The fight against prostatitis is a complex and rather long process that does not allow for self-medication.Since this disease can cause pathologies of male reproductive function and serious disturbances in the functioning of other organs and systems, all measures to establish a diagnosis and determine the necessary treatment strategy can only be performed by a urologist.How do we treat prostatitis so that the disease recedes as quickly as possible, and what does the complex of therapeutic measures consist of?
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Identifying the presence of prostatitis in a patient is usually not difficult for a urologist, and the main goal of diagnostic procedures is to determine the cause and form of the disease.Certain types of tests may cause discomfort or pain to patients, but certain stages of clinical diagnosis must be passed in order for the attending physician to collect useful information:
- Primary rectal digital examination and collection of prostate secretions for analysis to determine the nature of the disease (abacterial or infectious forms of prostatitis).If an infectious agent is detected in the biological material, a test should be performed to determine the sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora to antibiotics in order to optimize subsequent therapeutic measures.
- Transabdominal or transrectal ultrasound examination.Prescribed as needed to clarify the characteristics of the prostate gland.Transabdominal ultrasound is performed through the anterior abdominal wall and does not cause discomfort to the patient.However, the transrectal examination of the prostate (through the rectum), although moderately painful, is a more informative procedure, as it allows not only the parameters of the gland, but also its structural changes.
- PSA blood test.Exceeding the normal level of prostate-specific antigen (4 ng/ml) in the blood may indicate the presence of pathological processes in the prostate gland.Determination of PSA values should be performed not only in the process of diagnosing prostatitis, but also during the treatment of the disease in order to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy.
The main therapeutic components and treatment methods of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis and exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease are treated according to similar schemes.Correctly selected, rational therapy in the first case presupposes the patient's complete recovery, and in the second case leads to a cure or long-term remission of the disease.Only a urologist can decide how to treat prostatitis without harming the patient's health and achieve maximum effect with the tools and methods used;the patient's role in this process is to strictly follow all the instructions of the practitioner.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment is the basis of any therapeutic effect of inflammatory foci of the prostate.The selection of the necessary drugs is carried out by the urologist based on the data of laboratory tests and other preliminary tests.The direction of the effect of drug therapy includes the following:
- reducing the patient's pain;
- normalization of blood circulation in the prostate gland and adjacent organs;
- localization and destruction of the infectious agent;
- elimination of inflammatory reactions and congestion in the prostate;
- stabilization of immunity, sexual performance and general well-being of the patient
The optimal effectiveness of drug therapy is achieved by combining antibiotics, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs, antidepressants, microenemas and suppositories in a wellness program.
Local therapy
The local restorative effect on the prostate gland and its inflamed areas is achieved by using various types of physiotherapy in the treatment program:
- ultrasonic phonophoresis;
- transrectal microwave hyperthermia;
- diadynamophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- prostate massage.
It should be noted that despite its relative pain, massage is the most effective means of combating prostatitis.Thanks to such procedures, stagnant exudate is removed from the prostate gland, which improves blood circulation in the affected tissues and increases the effectiveness of the drugs used by the patient.The massage is prescribed to the patient during the period of remission or subsidence of the acute manifestations of the disease.During the exacerbation of prostatitis, the doctor excludes procedures from the list of therapeutic measures, as they can provoke the spread of the infection.
Herbal medicine
As part of complex therapy, patients suffering from prostatitis are prescribed herbal treatment.The use of health products of plant origin is possible in the long term due to their harmless effect on the body and the low occurrence of side effects.Herbs can be used internally and/or externally in the form of juices, decoctions or infusions of St. John's wort, ginseng, calamus, lily of the valley, burdock, nettle and other herbs.In the chronic form of prostatitis, the doctor may prescribe magnetic, phono- or electrophoresis of herbs.
Medicines to treat prostatitis
The medical treatment used by the patients is prescribed individually for them by the attending physician.The antibiotic program is developed taking into account the following specific criteria:
- the form of the disease;
- the type of pathogen and the antimicrobial effect of the drug;
- penetration of the drug into the prostate tissue;
- there are no contraindications to taking the drug;
- method of administration of the drug;
- possible side effects
Based on the effectiveness of the treatment of chronic and acute prostatitis, we distinguish three main groups of antibacterial agents:
- Fluoroquinolones.Medicines belonging to this group have a broad spectrum of action and can accumulate in high concentrations in the prostate tissue;in this case, the pathogenic bacteria do not develop resistance to the active ingredient.The "disadvantage" of fluoroquinolones is their possible negative effect on the central nervous system and the likelihood of allergic reactions in patients.
- Tetracyclines.These drugs are most effective against atypical pathogens, but are not effective enough against E. coli and staphylococci, and are completely ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Macrolides.Drugs from the macrolide group easily penetrate and actively accumulate in the tissues of the gland;however, they are low-toxic and effective in killing Gram-positive bacteria, and weakly effective in suppressing Gram-negative bacteria.
During the first days of taking the prescribed antibacterial drugs, the patient diagnosed with prostatitis should visit his doctor regularly.This measure is necessary for the urologist to monitor the effectiveness of the antibiotics.If, after three days of treatment, the specialist does not notice any visible improvement in the patient's condition, he will replace the main drug.When prescribing antibiotics, the doctor must take into account the patient's experience with taking similar drugs in order to avoid re-prescribing a drug from the same group.
In addition to antibacterial and painkillers, patients with prostatitis may also be prescribed hormone therapy and (or) alpha-blockers:
- Hormone therapy.The condition and functions of the prostate depend directly on the amount of androgens and estrogens in the male body.The use of hormonal drugs in the treatment of prostatitis makes it possible to shift the balance of "female" and "male" hormones in a specific direction.Since such drugs help to reduce the glandular tissue of the prostate, we can talk about the indirect role of antiandrogens in the recovery of patients with prostatitis.
- Alpha-adrenergic blockers.Taking such drugs refers to the method of pathogenetic therapy;aims to alleviate the general symptoms of prostatitis.The use of alpha-blockers is particularly effective for urinary problems.By alleviating spasm of the sphincter muscle, the wall of the ureter, the smooth muscle of the bladder, as well as the prostate gland itself, stagnation or reflux of prostatic secretions can be prevented, and swelling from the inflamed organ will be reduced.
Regardless of the purpose and characteristics of the medication, any medication should only be taken as prescribed and under the supervision of a doctor.Self-medication can lead to complications of the disease or make subsequent therapy ineffective in clinical conditions.
Immune correction is the key to successful treatment
The entire complex of treatment procedures for chronic or acute prostatitis must necessarily be accompanied by immunocorrective measures (regular visits to an immunologist, normalization of lifestyle, taking vitamins, immunomodulators, etc.).The high immunity of the body contributes to the rapid recovery of the patient or to the prolongation of the remission period in the chronic form of the disease.
In case of symptoms characteristic of the disease, visiting a specialist in time, in case of prostatitis diagnosis, strict adherence to medical recommendations, prevention of relapse of the existing disease and categorical rejection of self-medication in favor of the professional intervention of a urologist make it possible to avoid long-term treatment and the undesirable consequences of a serious disease.