Acute prostatitis is an acute inflammation of the prostate gland caused by an infection.With the disease, swelling of the prostate forms and rods appear in its tissues.Statistical data gives the right to claim that acute prostatitis in men is a common disease;With age, the risk of its occurrence increases.
The effectiveness of the treatment of acute prostatitis directly depends on the time of the patient's treatment.The disease quickly turns into a chronic form, the treatment is longer and more complicated.
Forms of acute prostatitis
If we talk about the clinical development of acute prostatitis in men, there are three forms (stages) of the disease:
- catarrh;
- Follicular;
- parenchymatous.
The first to occur is catarrhal inflammation, characterized by the enlargement of acini and the appearance of reactive edema of the interstitial tissue.This causes a significant enlargement of the prostate gland.The next stage is the rapid spread of inflammatory processes to the lobules and excretory ducts of the prostate.We are talking, in particular, about the excretory ducts of the prostatic glands leading to the back of the urethra.Inflammatory changes affect only mucous membranes.Excretory ducts lose their resistance, become significantly narrowed or completely blocked, creating obstacles to the release of prostatic secretions.The catarrhal form is associated with an infectious pathogen transferred directly from the posterior part of the urethra.Since the inflammatory process also affects prostate secretion, it can provoke the appearance of posterior urethritis.
In the follicular stage, the focus of inflammation spreads and spreads along individual loules or all prostate glands.A purulent foci appears, pus passes into the urethra.Prostate enlargement does not stop;tissues undergo destructive changes.
During the parenchymal stage of acute prostatitis, inflammatory processes affect the interstitial tissue of the prostate gland.This stage occurs, for example, after surgery, after the penetration of an infectious pathogen through contact or hematogenous routes.
Parenchymal prostatitis at the beginning of the disease is accompanied by the appearance of single pustules that merge during the development process and become a prostate abscess.
As for the follicular and parenchymal forms, inflammatory changes during their development are often in the posterior part of the urethra and bladder neck.
Prognosis and prevention of acute prostatitis
In the vast majority of cases, timely etiotropic therapy can remove the symptoms of acute prostatitis.If treatment is not carried out, it is quite possible for an abscess to occur or the disease to become chronic.
Prevention of this disease generally means identifying and treating any infectious diseases in the body, as well as sexually transmitted diseases and urethritis.A person should pay attention to a healthy lifestyle, especially increasing physical activity.Also, the development of the disease is prevented by regular sex life and the absence of unprotected casual relationships.Strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene is a more important requirement for a person of any age.
Causes of the disease
Acute prostatitis in men can occur at any age.The reason is often the penetration of various infectious pathogens.It can be E. Coli, Streptococci, Staphylococci, Candida fungi, chlamydia, Trichomonas.The most common route of entry is through the excretory ducts.The pathogen can also enter the prostate gland from the bladder undergoing an inflammatory process (for example, acute cystitis).Infection can also spread from nearby purulent foci.
The inflammatory process in the prostate caused by the presence of microorganisms can occur for various reasons.Factors that increase your risk include:
- surgical interventions in the area of the urethra;
- Unprotected sex, inflammatory diseases of the genital tract in one partner;
- use of a urethral catheter;
- prostate stones etc.
The occurrence of acute prostatitis cannot be associated with infections.This can happen as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, hypothermia and various disorders that cause stagnation in the pelvis.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis
Since there are different stages of acute prostatitis, the symptoms of the disease often depend on them.But there are common features that unite all forms.First of all, it is pain, general intoxication, as well as a problem with the urinary process.
The catarrhal form is usually accompanied by severe pain, heaviness in the perineal region, frequent urination, painful urination.During palpation, the doctor may feel an increase in the size of the prostate gland.Secretion test results may show high levels of white blood cells.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis in follicular form are more pronounced.A person feels pain in the perineum, radiating to the sacrum or penis.Urinary process is accompanied by pain, urine retention and frequent defecation.There is a general malfunction and there is a sick fire.Palpation shows an enlarged prostate, its contours become asymmetrical.Focal pain may occur.Tests show an increase in the level of leukocytes and the presence of dirty threads in the urine.
