Fighting prostatitis is a complex and rather long process that does not allow self-treatment.Since this disease can cause pathologies of the male reproductive function and serious disturbances in the work of other organs and systems, all measures to diagnose and determine the necessary treatment strategy should be carried out only by a urologist.How to treat prostatitis so that the disease passes as quickly as possible and what is the complex of therapeutic measures?
Diagnosis of prostatitis
It is usually not difficult for a urologist to determine the presence of prostatitis in a patient, and the main goal of diagnostic procedures is to determine the cause and form of the disease.Some types of examinations may cause discomfort or pain to patients, but passing through certain stages of clinical diagnosis is necessary for the attending physician to collect useful information:
- Initial rectal digital examination and collection of prostate secretion for analysis to determine the nature of the disease (bacterial or infectious forms of prostatitis).If an infectious agent is detected in the biological material, a test is performed to determine the sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora to antibiotics in order to optimize the complex of further therapeutic measures.
- Transabdominal or transrectal ultrasound examination.It is prescribed when necessary to clarify the characteristics of the prostate gland.Transabdominal ultrasound is performed through the front wall of the abdomen and does not cause discomfort to the patient.However, transrectal examination of the prostate (through the rectum) is a more informative procedure, although it is moderately painful, because it allows determining not only the parameters of the gland, but also structural changes.
- PSA blood test.The presence of prostate-specific antigen in the blood exceeding the norm (4 ng/ml) may indicate the presence of pathological processes in the prostate gland.Determination of PSA values should be carried out not only in the process of diagnosing prostatitis, but also during the treatment of the disease to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy.
The main therapeutic components and methods of treatment of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis and exacerbation of the chronic form of this disease are treated according to similar schemes.Correctly selected, rational therapy in the first case involves the complete recovery of the patient, and in the second case leads to his recovery or long-term remission of the disease.Only a urologist can decide how to treat prostatitis without harming the patient's health and getting the maximum effect from the tools and methods used;The role of the patient in this process is to strictly follow all the instructions of the specialist.
Drug therapy
Treatment with drugs is the basis of any therapeutic effect on inflammation in the prostate gland.The choice of the necessary drugs is made by the urologist based on the data of laboratory tests and other preliminary studies.The direction of action of drug therapy includes the following:
- reduction of the patient's pain level;
- normalization of blood circulation in the prostate gland and adjacent organs;
- localization and destruction of the infectious agent;
- elimination of inflammatory reactions and congestion in the prostate;
- stabilization of immunity, sexual performance and general well-being of the patient
The optimal effectiveness of drug therapy is achieved by combining antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs, antidepressants, microenemas and suppositories in the health program.
Local therapy
The local restorative effect on the prostate gland and its inflamed areas is achieved by the use of various types of physiotherapy in the treatment program:
- ultrasonic phonophoresis;
- transrectal microwave hyperthermia;
- diadynamophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- prostate massage.
It should be noted that despite its relative pain, massage is the most effective tool in the fight against prostatitis.Thanks to such procedures, stagnant secretions are removed from the prostate gland, which improves blood circulation in the affected tissues and increases the effectiveness of the drugs used by the patient.Massage is prescribed to the patient during periods of remission or collapse of acute manifestations of the disease.During the exacerbation of prostatitis, procedures are excluded from the list of therapeutic measures by the doctor, because they can lead to the spread of infection.
Herbal medicine
Treatment with herbal remedies is prescribed to patients with prostatitis as part of complex therapy.The use of herbal health products is possible for a long time due to their harmless effects on the body and low prevalence of side effects.Herbal medicine can be used internally and (or) externally, in the form of juices, decoctions or infusions of St. John's wort, ginseng, calamus, periwinkle, burdock, nettle and other medicinal plants.In the chronic form of prostatitis, the doctor can prescribe magnetic, phono- or electrophoresis of herbal remedies.
Drugs in the treatment of prostatitis
The course of drugs used by patients is prescribed to them individually by the doctor.The antibiotic program is developed with the following specific criteria in mind:
- the form of the disease;
- type of pathogen and antimicrobial activity of the drug;
- penetration of the drug into the prostate tissue;
- there are no contraindications for taking the drug;
- method of drug administration;
- possible side effects
Based on the effectiveness of treatment of chronic and acute prostatitis, there are three main groups of antibacterial agents:
- Fluoroquinolones.Drugs in this group have a wide spectrum of action and have the ability to accumulate in high concentrations in the prostate tissue;in this case, pathogenic bacteria do not develop resistance to the active agent.The "disadvantage" of fluoroquinolones is their possible negative effect on the central nervous system and the possibility of allergic reactions in patients.
- Tetracyclines.These preparations are most effective against atypical pathogens, but are not sufficiently active against E. coli and staphylococci and are completely ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Macrolides.Drugs from the macrolide group easily penetrate the tissues of the gland and are actively accumulated;however, they have low toxicity and are effective in killing gram-positive bacteria, but weak in suppressing gram-negative bacteria.
A patient diagnosed with prostatitis in the first days of taking prescribed antibacterial drugs should consult a doctor regularly.This measure is necessary for the urologist to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotics.If after three days of treatment, the specialist does not notice any significant improvement in the patient's condition, he replaces the main drug.When prescribing antibiotics, the doctor should take into account the patient's experience of taking similar drugs in order not to prescribe the drug of the same group again.
In addition to antibacterial and painkillers, a patient with prostatitis may be prescribed hormonal therapy and (or) alpha-blockers:
- Hormone therapy.The state and functions of the prostate directly depend on the amount of androgens and estrogens in the male body.The use of hormonal drugs in the treatment of prostatitis allows to change the balance of "female" and "male" hormones in a certain direction.Since such drugs help to reduce the glandular tissue of the prostate, we can talk about the indirect role of antiandrogens in the recovery of a patient with prostatitis.
- Alpha adrenergic blockers.Taking such drugs belongs to the method of pathogenetic therapy;its purpose is to relieve the common symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland.The use of alpha-blockers is particularly effective for urinary problems.By eliminating spasms of the sphincter, the walls of the urethra, the smooth muscles of the bladder, as well as the prostate gland itself, stagnation or reverse flow of prostate secretion is prevented, and swelling in the inflamed organ is eliminated.
Regardless of the purposes and characteristics of the use of drugs, any drug should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision.Self-medication may lead to exacerbation of the disease or make subsequent therapy ineffective in clinical settings.
Immunocorrection is the key to successful treatment
The entire complex of treatment procedures for chronic or acute prostatitis must necessarily be accompanied by immunocorrective measures (regular visits to an immunologist, normalization of lifestyle, intake of vitamins, immunomodulators, etc.).The high immune status of the body helps the patient to recover quickly or prolong the remission phase in the chronic form of the disease.
Timely visit to a specialist in the presence of symptoms characteristic of the disease, strict adherence to medical recommendations when prostatitis is diagnosed, prevention of relapses of the existing disease, and categorical rejection of self-treatment in favor of professional intervention by a urologist will allow to avoid long-term treatment and unwanted consequences of a serious disease.