Prostatitis is an inflammatory process of prostate tissue.Today, about 30% of men suffer from prostatitis after the age of 30, and this number increases with age.This disease is much easier to prevent than treat, so it's important to understand the causes of prostatitis, the symptoms of its acute and chronic forms, and ways to prevent complications such as adenomas and prostate cancer.
Main causes of prostatitis
The clinical manifestations of prostatitis imply a variety of symptoms related to the body's systemic response to the inflammatory process.The most common and important are urinary problems and sexual dysfunction.The degree of manifestation of prostatitis symptoms is multifactorial in nature, that is, it depends on many factors: individual characteristics of the male body, the condition of the prostate and the presence of accompanying pathologies, the male's lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse, and the activity of the immune system.
Experts distinguish two main types of the disease, on which further treatment depends:
- Contagious.Inflammation is associated with the pathogenic effects of microorganisms.
- Stagnant.Inflammation is associated with manifestations in the context of blood stagnation, hypoxia (hypoxia) and ischemia, as well as changes (damage) of glands and remodeling, replacement of functionally active connective tissue.
Often one disease is contagious to another.The infectious process affects blood vessels and disrupts local circulation, leading to stagnation; on the other hand, the initial stagnation reduces the ability of the immune system to locally fight the ongoing infection, since it reduces the rate of blood transport of immunocompetent cells to the site of the disease.There are two forms of prostatitis, acute and chronic.More often, experts encounter the first one - its symptoms are so characteristic that it is possible to slow down the process and prevent further development altogether.
If the disease is not treated properly, it may become static and then chronic.When prostatitis worsens, men's health generally deteriorates, with pain in the waist and groin area, interruption of the urination process, and increased body temperature.
hot
Unlike chronic pathological processes, acute pathological processes appear suddenly and have obvious clinical symptoms, forcing patients to see a doctor.The body temperature rose to 39 degrees and the man suffered severe pain in his waist.The highest incidence rate occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
The cause of the pathological process is a foci of infection that may be located in distant organs.The disease's pathogens can enter the prostate by ascending through the rectum or through the urethra, or descending into the prostate via hematogenous (through blood) and lymphatic (through lymph) routes.
The type of pathogen directly affects the treatment performed:
| Pathogen | frequency of occurrence | Gram stain (required when choosing antibiotic treatment) |
|---|---|---|
| E. coli | often | GR- |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | often | GR- |
| Klebsiella | often | GR- |
| Enterococcus faecalis | often | GR+ |
| Proteus (Proteus mirabilis) | often | GR- |
| Serratia marcescens | rare | GR- |
| Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) | often | GR- |
| Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus spp.) | rare | GR+ |
| Enterobacteriaceae | rare | GR- |
| Ureaplasma urealyticum (Ureaplasma urealyticum) | rare | GR- |
| Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | rare | GR- |
| Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis) | rare | Mollusca |
| Candida (Candida spp.) | rare | mushroom |
| Trichomonas | rare | protozoa |
Prostatitis can be caused by:
- Intestinal and urinary tract infections;
- Infectious diseases of the genital area;
- Upper and lower respiratory tract diseases.
The cause of inflammatory lesions of internal organs is often dental caries.
The ascending route of bacterial, fungal, and protozoal infections is from the urethra and rectum into the prostate tissue.More commonly, lesions are associated with urinary tract infections, such as:
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra);
- Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder);
- Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis).
Sexually transmitted diseases are often the main cause of prostate inflammation, with gonorrhea being the most common.The formed pathological lesions are located near the prostate and can easily spread into prostate tissue.To prevent such diseases, it is important to have protected sexual intercourse.
Descending transmission routes of pathogens include lymphatic and hematogenous penetration from the primary lesion to the prostate.The source of infection may be pathological processes of the throat (sore throat), upper and lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, influenza) or the oral cavity (dental caries).
Disseminated or hematogenous tuberculosis.The first symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after the onset of the underlying disease.Gathering an epidemiological history is an important component of diagnosis.
Immune status plays an important role in the pathogenesis of prostatitis.Not all men exposed to infectious diseases will develop prostatitis.If the immune system suppresses the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, then the processes in the glandular tissue are stopped and pathology does not occur.On the other hand, reduced immunity can lead to complications.The prostate is a delicate organ located close to potential entry points for infection, so it is the first organ to be negatively affected by microorganisms.
Chronic
If acute prostatitis is left untreated, a chronic process can develop.The symptoms of this pathology are less obvious, the general condition is satisfactory, and the body temperature is normal.That is why men do not consider this pathological process dangerous and postpone visiting a doctor.
Like any chronic disease, prostatitis occurs in phases of remission and exacerbation.In the chronic course of the disease, the inflammatory response of prostate tissue is slow, so symptoms may not be fully apparent.They only intensify as they worsen.
