Prostatitis is an inflammatory process in the tissues of the prostate gland.Today, about 30% of men suffer from prostatitis after the age of 30, and this rate increases with age.Prevention of this disease is much easier than treatment, so it is important to know the causes of prostatitis, symptoms of its acute and chronic forms, and ways to avoid complications such as adenoma and prostate cancer.
The main causes of prostatitis
The clinical picture of prostatitis includes a wide range of symptoms related to the body's systemic response to the inflammatory process.The most common and important are urinary problems and sexual dysfunction.The degree of manifestation of prostatitis symptoms is multifactorial, that is, it depends on many factors: the individual characteristics of the male body, the state of the prostate and the presence of accompanying pathologies, the male lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse, and the activity of the immune system.
Experts distinguish two main types of the disease, on which further treatment will depend:
- infectious.Inflammation is related to the pathogenic action of microorganisms.
- stagnation.Inflammation is associated with blood stagnation, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and ischemia and gland changes (damage) and remodeling, replacement of functionally active connective tissue.
Often one form of the disease is transferred to another.The infectious process affects blood vessels and disrupts local circulation, which causes stagnation;On the other hand, initial stagnation reduces the ability of the immune system to fight the developing infection locally because it reduces the rate of blood transport of immunocompetent cells to the lesion.Prostatitis develops in acute and chronic form.More often, specialists find the first one - its symptoms are quite characteristic, so it is possible to slow down the process and completely prevent further development.
If the disease is not treated properly, it can become stationary and then chronic.During an exacerbation of prostatitis, a man experiences a general deterioration of health, pain appears in the waist, in the groin area, the urination process is disturbed, and the body temperature rises.
Spicy
An acute pathological process, unlike a chronic one, appears suddenly and has clear clinical symptoms, which forces a man to consult a doctor.The body temperature rises to 39 degrees, the man feels severe pain in the lower back.The highest frequency is between the ages of 30 and 40.
The cause of the pathological process is the infectious foci, which may be located in distant organs.The causative agent of the disease can enter the prostate gland either rectally or through the urethra, or descend hematogenously (through the blood) and lymphogenically (through the lymph).
The type of pathogen directly affects the therapy:
| pathogen | frequency of occurrence | Gram staining (required to select antibiotic therapy) |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli | often | GR- |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) | often | GR- |
| Klebsiella spp. | often | GR- |
| Enterococcus faecalis | often | GR+ |
| Proteus (Proteus mirabilis) | often | GR- |
| Serratia marcescens | rarely | GR- |
| Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) | often | GR- |
| Staphylococci (Staphylococci spp) | rarely | GR+ |
| Enterobacteriaceae | rarely | GR- |
| Ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum) | rarely | GR- |
| Gonococci (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | rarely | GR- |
| Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis) | rarely | Mollicutes |
| Candida (Candida spp) | rarely | mushroom |
| Trichomonas | rarely | Protozoa |
Prostatitis can be caused by:
- intestinal and urological infections;
- infectious diseases of the genital area;
- Upper and lower respiratory tract diseases.
Caries is often the cause of inflammatory damage to internal organs.
The ascending route of infection by bacteria, fungi and protozoa is through the urethra and rectum into the prostate tissue.More often, the lesion is associated with urological infections, such as:
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra);
- cystitis (bladder inflammation);
- Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney pelvis).
Sexually transmitted diseases are often the main cause of inflammation of the prostate gland, the most common being gonorrhea.The formed pathological focus, which is located in the vicinity of the prostate, easily spreads into the prostate tissue.To prevent such diseases, it is important to practice safe sex.
The downward path of the pathogen's spread consists of its primary focus in lymphogenic and hematogenous penetration of the prostate.The source of infection can be a pathological process in the throat (sore throat), in the upper and lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, flu) or in the oral cavity (caries).
Disseminated or hematogenous tuberculosis.The first symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after the main disease.An important component of diagnosis is the collection of epidemiological history.
Immune status plays an important role in the incidence of prostatitis.Not all men with infectious diseases develop prostatitis.If the immune system suppresses the development of a pathogenic microorganism, then the process stops in the gland tissue without causing pathology.On the other hand, weakened immunity causes complications.The prostate gland is a vulnerable organ located near potential entry points for infection, so it is the first to be adversely affected by microbes.
chronic
A chronic process develops if acute prostatitis is not treated.The symptoms of this form of pathology are less pronounced, the general condition is satisfactory, the temperature is normal.Therefore, men do not consider such a pathological process dangerous and postpone going to the doctor.
Like any chronic disease, prostatitis occurs in stages of remission and exacerbation.During the chronic course, the inflammation of the prostate tissue is sluggish and, therefore, the symptoms may not be fully manifested.They only get stronger at the moment of aggravation.
