Prostatitis is one of the most common urinary problems in men of all ages. Bacteria and viruses predominate among the causes of prostatitis.
What is bacterial prostatitis?
Currently, several forms of bacterial prostatitis are distinguished by classification:
- Acute prostatitis.The main feature of the disease is the severity of clinical manifestations and complaints from the patient, as well as deviations in laboratory tests. But despite the acute form, the prognosis is favorable. In most cases, a full recovery is possible. Only with correct diagnosis and treatment, of course. And with prevention, the disease can no longer remind of itself.
- Subacute form.It occurs when, in the context of manifestations of an acute illness, the patient self-medicates or does not initially complete the prescribed course of medication. In certain situations, this may be an incorrect initial treatment tactic. As a result, a significant portion of symptoms gradually disappear, but some manifestations (urinary disturbances, sexual dysfunction, vaginal discomfort) may persist and cause inconvenience. If the medicine is not taken on time, the disease will become chronic with frequent exacerbations. Depending on the features of the infection, the initial development of a subacute form of the disease may also occur.
- Chronic disease type.Almost always, chronic prostatitis is a neglected, untreated, or improperly treated disease. Most of the time the symptoms bring about a tangible discomfort. Any adverse condition quickly causes an exacerbation with worsening condition.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
The disease always begins acutely and develops rapidly. Initially, the reaction occurs at a general temperature that usually reaches values above 38. 5 degrees. Almost immediately, dysuria occurs (frequent, partial difficulty urinating, compulsion (sudden) to urinate, impaired urine flow, and sometimes until complete abstention).
A very important symptom is pain in the perineum, in the groin, in the scrotum, in the lower abdomen. If the pain is initially only accompanied by urination, then after a while it can cause constant discomfort, even at rest. In addition to pain, the patient also has decreased sex drive and impaired erection.
It is with these signs of bacterial prostatitis that the patient should see a urologist. Your doctor will order blood and urine tests, and in most cases this may be enough. In the absence of significant pain, prostate secretions can be obtained for microscopic examination.
In the acute form of the disease, the characteristic manifestation will be severe pain on digital examination. At the same time, prostate massage is not performed because of the risk of provoking the spread of infection.
The urologist makes the diagnosis on the basis of laboratory tests and patient complaints. He then prescribes treatment, which usually includes:
- Antibiotic therapy with broad-spectrum drugs. If data on the sensitivity of the organism are available, more effective antibiotics can be selected for the patient.
- Pain relievers may be prescribed as tablets and as rectal suppositories for topical use. With strong pain syndrome, they are often combined.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve the flow of urine.
- Topical preparations intended to activate resistance mechanisms. One of the most commonly prescribed preparations are those with extracts from the tissues of the prostate gland, which stimulate local immunity and resistance, as they contain organic bioactive molecules. muscle.
This list of treatment measures, followed by compliance with medical prescriptions and precautions, ensures a full recovery.
Subacute prostatitis
The subacute form in the early stages does not differ from the acute form. However, it is formed due to incomplete or interrupted course of treatment. At the same time, the patient's vigilance is silenced by the fact that the most acute symptoms, such as fever, often disappear completely. But other symptoms - dyspepsia, disturbances in the intimate sphere, pain or discomfort in everyday life - remain, albeit with minor manifestations. Gradually, the patient gets used to not paying attention to them.
An ongoing slow process gradually turns into a chronic process. Usually, any weakening of the immune system leads to an aggravation with the development of the clinical picture. The treatment of subacute prostatitis is based on:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of the susceptibility of microorganisms.
- Pain relievers, and most often when long-acting.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve the flow of urine. In this case, longer courses are needed, as some changes become difficult to reverse.
- Topical preparations that activate local and organ defense mechanisms. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs are preparations containing extracts of prostate tissue.
It is extremely important for subacute prostatitis to complete the course of treatment and conscientiously follow all the necessary recommendations. In this case, there is a chance to cure the disease and prevent it from turning into a chronic, incurable form.
Chronic prostatitis
The clinical form of the disease can progress in a variety of ways. With an exacerbation, the clinical picture becomes similar to an acute inflammatory form of the prostate gland, and outside of the exacerbation, the most pronounced symptoms are often present.
Top signs of bacterial prostatitis in remission:
- Digestive disorders. Most often, they are manifested by a decrease in the rate of urine flow in the form of a sluggishly weakened jet. There is no feeling that the bladder is completely empty. Frequent urination in small portions, especially at night - this is called nocturia.
- Violation of intimacy. In this case, there is discomfort during intercourse and also pain during ejaculation. An important sign of the disease is a decrease in the quality of an erection as well as a decrease in the ability to conceive, leading to complete infertility.
- Chronic pain syndrome. It is constantly present, reduces a man's quality of life and negatively affects his functioning and ability to work. At the same time, factors such as hypothermia, physical activity, and stress often increase pain.
With exacerbation of chronic disease, the treatment of bacterial prostatitis does not differ from the treatment of acute or subacute forms:
- Antibiotic therapy with mandatory determination of the susceptibility of inflammatory microorganisms.
- Pain relievers, and most often when long-acting.
- Antispasmodics and drugs that improve the flow of urine. Usually, long-term use in large enough doses is needed, as the changes present are virtually irreversible and are permanent. The main task in this case is to reduce the severity of the digestive disorder.
- Drugs for the treatment of bacterial prostatitis act locally with resistance mechanisms and organ defense mechanisms. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs is products derived from prostate tissue.
Appropriate prevention of any form of bacterial prostatitis
Now, experts recognize three main areas of prevention that help reduce the risk of the disease initially, and, in chronic forms, reduce the frequency of exacerbations and their severity. This is achieved by reducing the influence of risk factors, such as:
- Stagnation of blood circulation in the tissues of the gland with irregular sexual activity;
- Frequently changing sexual partners during unprotected intercourse;
- A long period of sex life, or excessive, debilitating sexual activity;
- Gross mechanical irritation of the urethra, especially dangerous due to direct bacterial and bacterial infections;
- General and local hypothermia;
- Low physical activity and mostly sedentary lifestyle;
- Physical exhaustion, physical fatigue;
- Injury to the genital organs.
Primary preventionto prevent the occurrence of disease. An important role here is to ensure personal and private hygiene, to normalize physical and sexual activity, to avoid stressful situations and to hypothermia of the perineum.
Secondary preventionaimed at the most complete cure of the infection process. The best result is a full recovery. The more precise the choice of treatment method and the more responsible the man is to carry out the doctor's instructions, the higher the chance of a complete recovery.
Tertiary preventionBacterial prostatitis is necessary in cases where the disease has progressed to a chronic form. Its main goal is to prevent the occurrence of exacerbations of the disease.
Not all of the above precautions will always provide adequate protection against exacerbations. Recently, topical immunostimulating drugs have appeared and are actively used. This increases the resistance of the prostate tissue. Some preparations are of plant origin. They work due to plant analogues of hormonal compounds. However, the effectiveness of these funds is still under investigation and has not been fully proven.
Preparations based on animal tissue extracts have a more substantial evidence base. Organic compounds are completely suitable for the human body. Among them, commonly prescribed are suppositories and ampoules from bovine prostate tissue extract. They have a clinically proven level of effectiveness in reducing the risk of negative prostate effects. When using these funds, there is an increase in the protective reserve of the main line. In addition, resistance increases, and the prostate is supplied with the necessary bioactive molecules. In this way, reinforcement is achieved at the "minimal resistance point".