Chronic pathological processes lead to the deterioration of the innervation of the organ, leading to nutritional (trophic) disorders of the organ, which negatively affects its function.Autoimmune reactions may also occur.A person's own immune system produces antibodies against prostate cells.In this case, inflammation persists even if the pathogenic microorganisms are completely eliminated.
stagnant
Non-infectious inflammation of the prostate occurs due to congestion in the pelvis.The disease develops gradually, and the symptom clusters gradually increase in intensity over time.This form of prostatitis is the most common today.
The main reason is the phenomenon of anemia, which causes blood to not flow from the pelvic area and therefore all the organs located in this area do not receive adequate nutrition and adequate oxygenation.The outflow of secretions is disturbed, and the pelvic diaphragm degenerates.The most important cause of stagnation is an inactive lifestyle.Trauma experienced can also lead to stagnation.Diabetes can reduce blood flow to the pelvic organs through macroscopic and microscopic vasculopathy.
Causes of congestive inflammation of the prostate:
| Cause | Pathogenesis |
|---|---|
| low level of physical activity | Experts believe this is the most common cause of congestive prostatitis.This is facilitated by the increasing impact of technological advances such as escalators, elevators, and automobiles on human life.Insufficient physical activity can cause the muscle pump mechanism to fail, which helps blood flow out of the organs.Prevention is exercise, exercise, walking |
| Malnutrition | Negatively affects all body systems and, most importantly, the regulation of the vasculature due to local and systemic factors |
| overweight | Obesity is a component of metabolic syndrome, which also includes hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes.One component has a beneficial effect on the possibility of developing other components, all of which can lead to insufficiency and stagnation of blood vessels |
| constipate | Increased rectal volume leading to venous compression and disruption of outflow |
| Sedentary lifestyle (common among drivers and office workers) | A person sits in a chair without changing his position for a long time.As a result, individual venous vessels become compressed and become locally hyperemic.Prevention methods include changing sitting postures and regular gymnastics and walking |
| Irregular sex life | Not only will the blood stagnate, but the prostate secretions will also stagnate.Due to metabolic processes, secretions can become toxic and produce systemic toxic effects.Excessive sexual activity is also harmful to men as it leads to exhaustion of the nervous and hormonal systems, loss of nutrients, overfunctioning of the glands and depletion of their regenerative capacity |
| Frequently resisting the urge to urinate | The prostate is an extra sphincter in the male body.Its excessive tension results in an increase in the size of the muscle tissue and a decrease in the size of the glandular tissue.Additionally, an enlarged bladder can put pressure on the veins, impairing outflow |
| Smoking and drinking | Smoking and drinking can lead to dystonia in blood vessels |
| lower back injury | Trauma often damages the prostate itself or important neurovascular bundles.This disrupts the trophic function of the gland and reduces blood flow |
| Nervous stress, stress and depression | Depletion of neuromodulation leading to vascular tone.Hormonal imbalance, leading to disruption of glandular regulation (development of prostate adenomas) and systemic blood circulation |
| Developmental and Structural Characteristics of the Urogenital System Organs | May make glands more susceptible to infection or remodeling |
All of these causes can have damaging effects on the circulatory system, both locally and throughout the body.
If a man feels that he is having trouble urinating, starts going to the toilet more frequently, and experiences pain in his waist and groin when urinating, then he needs to consult a urologist.
age effect
Experts consider prostatitis a disease more common in older people, but the proportion of younger people suffering from the disease has been increasing recently.According to unofficial statistics, based on comparison of diagnosed cases and research data, about 16% of men in the age group of 20 to 40 are officially diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.
Based on the indicators of men aged 20 to 39, experts concluded that the incidence rate of prostatitis is 1.7 times higher in those aged 40 to 49 years old, and 3.1 times higher in those over 55 years old.However, the statistics only consider identified patients.However, there are clear errors in official statistics and methods for diagnosing prostatitis are not yet mature enough.
Diagnosis and treatment
Treatment depends directly on the cause of the disease, so the most important point is diagnosis, including:
- Life and epidemiological histories were collected.
- ultrasound.
- Digital rectal examination.
- Prostatic Secretion Bacteriology.
- PSA level - analysis (needs to rule out prostate adenoma and prostate cancer).
- Urine test.
- General and biochemical blood tests.
A combination of the following methods is effective in treating prostatitis:
- Medication.Generally, the choice of medication is comprehensive.
- Medical massage.
- physiotherapy.Drug electrophoresis, Darsonvalization, UHF treatment, etc.
- Gymnastics and an active lifestyle.
- Folk remedies.Use various herbal preparations sold in pharmacies.
You should not prescribe medications or use conventional medicine without consulting a specialist.Many medications and herbs used to treat prostatitis are systemic in nature and are contraindicated in some patients.
Do not forget prevention, including elimination of harmful factors and an active lifestyle.