Acute prostatitis is an acute inflammation of the prostate gland caused by an infection.With the disease, swelling of the prostate and purulent foci appear in its tissues.Statistical data give us the right to say 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 timeliness of the patient's treatment.The disease quickly develops into a chronic form, the treatment of which is longer and more complex.
Forms of acute prostatitis
If we talk about the clinical development of acute prostatitis in men, there are three forms (stages) of the disease:
- catarrhal;
- follicular;
- parenchymatous.
The first to appear is catarrhal inflammation, characterized by the dilation of the acini and the appearance of reactive edema of the interstitial tissue.This leads to 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 prostate glands that lead to the back of the urethra.Inflammatory changes affect only the mucous membranes.The excretory ducts lose their contractility, become significantly narrowed or completely blocked, creating obstacles to the release of prostatic secretions.The catarrhal form is directly related to the infectious pathogen that has moved from the back of the urethra.Since the inflammatory process also affects prostatic secretion, it can cause the appearance of posterior urethritis.
During the follicular phase, foci of inflammation reach and spread to individual lobules or the entire prostate gland.Purulent foci appear, pus passes into the urethra.Prostate enlargement does not stop;tissues undergo destructive changes.
During the parenchymal phase of acute prostatitis, inflammatory processes affect the interstitial tissue of the prostate gland.This phase occurs after the penetration of an infectious pathogen through contact or hematogenously, for example after surgery.
Parenchymal prostatitis at the beginning of the disease is accompanied by the appearance of individual pustules, which during the process of development merge and combine with a prostatic abscess.
As for follicular and parenchymal forms, during their development inflammatory changes often occur in the back of the urethra and in the neck of the bladder.
Prediction and prevention of acute prostatitis
In the vast majority of cases, etiotropic therapy, carried out promptly, can eradicate the signs of acute prostatitis.If treatment is not carried out, it is quite possible that an abscess will form or the disease will become chronic.
Prevention of this disease usually means timely treatment of any infectious diseases in the body, as well as identification and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and urethritis.A man must lead a healthy lifestyle, paying special attention to increasing physical activity.In addition, the development of the disease is prevented by regular sexual life and the absence of casual unprotected contacts.Strict compliance with the rules of personal hygiene is another important requirement for a man 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.This is E. coli, but there may also be streptococci, staphylococci, Candida fungi, chlamydia, trichomonas.The most common route of entry is the excretory ducts.The pathogen can also enter the prostate gland from the bladder, which is undergoing an inflammatory process (for example, acute cystitis).The infection can also spread from purulent foci located in the immediate vicinity.
The inflammatory process in the prostate caused by the presence of microorganisms can occur for various reasons.Factors that increase risk include:
- surgical interventions in the urethral area;
- unprotected sexual intercourse, inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary tract in a partner;
- use of a urethral catheter;
- prostate stones, etc.
The appearance of acute prostatitis may not be associated with infections.It can occur due to a sedentary lifestyle, hypothermia and various disorders that lead to stagnation in the pelvic area.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis
Since there are several stages of acute prostatitis, the symptoms of the disease often depend on them.But there are common characteristics that unite all forms.First of all, it is pain, general intoxication and problems with the urination process.
The catarrhal form is usually accompanied by severe pain, feeling of heaviness in the perineal area, frequent urination, accompanied by painful sensations.During palpation, your doctor may notice an increase in the size of the prostate gland.Secretion test results may show an elevated level of white blood cells.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis in the follicular form are more pronounced.A man feels pain in the perineum, radiating to the sacrum or penis.The process of urination is accompanied by pain, urine is retained, and difficulties with defecation often occur.There is general malaise and the patient has a fever.Palpation shows an enlarged prostate, its contours become asymmetrical.Focal pain may occur.Tests show an increased level of leukocytes and the presence of purulent threads in the urine.
The parenchymal form is accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature, values can reach 39.5 degrees.General symptoms are pronounced: chills, loss of appetite and lack of strength.Urination is delayed, the process is accompanied by severe pain.Defecation is also difficult and constipation becomes severe.
In such cases, it is necessary to urgently start treatment for acute prostatitis.If the process is started, there is a high probability of prostatic abscess, paraprostatitis, phlebitis of the paraprostatic venous plexus.If the patient does not turn to the doctor, the disease becomes chronic and the probability of full recovery decreases significantly.
Diagnosis of acute prostatitis
When a patient turns to a urologist, the doctor diagnoses acute prostatitis, identifying in which stage the disease is.The specialist receives the information after conducting a comprehensive study.The methods used in diagnosis in this case consist of physical, instrumental and laboratory studies.
The objective examination consists in studying the condition of the prostate gland from the rectum.Therefore, the specialist has the opportunity to evaluate the size, shape, consistency of the organ and the presence of pain.As a result of the analysis of the secreted secretion, it is easy to determine a decrease in the number of lecithin granules and an increase in the level of leukocytes.
Palpation of the gland also involves collecting and transferring urine for examination.In most cases, acute prostatitis is signaled by an increase in the level of leukocytes.Urine culture, PCR, blood culture and analysis of urethral secretions are also prescribed.
The instrumental methods in the case of this disease are represented by ultrasound diagnostics performed transrectally.If the patient has severe pain, the choice of examination is the transabdominal method.
When the question of surgical intervention arises, it becomes necessary to perform a CT and MRI of the pelvis.
Treatment of acute prostatitis
Treatment of acute prostatitis is carried out in a hospital setting.This is due to two factors.First, there is a risk of serious complications that can compromise a man'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, prescribing the patient etiotropic drugs.The most important role is played by antibacterial agents that suppress the functioning of microorganisms.
To reduce the severity of pain and get rid of spasms, the patient is advised to take antispasmodics and analgesics.Thermal enemas and rectal suppositories are sometimes used to relieve the condition.After overcoming acute symptoms, it becomes possible to use physiotherapy.These procedures increase microcirculation, improve local immunity and help eliminate inflammation.Among the physiotherapeutic methods for treating acute prostatitis, the most effective are prostate massage, microwave therapy and electrophoresis.For many years, prostate massage has been considered a particularly popular measure, which helps to eliminate congestion;its regular use is also recommended as a preventive measure for men who have reached the age of forty.
In case of problems with the urinary process, the catheter is not used;cystostomy with trocars is preferred instead.
Recovery is considered to be the regeneration of prostate tissue, the complete restoration of its functions, while laboratory tests indicate that infectious pathogens are absent and prostatic secretion returns to its normal composition.
Surgery is not a widely used treatment for prostatitis.It doesn't always bring results.The surgical solution brings positive dynamics in less than half of cases.The most common side effect of the operation is erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation is also common, in which during ejaculation sperm enters the bladder and sometimes narrowing of the ureter occurs.The surgical method does not guarantee against relapses.Therefore, surgery is only used in some cases, such as:
- the occurrence of a prostatic abscess, which must be opened and cleaned;
- lack of results from treatment with conservative methods in the form of medicines, traditional medicine, physiotherapeutic procedures;
- development of serious complications;
- the presence of a focus of inflammation in the pelvic area;
- formation of paraproctitis (purulent abscess in the cells located around the rectum);
- presence of blood in the urine;
- delayed urination and cessation of urination (anuria);
- the presence of stones in the bladder, kidneys, the cause of which was prostatitis;
- suspicion of malignant tumor.