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 number increases with age.It is much easier to prevent this disease than to treat it, so it is important to know the causes of prostatitis, the symptoms of its acute and chronic forms, and ways to prevent complications such as adenoma and prostate cancer.
The main causes of prostatitis
The clinical picture of prostatitis includes a wide range of symptoms associated with the body's systemic response to the inflammatory process.The most common and important are problems with urination and sexual dysfunction.The degree of manifestation of prostatitis symptoms is multifactorial in nature, that is, it depends on many factors: the individual characteristics of the male body, the state of the prostate gland and the presence of accompanying pathologies, the man's lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse, and the activity of the immune system.
Experts distinguish two main types of diseases, on which further treatment will depend:
- Infectious.Inflammation is associated with the pathogenic activity of microorganisms.
- Stagnant.Inflammation is associated with stagnation of blood, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and its manifestation against the background of ischemia, and changes (damage) and remodeling of the gland, changing functionally active connective tissue.
Often, one form of the disease passes into another.The infectious process affects blood vessels and disrupts local circulation, causing stagnation;on the other hand, initial stagnation reduces the ability of the immune system to fight the developing infection locally, as it reduces the rate of blood transport of immunocompetent cells to the lesion.Prostatitis occurs in acute and chronic forms.More often, specialists encounter the first - 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 the exacerbation of prostatitis, a man experiences a general deterioration of his health, pain appears in the lower back, in the groin, the process of urination is disturbed, and the body temperature rises.
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An acute pathological process, unlike a chronic process, manifests itself suddenly and has clear clinical symptoms that force a man to consult a doctor.The body temperature rises to 39 degrees, the man feels severe pain in the lower back.The point of most occurrence occurs between 30 and 40 years of age.
The cause of the pathological process is infectious foci that can be located in distant organs.The causative agent of the disease can enter the prostate gland either by going up or through the urethra, or by going down hematogenously (through blood) and lymphogenously (through lymph).
The type of pathogen directly affects the therapy:
| Pathogenic | Frequency of occurrence | Gram stain (necessary 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 | In rare cases | GR- |
| Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) | Often | GR- |
| Staphylococci (Staphylococci spp) | In rare cases | GR+ |
| Enterobacteriaceae | In rare cases | GR- |
| Ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum) | In rare cases | GR- |
| Gonococci (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | In rare cases | GR- |
| Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis) | In rare cases | Mollicutes |
| Candida (Candida spp.) | In rare cases | Mushrooms |
| Trichomonas | In rare cases | Protozoa |
Prostatitis can occur for the following reasons:
- intestinal and urological infections;
- infectious diseases of the genital region;
- upper and lower respiratory tract diseases.
Caries is often the cause of inflammatory lesions of internal organs.
Bacteria, fungi and protozoa infect the prostate tissue through the urethra and rectum.More often, the lesion is associated with urological infections, for example:
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra);
- cystitis (bladder inflammation);
- pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney).
Sexually transmitted diseases are often the main cause of inflammation in the prostate gland, gonorrhea is the most common.The formed pathological focus located near the prostate easily spreads to the prostate tissue.To prevent such diseases, it is important to practice protected sex.
The descending path of the pathogen consists of its entry from the primary focus to the prostate through lymphogenous and hematogenous ways.The source of infection can be a pathological process in the throat (sore throat), upper and lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, flu) or oral cavity (caries).
Disseminated or hematogenous tuberculosis.The first symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after the main disease.Epidemiological anamnesis collection is an important component of diagnosis.
The immune status plays an important role in the incidence of prostatitis.Not all men exposed to infectious diseases develop prostatitis.If the immune system suppresses the development of a pathogenic microorganism, then the process in the glandular tissue stops without the appearance of pathology.On the other hand, weakened immunity leads to complications.The prostate gland is a sensitive organ that is close to potential entry points for infection, so it is the first to be negatively affected by microbes.
Chronic
If acute prostatitis is not treated, a chronic process develops.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.In a chronic course, the inflammation of the prostate tissue is slow, and therefore the symptoms may not be fully manifested.They will only intensify 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 has a negative effect on its functioning.An autoimmune reaction may also develop.A man's own immune system produces antibodies against prostate cells.In this case, the inflammation will continue even after the pathogenic microorganism has been completely eliminated.
