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. The disease can occur in two forms: acute and chronic prostatitis. This disease needs to be treated, especially as it gives itself well to therapy. But many men ignore the unpleasant symptoms, which leads to the development of many complications, which 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, disruption of the functionality of the organs of the genitourinary system.
There are many causes of acute prostatitis. In most cases it is provoked by pathogenic microbes.Some of the germs may exist in the body of a healthy person in a passive form on the skin or in the intestines. Under the influence of several factors, they are activated, penetrate into the glandular tissues and actively multiply there. The disease often occurs due to sexually transmitted diseases, for example, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea, etc.
Also, an acute form of prostatitis appears as a complication ofurethritis. Germs enter through channels that open into the ureter. Also, the spread of bacteria from other organs of the genitourinary system often becomes the cause of the appearance of prostatitis. Often, the gland can be affectedduring surgical procedures, catheterization, diagnostic measures.
Since the prostate gland contains a large number of blood vessels, the infection can enter here with blood flow in the presence of chronic pathologies in the body, for example,tonsils, bronchitis, etc.In the presence ofanal fissures, germs can enter the prostate with lymph flow.
But infections do not always lead to the development of the disease. Overload in the vessels of the pelvic region, which developswith prolonged abstinence from sexual intercourse or a large number of them.
Overload is also associated withlack of physical activity, persistent constipation, alcoholism, varicose veins in the pelvic region, hypothermia.
Classification
In urology, there are several forms of pathology, which are also the stages of its development:
- The catarrhal formis characterized by the appearance of inflammation in the organ, a change in its mucous epithelium. Over time, swelling of the gland occurs, a mucopurulent secretion is accumulated in it, contributing to the progression of the disease.
- Then focal suppuration appears. The disease enters the second stage (form) -follicular form. The urinary tract narrows or becomes blocked, the secretion ceases to be excreted normally from the organ. Pus can be secreted into the urinary tract, forming purulent foci there. Gland cells change, the prostate continues to swell and increase in size.
- The parenchymal formdevelops when the organ is completely inflamed, a purulent infection develops in it. In the absence of therapy, small purulent foci coalesce into a large one, an abscess develops, which often opens into the urethra, intestines, and bladder. In some cases, it is possible for this form of pathology to develop immediately when the infection penetrates the interstitial tissue of a bleeding or lymphatic organ.
Symptoms
Shows the symptoms of acute prostatitis. How strongly the signs will be visible and felt will depend on the form (stage) of the disease. Common signs of the disease include the following:
- pain syndrome during urine secretion;
- symptoms of intoxication;
- pain in the genital area;
- frequent urge to use the toilet, especially at night;
- possible discharge from the urethra.
As a man's prostate progresses, the pain syndrome will spread to other areas. This is due to the transmission of impulses along 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 bladder rupture.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis continue to increase. There is severe pain during bowel movements, body temperature rises. The prostate becomes enlarged, narrow and painful. Urine will be cloudy due to the content of pus and mucus.
In the last stage, the disease manifests itself vigorously.
Body temperature rises a lot, it is accompanied by fever and chills, loss of appetite, severe weakness, exhaustion of the body as a whole. Urination can be stopped completely, and the husband will experience severe acute pain when trying to go to the toilet. This condition is troublesome, the pain syndrome begins to spread throughout the pelvic region. A man can not find a place for himself, he is forced to lie down with folded limbs. If the inflammation has spread to the rectum, then mucus will come out of the anus. Yellow-green mucus mixed with blood is released from the urinary tract.
This condition can cause sepsis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, chronic prostate, abscess. In this case, urgent hospitalization of the patient and urgent treatment is required.
Diagnosis
Since the symptoms of acute prostatitis in men are quite pronounced, the doctor can immediately suspect a pathology. But he needs a thorough examination. Rectal examination in this case is strictly contraindicated.
The urologist should determine the stage (form) of the disease using laboratory and instrumental techniques. The doctor takes aprostate secretionfor examination. The concentration of leukocytes will increase in it, which indicates acute inflammation.
Thenlaboratory blood and urine tests are done. Urine is sent for bacteriological culture for examination, as well as determination of the causative agent of the infection and its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. It is also possible to perform:
- PCR for STD detection;
- uroflowmetry to identify the severity of organ disorders;
- Ultrasound of the prostate in order to determine the shape and size of the organ, changes in it, stage of the disease;
- dopplerometry helps distinguish acute prostatitis from other pathologies;
- MRI of the pelvic organs is often prescribed when planning a surgical intervention;
- analysis of SPA concentration in blood;
- examination of urethral discharge spots;
- piercing of body parts in case of 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 according to the results of bacterial culture. Within two or three days, the antibiotic starts to help, the person feels much better, the pain starts to subside. But with this form of the disease, such medications should be taken for a month, even if the symptoms have completely disappeared.
It is also necessary to prevent the disease from becoming chronic, which is quite common.
When choosing a medicine, your doctor will consider other factors:
- some agents do not penetrate well into the glandular tissues;
- other agents accumulate in tissues in large quantities.
Treatment of acute prostatitis in men should be based on the use of powerful medications, as in other life-threatening cases. Usually doctors prescribe fluoroquinolones. When using macrolides, the dosage should be large. 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 energy load can provoke the spread of infection and the development of sepsis.
In combination with antibiotics, the following drugs are also prescribed:
- analgesics;
- antipyretic drugs;
- NSAIDs;
- an opium can be prescribed for severe pain;
- diuretics to reduce intoxication of the body;
- laxatives to facilitate bowel movements;
- antispasmodic drugs to facilitate urination;
- alpha blockers.
If a man has acute urinary retention, urea catheterization is performed. Antiandrogens are often used in order to reduce swelling and inflammation in the body, improve the flow of secretions, normalize blood flow to the gland, and reduce the risk of spreading the infection throughout the body.
Using hormones such as estrogen, cold enemas to relieve swelling and pain. Massage and thermal procedures for this form of the disease are strictly forbidden. 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. 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 syndrome that can not be eliminated by any medication, the appearance of stones and neoplasms, as well as ineffective drug treatment, frequent infections of the genitourinary system, paraproctitis.
The surgeon can use one of the following techniques:
- TRUP (transurethral resection)involves removing the inside of the organ. Most often used;
- Prostatectomyinvolves the partial or complete removal of an organ through an incision in the lower abdomen;
- Laser surgery. In this case, the affected areas of the organ are removed using a laser;
- The abscess drainsthrough the rectum. A drain is inserted into the incision, through which pus flows;
- To facilitate the removal of urine, a transurethral incision is made in the organ.
When the structure of the glandular tissue is restored, its functions are normalized, the secretion of the prostate normalizes its composition, the causative agent of the pathology will be completely eliminated from the body, we can talk about the cure of prostatitis.
Prediction
With therapy, the prognosis of the disease will be good. Sometimes the negative consequences of acute prostatitis develop. The disease can become chronic, then it will be more difficult to eliminate. Dangerous consequences of an untreated disease are organ abscess, sepsis, acute urinary retention. In some cases, due to the onset of complications, death may occur. But usually men do not allow such consequences to develop, as they come to the doctor and start a course of therapy.
Prevention
For the purpose of prevention, 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 a man and his sexual partner to treat sexually transmitted diseases in a timely manner and it is best to prevent their occurrence. Sex life should take place with a regular partner, it should be regular.
it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, play sports or exercise, follow the rules of intimate hygiene.
Men usually seek medical advice in emergencies. But when negative signs appear, it is better to contact immediately. This will help avoid many health problems and in some cases even save lives.