Acute prostatitis is an acute inflammation of the prostate caused by an infection.With the disease, swelling of the prostate gland is formed and purulent foci appear in its tissues.Statistical data give us the right to assert that acute prostatitis in men is a common disease;with age, the risk of occurrence increases.
The effectiveness of treatment of acute prostatitis directly depends on the timeliness of the patient's treatment.The disease rapidly evolves into a chronic form whose treatment 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 dilation of the acini and the appearance of reactive edema of the interstitial tissue.This leads to significant enlargement of the prostate.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 leading to the posterior part of the urethra.Inflammatory changes only affect the mucous membranes.The excretory ducts lose contractility, narrow significantly or become completely blocked, creating obstacles to the release of prostate secretions.The catarrhal form is directly related to the infectious pathogen that has moved from the posterior part of the urethra.Since the inflammatory process also affects the secretion of the prostate, it can provoke the appearance of posterior urethritis.
During the follicular stage, foci of inflammation reach and spread into individual lobules or throughout the prostate.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.This stage 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 single pustules, which in the process of development unite and combine with a prostate abscess.
As for the follicular and parenchymal forms, during their development, inflammatory changes often occur in the posterior part of the urethra and the neck of the bladder.
Prediction and prevention of acute prostatitis
In the vast majority of cases, etiotropic therapy, carried out in time, can eradicate the signs of acute prostatitis.If no treatment is carried out, it is entirely possible that an abscess will occur or that the disease will become chronic.
Prevention of this disease usually means the timely treatment of any infectious diseases in the body, as well as the identification and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and urethritis.A man should lead a healthy lifestyle, paying special attention to increasing physical activity.Also, the development of the disease is prevented by regular sex life and the absence of casual unprotected contact.Strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene is another important requirement for a man of any age.
Causes of disease
Acute prostatitis in men can occur at any age.The reason for this is often the penetration of various infectious pathogens.This is E.coli, but there can also be streptococci, staphylococci, Candida fungi, chlamydia, trichomonads.The most common route of entry is through the excretory ducts.The pathogen can also enter the prostate from the bladder, which undergoes 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 your risk include:
- surgical interventions on the urethra;
- unprotected sex, inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary tract in a partner;
- use of a urethral catheter;
- prostate stones, etc.
The occurrence of acute prostatitis may not be associated with infections.It can occur as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, hypothermia and various disorders leading to stagnation in the pelvic region.
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, these are pain, general intoxication, as well as problems associated with the process of urination.
The catarrhal form is generally accompanied by intense pain, a feeling of heaviness in the perineum, frequent urination, accompanied by painful sensations.During palpation, the doctor may notice an increase in the size of the prostate.Secretion test results may show an elevated white blood cell count.
The symptoms of acute prostatitis in follicular form are more pronounced.A man feels pain in the perineum, radiating towards the sacrum or penis.The process of urination is accompanied by pain, urine is retained, and difficulties with defecation often arise.There is general malaise and the patient has a fever.Palpation reveals an enlarged prostate, its contours becoming asymmetrical.Focal pain may occur.Tests show an increase in leukocyte levels 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 prostate abscess, paraprostatitis, phlebitis of the paraprostatic venous plexus.If the patient does not consult a doctor, the disease becomes chronic and the likelihood of full recovery significantly decreases.
Diagnosis of acute prostatitis
When a patient contacts a urologist, the doctor diagnoses acute prostatitis and identifies the stage of the disease.The specialist receives the information after conducting a thorough study.The methods used for diagnosis in this case consist of physical, instrumental and laboratory studies.
The physical examination consists of studying the condition of the prostate from the rectum.Thus, the specialist has the opportunity to assess 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 grains and an increase in the level of leukocytes.
Palpation of the gland also involves the collection and transfer of urine for examination.In most cases, acute prostatitis is signaled by an increase in leukocyte levels.A urine culture, PCR and blood culture as well as urethral discharge analysis are also prescribed.
Instrumental methods in the case of this disease are represented by ultrasound diagnostics carried out transrectally.If the patient presents with severe pain, the choice of examination is the transabdominal method.
When the question of surgical intervention arises, it becomes necessary to perform a CT scan and an 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.Firstly, 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, prescribing the patient etiotropic drugs.The most important role is played by antibacterial agents that suppress the functioning of microorganisms.
To reduce the intensity of pain and eliminate spasms, the patient is recommended to take antispasmodics and painkillers.Sometimes thermal enemas and rectal suppositories are used to relieve the condition.After overcoming acute symptoms, it becomes possible to resort to physiotherapy.These procedures increase microcirculation, improve local immunity and help eliminate inflammation.Among the physiotherapeutic methods of treating acute prostatitis, the most effective are prostate massage, as well as microwave therapy and electrophoresis.For many years, prostate massage has been considered a particularly popular measure, which helps to eliminate congestion;it is also recommended to use it regularly as a preventative measure in men who have reached the age of forty.
In case of problems with the urinary process, a catheter is not used;trocar cystostomy is preferable.
Recovery is considered the regeneration of prostate tissue, the complete restoration of its functions, while laboratory tests indicate the absence of infectious pathogens and prostate secretion returns to its normal composition.
Surgery is not a widely used treatment for prostatitis.This does not always bring results.The surgical solution provides a positive dynamic in less than half of the cases.The most common side effect of the operation is erectile dysfunction.Retrograde ejaculation is also common, in which during ejaculation sperm enter the bladder and stricture of the ureter sometimes occurs.The surgical method does not guarantee against relapses.Therefore, surgical intervention is only used in certain cases, such as:
- the occurrence of a prostate abscess, which must be opened and cleaned;
- lack of results of treatment using conservative methods in the form of medications, traditional medicine, physiotherapeutic procedures;
- development of serious complications;
- the presence of a focus of inflammation in the pelvic region;
- 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 and kidneys, the cause of which was prostatitis;
- suspicion of a malignant tumor.