Stagnant
Non-infectious inflammation of the prostate occurs as a result of obstruction in the pelvis.The disease develops gradually and the intensity of the symptomatic complex increases over time.Today, this form of prostatitis is the most common.
The main reason is discirculation phenomena, which cause the blood to not flow from the pelvic area, so all the organs located in this area do not receive enough nutrition and adequate oxygenation.The release of secretions is disturbed, the pelvic diaphragm muscles degenerate.The most important cause of stagnation is a sedentary lifestyle.Traumas also cause stagnation.Diabetes mellitus can reduce blood flow to the pelvic organs through macro- and microangiopathy.
Causes of congestive inflammation of the prostate:
| Etiological factor | Pathogenesis |
|---|---|
| Low level of physical activity | Experts consider it 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 leads to the failure of the muscle pumping mechanism that helps blood flow from the organs.Prevention is sports, exercise, walking |
| Poor nutrition | It has a negative effect on all body systems and, above all, on the regulation of the vascular system due to both local and systemic factors. |
| Overweight | Obesity is one of the components of the metabolic syndrome, which includes hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.One component has a beneficial effect on the likelihood of development of others, all of which lead to vascular insufficiency and stagnation. |
| Constipation | An increase in the volume of the rectum causes compression of the vessels and impaired output |
| Sedentary lifestyle (common among drivers and office workers) | A person sitting in a chair does not change his position for a long time.As a result, compression of individual venous vessels and local congestion occurs.Prevention is a change in the sitting position and periodic gymnastics, walking |
| Irregular sex life | It leads to stagnation not only of blood, but also of prostate secretion.As a result of metabolic processes, the secretion can turn into poison and have a systemic toxic effect.Excessive sexual activity is also harmful for men, because it causes exhaustion of the nervous and hormonal systems, loss of nutrients, hyperfunction of the gland and depletion of regenerative properties. |
| Retains the urge to urinate frequently | The prostate is an additional sphincter in the male body.Its excessive tension causes an increase in the volume of muscle tissue and a decrease in the volume of glandular tissue.In addition, an enlarged bladder puts pressure on the veins, disrupting the outlet |
| Smoking and alcohol abuse | Smoking and alcohol cause a violation of vascular tone |
| Trauma in the lumbar region | Trauma often damages the prostate gland itself or important neurovascular bundles.This will disrupt the trophism of the gland and reduce blood flow |
| Excessive nervous tension, stress and depression | It leads to exhaustion of the nervous regulation of vascular tone.Hormonal imbalance develops, which leads to gland dysregulation (prostate adenoma development) and systemic hemocirculation. |
| Features of the development and structure of organs of the genitourinary system | It can make the gland more likely to become infected or reconstructed |
All these reasons have a devastating effect on both the local and general circulatory system.
If a man feels that there is a problem with urination, if he starts going to the toilet more often, if he is bothered by pain in the back and groin when urinating, then he should consult a urologist.
The effect of age
Although experts consider prostatitis to be a disease that manifests itself mostly in old age, recently the percentage of young people facing this pathology is increasing.According to unofficial statistics, about 16% of men between the ages of 20 and 40 are officially diagnosed with chronic prostatitis, based on a comparison of diagnostic cases and research data.
Based on the indicators of men aged 20-39, experts report that the statistical indicators of prostatitis in the age range of 40-49 are 1.7 times higher, and 3.1 times higher in those over 55 years old.However, the statistics only consider identified patients.However, there is a noticeable error in official statistics, and the methods for diagnosing prostatitis are not sufficiently developed.
Diagnosis and treatment
The method of treatment depends directly on the cause of the disease, so the most important point is the diagnosis, including:
- Collection 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 using a combination of the following methods:
- Pharmacological treatment.Medicines, as a rule, are selected comprehensively.
- Medical massage.
- Physiotherapy.Drug electrophoresis, Darsonvalization, UHF therapy, etc.
- Gymnastics and active lifestyle.
- Folk treatment.The use of various herbal preparations sold in pharmacies.
You should not self-prescribe pills 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 consists in eliminating harmful factors and leading an active lifestyle.