The parenchymal form is accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature, the values can reach 39.5 degrees.General symptoms are pronounced: tremors, loss of appetite and lack of strength.Urination is delayed, the process is accompanied by severe pain.Defecation is also difficult and constipation is aggravated.
In such cases, treatment for acute prostatitis should be started urgently.If the process starts, prostate abscess, paraprostatitis, phlebitis of paraprostatic venous plexus are highly likely.If the patient does not see a doctor, the disease becomes chronic and the chance of a complete recovery is significantly reduced.
Diagnosis of acute prostatitis
When a patient contacts a urologist, the doctor determines the stage of the disease in the diagnosis of acute prostatitis.The specialist receives information after a thorough investigation.In this case, the methods used in the diagnosis consist of physical, instrumental and laboratory studies.
Physical examination consists of studying the state of the prostate gland from the rectum.Thus, the specialist uses the opportunity to assess the size, shape, consistency and presence of pain.As a result of the analysis of secret secretion, it is easy to determine the decrease in the number of lecithin grains and the increase in the level of leukocytes.
Palpation of the gland also includes the collection and transfer of urine for examination.In most cases, acute prostatitis is marked by an increase in the level of leukocytes.Urine culture, PCR and blood culture and analysis of urethral discharge are also prescribed.
Instrumental methods in the case of this disease are represented by ultrasound diagnostics with transection.If the patient has severe pain, the choice of examination is the transabdominal method.
When the question of surgical intervention arises, it is necessary to conduct a CT and MRI of the pelvis.
Treatment of acute prostatitis
Treatment of acute prostatitis is carried out in hospital.This is due to two factors.First, there is a risk of serious complications that can affect men's health and subsequently affect reproductive function and erection quality.Secondly, the disease is complex, accompanied by pronounced symptoms and painful sensations.Treatment of acute prostatitis begins with drug therapy, which prescribes eTiotropic drugs to the patient.The most important role is played by antibacterial agents that stop the activity of microorganisms.
To reduce the severity of pain, as well as to get rid of spasms, the patient is recommended to take antispasmodics and analgesics.Sometimes heat enemas and rectal suppositories are used to relieve the condition.It is possible to use physiotherapy after eliminating acute symptoms.These procedures increase microcirculation, increase local immunity and help to eliminate inflammation.Prostate massage, as well as microwave therapy and electrophoresis, are the most effective physiotherapeutic methods of acute prostatitis treatment.For many years, prostate massage has been considered a particularly popular measure to help relieve congestion;Regular use is recommended for men over forty.
If there is a problem with the urinary process, the catheter is not used;Instead, Trocar cystostomy is preferred.
Recovery is restoration of prostate tissue, complete restoration of its functions, and laboratory tests show the absence of infectious pathogens and the return of prostate secretion to its normal composition.
Surgery is not a widely used treatment for prostatitis.It doesn't always work.Surgical solution brings positive dynamics in less than half of the cases.The most common side effect of the operation is erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation, sperm inside the bladder during ejaculation, and sometimes urethral stricture.Surgical method does not guarantee against relapse.Therefore, surgical intervention is only recommended in certain cases, for example:
- the formation of a prostate abscess that must be opened and cleaned;
- Absence of treatment using conservative methods in the form of drugs, traditional medicine, physiotherapeutic procedures;
- development of serious complications;
- the presence of a center of inflammation in the pelvic area;
- Formation of parapoctictititis (purulent abscess in cells localized around the rectum);
- the presence of blood in the urine;
- Urine (anuria) delayed urination and cessation;
- The cause of stones in the bladder, kidneys, was caused by prostatitis;
- suspicion of a malignant tumor.