Prostatitis is an inflammatory process in the tissues of the prostate.Today, around 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.
Main causes of prostatitis
The clinical picture of prostatitis involves a wide range of symptoms associated with the body's systemic response to the inflammatory process.Urination problems and sexual dysfunction are the most common and most important.The degree of manifestation of symptoms of prostatitis is multifactorial in nature, that is, it depends on many factors: the individual characteristics of the man's body, the condition of the prostate and the presence of concomitant pathologies, the man's lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse and the activity of the immune system.
Experts distinguish two main types of diseases, 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 the background of ischemia and impairment (damage) and remodeling of the gland, replacement of functionally active connective tissue.
Often one form of the disease transforms into another.The infectious process affects blood vessels and disrupts local circulation, causing stagnation;on the other hand, initial stagnation reduces the ability of the immune system to locally fight the developing infection, because it reduces the rate of blood transport of immunocompetent cells to the lesion.Prostatitis presents 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 correctly, it can become stationary and then chronic.At the time of exacerbation of prostatitis, a man experiences a general deterioration in his health, pain appears in the lower back, in the groin area, the process of urination is disrupted, and the body temperature rises.
Spicy
An acute pathological process, unlike a chronic one, manifests itself suddenly and has clear clinical symptoms that force a man to consult a doctor.The body temperature rises to 39 degrees, the man feels severe pain in the lumbar region.The highest point of incidence is between 30 and 40 years of age.
The cause of the pathological process is infectious foci that can be located in distant organs.The causative agent of the disease can enter the prostate either through the ascending rectal route, through the urethra, or through the hematogenous (through blood) and lymphogenic (through lymph) routes.
The type of pathogen directly affects the therapy performed:
| Pathogenic | Frequency of occurrence | Gram stain (necessary to select antibiotic therapy) |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli | Often | GR- |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) | Often | GR- |
| Klebsiella spp. | Often | GR- |
| Fecal enterococcus | Often | GR+ |
| Proteus (Proteus mirabilis) | Often | GR- |
| Serratia marcescens | Rarely | GR- |
| Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) | Often | GR- |
| Staphylococci (Staphylococci spp) | Rarely | GR+ |
| Enterobacteria | Rarely | GR- |
| Ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum) | Rarely | GR- |
| Gonococci (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | Rarely | GR- |
| Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis) | Rarely | Mollicutes |
| Candida (Candida spp.) | Rarely | Mushrooms |
| Trichomonas | Rarely | Protozoa |
Prostatitis can be caused by:
- intestinal and urological infections;
- infectious diseases of the genital area;
- diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract.
Caries are often the cause of inflammatory lesions of internal organs.
The ascending route of infection by bacteria, fungi, and protozoa occurs as they enter prostate tissue through the urethra and rectum.Most often, the lesion is associated with urological infections, such as:
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra);
- cystitis (inflammation of the bladder);
- pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis).
Sexually transmitted diseases often become the main cause of prostate inflammation, with gonorrhea being the most common.The formed pathological focus, located in the immediate vicinity of the prostate, easily spreads into the prostate tissue.To prevent such diseases, it is important to practice safe sex.
The descending route of spread of the pathogen consists of its penetration of the main focus into the prostate by lymphogenic and hematogenous routes.The source of infection can be a pathological process in the throat (sore throat), upper and lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, flu) or oral cavity (caries).
Disseminated or hematogenous tuberculosis.The first symptoms appear 2 to 3 weeks after the underlying disease.Collecting an epidemiological history is an important part of 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, the process in the glandular tissue stops without the appearance of pathology.On the other hand, weakened immunity leads to complications.The prostate is a vulnerable organ located near potential entry points for infection.It is therefore 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 a visit to the doctor.
Like any chronic disease, prostatitis occurs in stages of remission and exacerbation.In a chronic course, inflammation of the prostate tissue is slow and therefore symptoms may not fully manifest themselves.They will only intensify at the time of exacerbation.
