Prostatitis is one of the most common urinary problems in men of any age. Bacteria and viruses dominate the causes of prostate inflammation.
What is bacterial prostatitis?
Currently, several forms of bacterial prostatitis are distinguished in classification:
- Acute inflammation of the prostate.The main features of the disease are the severity of clinical manifestations and patient complaints, as well as laboratory deviations. But despite the acute form, the prognosis is favorable. In most cases, full recovery is possible. Of course, only with correct diagnosis and treatment. With prevention, the disease may stop reminding itself.
- Subacute form.This occurs when, in the context of acute disease manifestations, the patient resorts to self-medication or does not initially fully complete the prescribed course of medication. In some cases, this may be the initial incorrect treatment strategy. As a result, a large proportion of symptoms gradually disappear, but some manifestations (urination disturbance, worsening sexual function, genital area discomfort) may persist and cause inconvenience. If not taken in time, the disease can become chronic and often worsen. Depending on the characteristics of the infection, the initial development of a subacute form of the disease is also possible.
- Types of chronic diseases.Almost always, chronic prostatitis is a neglected, untreated or poorly treated disease. Most symptoms continue to bring significant discomfort. Any unfavorable condition can quickly lead to a worsening of the condition.
acute bacterial prostatitis
The disease always begins acutely and progresses rapidly. Initially, a general temperature reaction occurs, usually reaching values above 38. 5 degrees. Urinary disturbances (frequent, partial dysuria, urgent (sudden) urge to urinate, decreased urine flow, and sometimes complete retention of urination) occur almost immediately.
A very important symptom is pain in the perineum, groin, scrotum, lower abdomen. If the pain initially accompanies only the process of urination, it may continue to be annoying over time, including at rest. In addition to the pain presentation, the patient also had decreased libido and worsening erections.
It is with these signs of bacterial prostatitis that the patient comes to the urologist. Doctors order blood and urine tests, which may be sufficient in most cases. In the absence of severe pain, prostatic secretions can be taken for microscopic examination.
In the acute form of the disease, the characteristic presentation will be severe pain during digital consultation. At the same time, prostate massage is not performed due to the risk of spreading infection.
A urologist makes a diagnosis based on laboratory tests and patient complaints. He then prescribes treatment, which usually includes:
- Antibiotic treatment with broad-spectrum drugs. If data on microbial susceptibility are available, it may be possible to select more effective antibiotics for patients.
- Pain relievers are available for topical use in tablet form and in rectal suppository form. For intense pain syndromes, they are often used in combination.
- Antispasmodics and drugs to improve the flow of urine.
- Topical formulations designed to activate resistance mechanisms. One of the most prescribed are preparations containing extracts of prostate tissue, which stimulate local immunity and resistance, because they contain organic bioactive molecules.
This list of treatments, along with following medical prescriptions and precautions, will ensure a full recovery.
Subacute inflammation of the prostate
The subacute form of the initial phase is indistinguishable from the acute form. However, it is formed due to incomplete or interrupted processing. At the same time, patient vigilance was struck by the fact that the most acute symptoms, such as fever, often disappeared completely. But other symptoms—urinary disturbances, disturbances in intimate areas, pain or discomfort in everyday life—remain present, albeit rarely. Gradually, patients get used to not paying attention to them.
A continuous slow process gradually becomes a chronic one. Many times, any weakening of the immune system causes the process to be exacerbated as clinical manifestations develop. Treatment of subacute prostatitis is based on:
- Mandatory antibiotic therapy to determine microbial susceptibility.
- Painkillers, most commonly long-acting.
- Antispasmodics and drugs to improve the flow of urine. In this case, a longer course is required because some changes become difficult to reverse.
- Topical formulation with activation of local immune and anti-organic mechanisms. One of the most commonly prescribed formulations is a preparation containing an extract of prostate tissue.
For subacute prostatitis, it is important to complete the course of treatment and carefully follow all necessary recommendations. In this case, there is an opportunity to cure the disease and prevent it from transforming into a chronic form that cannot be rid of.
chronic prostatitis
Clinical forms of the disease can proceed in different ways. As the disease progresses, the clinical presentation becomes similar to the acute form of prostatitis, and beyond the disease exacerbation, the mildest symptoms persist.
The main symptoms of bacterial prostatitis in remission:
- Urinary disturbance. Mostly, they are represented by a decrease in the velocity of urine flow in the form of a slowly weakening jet. There is no feeling of completely emptying the bladder. Frequent urges to urinate, especially at night, are characteristic—a condition known as nocturia.
- Violation of the intimate realm. In this case, there is discomfort during intercourse and may also be painful during ejaculation. An important sign of the disease is a decrease in the quality of erections, as well as a decrease in the ability to conceive, up to complete infertility.
- Chronic pain syndrome. It persists, reduces a person's quality of life and negatively affects his ability to move and work. At the same time, factors such as hypothermia, physical activity, and stress tend to exacerbate pain.
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis does not differ from treatment of acute or subacute forms as chronic disease worsens:
- Antibiotic therapy that enforces the determination of the susceptibility of the microbes that cause inflammation.
- Painkillers, most commonly long-acting.
- Antispasmodics and drugs to improve the flow of urine. In general, long-term ingestion of sufficiently large doses is required because existing changes are almost irreversible and permanent. In this case, the main task is to reduce the severity of the phenomenon of dysuria.
- Topically acting bacterial prostatitis drug with resistant organs and organ protection mechanisms. One of the most prescribed medications is a product containing prostate tissue extract.
Proper prevention of any form of bacterial prostatitis
Currently, experts recognize three main areas of prevention that help reduce the risk of the disease initially and, in its chronic form, the frequency and severity of exacerbations. This is achieved by reducing the impact of risk factors such as:
- stagnation of blood circulation in glandular tissue with irregular sexual activity;
- Frequent partner changes during unprotected intercourse;
- Prolonged interruptions in sexual activity, or excessive, debilitating sexual activity;
- Mechanical rough irritation of the urethra, particularly dangerous due to minimally invasive and direct bacterial infection;
- general and local hypothermia;
- Low levels of physical activity, mainly a sedentary lifestyle;
- Physical exertion, exhaustion of physical activity;
- Trauma to the reproductive organs.
primary preventionDesigned to prevent disease. An important role here is to ensure personal and intimate hygiene, normalization of physical and sexual activity, and avoidance of perineal stressful situations and hypothermia.
secondary preventionDesigned to heal the infection process most thoroughly. The best outcome is a full recovery. The more correctly the treatment is chosen and the more responsible the man is to the doctor's prescription, the higher the likelihood of a full recovery.
tertiary preventionBacterial prostatitis is necessary in cases where the disease has become a chronic form. Its main goal is to prevent disease progression from occurring.
Not all of the above precautions will provide full protection against deterioration. Drugs that improve local immunity have recently emerged and have been actively used. This increases the resistance of the prostate tissue. Some preparations are of plant origin. These effects are due to plant analogs of hormonal compounds. However, the extent to which these funds are effective is still under investigation and has not been fully proven.
Preparations based on animal tissue extracts have a more robust evidence base. Organic compounds that are perfectly suitable for the human body. Of these, the most commonly used are suppositories and ampoules derived from bovine prostate tissue extracts. They have a recognized level of clinical effectiveness in reducing the risk of negatively affecting the prostate. When these funds are used, the protective reserves of the gland itself increase. In addition, resistance is increased and the prostate is supplied with the necessary bioactive molecules. In this way, reinforcement is achieved at the "point of least resistance".