dose should be high. This is especially true in patients with immunosuppression.
Antibiotics are usually given by intravenous injection. In the initial stage, the disease can be treated at home or on an outpatient basis.In this case, bed rest is prescribed, as any load of power can provoke the spread of infection and the development of sepsis.
The following drugs are also prescribed in combination with antibiotics:
- analgesics; antipyretic drugs;
- NSAIDs;
- opiate may be prescribed for severe pain;
- diuretics to reduce intoxication of the body;
- laxatives to facilitate bowel movements;
- antispasmodics to facilitate urination;
- alpha blockers.
If the man has acute urinary retention, urea catheterization is performed. Antiandrogens are often used to reduce swelling and inflammation in the body, improve secretion, normalize blood flow to the gland and reduce the risk of spreading the infection throughout the body.
Use of hormones such as estrogen, cold enemas to relieve swelling and pain. Massage and thermal procedures in this form of the disease are strictly prohibited. They can only be applied during the recovery period.
Surgery
In the absence of pain, the doctor may suspect the development of an abscess. In this case, surgery is performed to eliminate the areas in which it occurs. Puncture drainage of an abscess is often used. In severe and extreme cases, the organ is removed.
Surgery is prescribed in the presence of an abscess, acute urinary retention, severe pain that can not be eliminated with any drugs, the appearance of stones and tumors, as well as the ineffectiveness of drug treatment, frequent infections of the genitourinary system, paraproctitis.
The surgeon may use one of the following techniques:
- TRUP (transurethral resection)involves the removal of the inside of the organ. Most commonly used;
- prostatectomyinvolves partial or complete removal of an organ through an incision in the lower abdomen;
- Laser Surgery. In this case, the affected areas of the body are removed with a laser;
- The abscess drainsthrough the rectum. A drain is inserted into the incision, through which pus is pumped;
- To facilitate the excretion of urine, atransurethral incisionis performed in the organ.
When the structure of the glandular tissues is restored, its functions are normalized, the secretion of the prostate normalizes its composition, the cause of the pathology will be completely eliminated from the body, we can talk about the treatment of prostatitis
Forecast
With therapy, the prognosis will be good. Negative effects of acute prostatitis sometimes develop. The disease can become chronic, then it will be more difficult to eliminate. Dangerous consequences of untreated disease are organ abscess, sepsis, acute urinary retention. In some cases, death can occur due to complications. But usually men do not allow such consequences to develop, as they come to the doctor and begin a course of therapy.
Prevention
For prevention purposes, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of predisposing factors. This requires timely treatment of all infections in the body so that they do not become chronic and do not become potential foci of infection that will spread to the prostate gland.
When performing surgical procedures, the doctor should pay attention to the use of antiseptics. Otherwise, the risk of germs entering the patient's body increases. It is important for the man and his sexual partner to treat STDs in a timely manner and it is best to prevent them from occurring. Sex life should take place with a regular partner, he should be regular.
It is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, to play sports or to play sports, to follow the rules of intimate hygiene.
Men usually seek medical attention in an emergency. But when negative signs appear, it is better to contact them immediately. This will help avoid many health problems and even in some cases save lives.