A chronic pathological process causes deterioration of the innervation of the organ, which leads to disorders of the trophism (nutrition) of the organ, which negatively affects its functioning.An autoimmune reaction is also likely to develop.A person's immune system produces antibodies against prostate cells.In this case, the inflammation will persist even after the pathogenic microorganism has been completely eliminated.
Stagnant
Non-infectious inflammation of the prostate is caused by congestion in the pelvis.The disease develops gradually, and over time the intensity of the symptom complex increases.This form of prostatitis is the most common today.
The main reason is discirculatory phenomena, which lead to the fact that blood does not flow from the pelvic region, so all organs located in this area do not receive sufficient nutrition and adequate oxygenation.The flow of secretions is disturbed and degeneration of the pelvic diaphragm muscles occurs.The most important reason for stagnation is an inactive lifestyle.Suffered trauma also contributes 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 the most common cause of congestive prostatitis.This is facilitated by the increasing influence of technological progress on human life: escalators, elevators, cars.Low physical activity leads to a failure of the muscle pump mechanism, which helps blood move away from the organs.Prevention is exercise, sport, walking |
| Poor diet | 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 metabolic syndrome, which also includes hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus.One component has a beneficial effect on the likelihood of developing others, which leads to vascular insufficiency and stagnation. |
| Constipation | An increase in the volume of the rectum leads to compression of the veins and disruption of flow |
| Sedentary lifestyle (common among drivers and office workers) | Sitting on a chair, a person does not change his position for a long time.This results in compression of individual venous vessels and local congestion.Prevention is a change in sitting position and periodic exercises, walks |
| Irregular sex life | Leads to stagnation not only of blood, but also of prostate secretion.Due to metabolic processes, the secretion can turn into poison and produce a systemic toxic effect.Excessive sexual activity is also harmful to a man, as it leads to exhaustion of the nervous and hormonal systems, loss of nutrients, hyperfunction of the gland and depletion of its regenerative properties. |
| Frequently restraining the urge to urinate | The prostate is an additional sphincter in the male body.Its overwork 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. |
| Tobacco and alcohol abuse | Smoking and alcohol lead to dysregulation of vascular tone |
| Trauma in the lumbar region | Trauma often damages the prostate 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 exhaustion of nervous regulation of vascular tone.A hormonal imbalance develops, which leads to disruption of the regulation of the gland (development of prostate adenoma) and systemic hemocirculation |
| Features of the development and structure of the organs of the genitourinary system | May make the gland more likely to become infected or remodel |
All these reasons have a destructive effect on the circulatory system, both local and general.
If a man feels that he has problems with urination, he begins to go to the toilet more often, he is bothered by pain in the lower back and groin when urinating, then he should consult a urologist.
Effect of age
Experts consider prostatitis a disease that manifests itself more often in old age, but recently the percentage of young people suffering from this pathology has increased.According to unofficial statistics, based on a comparison of diagnostic and research case data, about 16% of men aged 20 to 40 are officially diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.
Based on the indicators of men aged 20 to 39, experts find that the statistical incidence of prostatitis in the age group 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, official statistics have a notable error and methods for diagnosing prostatitis are not sufficiently developed.
Diagnosis and treatment
The method of treatment directly depends on the cause of the disease, therefore the most important point is diagnosis, which includes:
- Collection of life history and epidemiological history.
- Ultrasound.
- Digital rectal examination.
- Bacteriology of prostate secretion.
- PSA level - analysis (necessary to exclude 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.Medicines are usually selected comprehensively.
- Medical massage.
- Physiotherapy.Medicinal electrophoresis, Darsonvalization, UHF therapy, etc.
- Gymnastics and active lifestyle.
- Folk remedies.The use of various herbal preparations sold in pharmacies.
You should not prescribe pills yourself or practice traditional medicine without consulting a specialist.Many drugs and herbs intended for the treatment of prostatitis are systemic in nature and are contraindicated in some patients.
Do not forget about prevention, which consists of eliminating harmful factors and leading an active lifestyle.