A chronic pathological process leads to the deterioration of the innervation of the organ, which leads to a violation of the trophism (nutrition) of the organ, which negatively affects its function.It is also possible to develop an autoimmune reaction.The human immune system produces antibodies against prostate cells.In this case, the inflammation will persist even after the complete destruction of the pathogenic microorganism.
stagnation
Non-infectious inflammation of the prostate occurs due to swelling of the pelvis.The disease develops progressively and the intensity of the symptom complex increases over time.This form of prostatitis is the most common today.
The main reason is dyscirculatory events, which lead to the fact that blood does not flow from the pelvic area, so all the organs located in this area do not receive enough nutrition and adequate oxygen.The flow of secretions is disturbed and the pelvic diaphragm muscles degenerate.The most important cause of stagnation is an inactive lifestyle.Injuries also contribute to stagnation.Diabetes mellitus, through macro and microangiopathy, can reduce blood flow in the pelvic organs.
Causes of congestive inflammation of the prostate:
| Etiological factor | pathogenesis |
|---|---|
| Low level of physical activity | Experts believe that this is the most common cause of congestive prostatitis.This is facilitated by the increasing influence of technological progress on human life: escalators, elevators, cars.Low physical activity causes a failure of the muscle pump mechanism, which helps blood flow from the organs.Prevention is exercise, sports, walking |
| bad nutrition | It negatively affects all body systems and, first of all, the regulation of the vascular system, due to both local and systemic factors. |
| overweight | Obesity is one component of the metabolic syndrome, which also includes hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.One component has a beneficial effect on the probability of development of others, all this leads to vascular insufficiency and stagnation. |
| Constipation | An increase in the volume of the rectum causes compression of the veins and impaired flow |
| Sedentary lifestyle (common among drivers and office workers) | A person sitting on a chair does not change his position for a long time.As a result, compression of individual venous vessels and local swelling occurs.Prevention is changing the sitting position and periodic exercise, walking |
| Irregular sex life | It causes stagnation not only of blood, but also of prostate secretion.As a result of metabolic processes, the secretion can turn into a poison and cause a systemic toxic effect.Excessive sexual activity is also harmful for men, because it causes a decrease in the nervous and hormonal systems, loss of nutrients, hyperfunction of the gland and a decrease in its regenerative properties. |
| Often prevents the urge to urinate | The prostate is an additional sphincter in the male body.Its overload leads to an increase in the volume of muscle tissue and a decrease in the volume of glandular tissue.Moreover, the enlarged bladder puts pressure on the veins, obstructing the outflow |
| Smoking and alcohol abuse | Smoking and alcohol cause a violation of vascular tone |
| Traumatization in the lumbar region | Trauma often damages the prostate gland itself or an important neurovascular bundle.This will inhibit gland trophism and reduce blood flow |
| Excessive nervous tension, stress and depression | cause a decrease in the nervous regulation of vascular tone.A hormonal imbalance develops, which leads to gland regulation disorders (prostate adenoma development) and systemic hemocirculation. |
| Peculiarities of the development and structure of organs of the urogenital system | May cause the possibility of infection or remodeling of the gland |
All these causes have a destructive effect on the circulatory system, both locally and in general.
If a man feels that he has problems urinating, starts going to the toilet more often, suffers from pain in the back and groin when urinating, then he should consult a urologist.
effect of age
Experts consider prostatitis to be a disease that appears more often in old age, although recently the percentage of young people with this pathology is increasing.According to unofficial statistics, based on a comparison of diagnostic cases and research data, about 16% of men aged 20 to 40 years are officially diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.
Based on the indicators of men aged 20 to 39, experts determine that the statistical frequency of prostatitis in the age interval of 40 to 49 years is 1.7 times higher, and in people over 55 years old - 3.1 times higher.However, the statistics consider only identified patients.However, official statistics have a noticeable error, and the methods of diagnosing prostatitis are not sufficiently developed.
diagnosis and treatment
The treatment method directly depends on the cause of the disease, so the most important point is the diagnosis, which includes:
- Compendium of Life History and Epidemiological History.
- Ultrasound.
- Digital rectal examination.
- Bacteriology of prostate secretion.
- PSA level - analysis (necessary to rule out prostate adenoma and prostate cancer).
- Urine tests.
- General and biochemical blood test.
Treatment of prostatitis is effective with a combination of the following methods:
- Pharmacological treatment.Medicines are usually selected comprehensively.
- Medical massage.
- Physiotherapy.Medical electrophoresis, darsonvalization, UHF therapy, etc.
- Exercise and active lifestyle.
- Folk remedies.Use of various herbal preparations sold in pharmacies.
You should not prescribe pills on your own or practice traditional medicine without consulting a specialist.Many drugs and herbs for the treatment of prostatitis are systemic in nature and are contraindicated in some patients.
Do not forget about prevention, which involves eliminating harmful factors and an active lifestyle.