Prostatitis is an inflammatory process in the tissues of the prostate gland.Today, approximately 30% of men suffer from prostatitis after the age of 30, and this figure increases with age.This disease is much easier to prevent than to treat, 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 implies a wide range of symptoms related to the body's systemic response to the inflammatory process.The most common and important are problems with urination and disorders of sexual life.The degree of manifestation of prostatitis symptoms is multifactorial in nature, that is, it depends on many factors: the individual characteristics of the man's body, the state of the prostate and the presence of accompanying pathologies, the lifestyle that a person leads, 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 associated with the pathogenic action of microorganisms.
- Stagnant.Inflammation is associated with blood stagnation, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and manifestation against its background of ischemia and change (damage) and remodeling of the gland, replacement of 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, the initial stagnation reduces the ability of the immune system to locally fight the developing infection, as it reduces the speed of blood transport of immunocompetent cells to the lesion.Prostatitis occurs in acute and chronic forms.Most often, specialists encounter the first - its symptoms are quite characteristic, so the process can be slowed down and further development can be completely prevented.
If the disease is not treated properly, it can become stationary and then chronic.At the time of worsening prostatitis, a man experiences a general deterioration of his health, pains appear in the lower back, in the groin area, the urination process is interrupted and the body temperature rises.
spicy
An acute pathological process, unlike a chronic one, appears suddenly and has clear clinical symptoms that force a man to visit a doctor.The body temperature rises to 39 degrees, the man feels severe pain in the lumbar region.The peak incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
The cause of the pathological process are infectious foci that can be located in distant organs.The causative agent of the disease can enter the prostate gland either by ascending rectally or through the urethra, or by descending hematogenously (through the blood) and lymphogenically (through the lymph).
The type of pathogen directly affects the therapy performed:
| pathogen | Frequency of display | 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 | 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 | The mushroom |
| Trichomonas | Rarely | protozoan |
Prostatitis can be caused by:
- intestinal and urological infections;
- infectious diseases of the genital area;
- upper and lower respiratory tract diseases.
Often the cause of inflammatory lesions of internal organs is caries.
The contagious route of infection from bacteria, fungi and protozoa is when they enter the prostate tissue from the urethra and rectum.More often, the lesion is associated with urological infections, such as
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra);
- cystitis (bladder inflammation);
- pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis).
Sexually transmitted diseases often become 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's spread consists of its penetration from the primary focus to the prostate in a lymphogenous and hematogenous manner.The source of the 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 underlying disease.Gathering an epidemiological history is an important component of the diagnosis.
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 gland tissue stops without the appearance of pathology.On the other hand, weakened immunity leads to complications.The prostate gland is a vulnerable organ located near potential entry points for infection, so it is the first to be negatively 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.That is why men do not consider such a pathological process dangerous and postpone going to the doctor.
Like any chronic disease, prostatitis appears in phases of remission and exacerbation.In a chronic course, the inflammation of the prostate tissue is slow, and therefore the symptoms may not appear completely.They will only intensify at the moment of irritation.
A chronic pathological process causes a deterioration of the innervation of the organ, which leads to disorders of the trophism (nutrition) of the organ, which negatively affects its function.An autoimmune reaction is also likely to develop.A person's immune system produces antibodies against prostate cells.In this case, the inflammation will be maintained even after the complete destruction of the pathogenic microorganism.
Stagnant
Non-infectious inflammation of the prostate occurs due to overload in the pelvis.The disease develops progressively and over time the intensity of the symptomatic complex increases.This form of prostatitis is more common today.
The main reason is dyscirculatory phenomena, 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 sufficient nutrition and oxygenation.The output of secretions is interrupted and degeneration of the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm occurs.The most important reason for stagnation is an inactive lifestyle.Suffering traumas also contribute to stagnation.Diabetes mellitus, through macro- and microangiopathy, can reduce blood flow to the pelvic organs.
Causes of congestive inflammation of the prostate:
| Etiological factor | Pathogenesis |
|---|---|
| Low level of physical activity | Experts consider it to be the most common cause of congestive prostatitis.This is facilitated by the increasing impact of technological progress on human life: escalators, elevators, cars.Low physical activity leads to the failure of the muscle pump mechanism, which helps blood to leave the organs.Prevention is exercise, sport, walking |
| Poor nutrition | It negatively affects all body systems and above all the regulation of the vascular system due to local and systemic factors |
| Overweight | Obesity is one of the components of the metabolic syndrome, which also 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 leads to compression of the veins and interruption of flow |
| Sedentary lifestyle (common among drivers and office workers) | Sitting in a chair, a person 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 produce a systemic toxic effect.Excessive sexual activity is also harmful for a man, as it leads to depletion of the nervous and hormonal system, loss of nutrients, hyperfunctioning of the gland and depletion of its regenerative properties. |
| Frequent urge to urinate | The prostate is an additional sphincter in the male body.Its tension leads to an increase in the volume of muscle tissue and a decrease in the volume of glandular tissue.Additionally, an enlarged bladder puts pressure on the veins, impairing flow |
| Smoking and alcohol abuse | Smoking and alcohol lead to dysregulation of vascular tone |
| Traumatization 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 | Lead to depletion of the nervous regulation of vascular tone.Hormonal imbalance develops, which leads to disruption of gland regulation (prostate adenoma development) and systemic hemocirculation. |
| Characteristics of the development and structure of the organs of the genitourinary system | It can make the gland more likely to become infected or remodel |
All these reasons have a devastating effect on the blood circulation system, local and general.
If a man feels that he has problems with urination, starts going to the toilet more often, is bothered by pain in the lower back and hips during urination, then he should consult a urologist.
The effect of age
Experts consider prostatitis as a disease that appears more often in old age, but recently the percentage of young people with this pathology is increasing.According to unofficial statistics, based on a comparison of data on diagnostic and research cases, about 16% of men aged 20 to 40 years are officially diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.
Based on the indicators of men from 20 to 39 years old, experts find that the statistical incidence of prostatitis in the age range from 40 to 49 years is 1.7 times higher and in those over 55 years old – 3.1 times higher.However, the statistics only take into account identified patients.However, the official statistics have an obvious error, 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, which includes:
- Collection of life history and epidemiological history.
- Ultrasound.
- Digital rectal examination.
- Bacteriology of prostatic 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.Drugs are chosen, as a rule, comprehensively.
- Medical massage.
- Physiotherapy.Medicinal electrophoresis, Darsonvalization, UHF therapy, etc.
- Gymnastics and active lifestyle.
- Folk remedies.The use of various herbal preparations that are sold in pharmacies.
You should not prescribe pills yourself or practice traditional medicine without consulting a specialist.Many of the drugs and herbs for the treatment of prostatitis are systemic in nature and are contraindicated in some patients.
Do not forget about prevention, which includes eliminating harmful factors and leading an active lifestyle.