Prostatitis is an inflammatory process in the tissues of the prostate gland.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 to treat, so it is important to know the causes of prostatitis, symptoms of its acute and chronic forms, and ways to prevent complications such as adenoma and prostate cancer.
The main causes of prostatitis
The clinical picture of prostatitis includes a wide range of symptoms related to the body's systemic response to the inflammatory process.The most common and significant are urination problems and disorders of sexual life.The degree of manifestation of the symptoms of prostatitis is multifactorial, that is, it depends on many factors: the individual characteristics of the man's body, the state of the prostate and the presence of accompanying diseases, the man's lifestyle, smoking, alcoholism and the activity of the immune system.
Experts distinguish two main types of disease, on which further treatment depends:
- Infectious.Inflammation is associated with the pathogenic effect of microorganisms.
- Stagnant.The inflammation is related to blood stasis, hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and the background of this is ischemia and changes (damage) and remodeling of the gland, replacement of functionally active connective tissue.
Often one form of the disease passes into another.The infectious process affects the blood vessels and disrupts local circulation, causing stagnation;on the other hand, the initial stasis reduces the ability of the immune system to fight the emerging infection locally by reducing the rate of blood delivery of immunocompetent cells to the lesion.Prostatitis occurs in acute and chronic forms.Specialists encounter the first one more often - 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 properly, it can become permanent and then become chronic.When prostatitis worsens, the man experiences a general deterioration of his health, pain occurs in the lower back and groin, the urination process is interrupted, and the body temperature rises.
Spicy
The acute pathological process, unlike the chronic one, appears suddenly and has clear clinical symptoms that force a person to consult a doctor.The body temperature rises to 39 degrees, the man feels severe pain in the lumbar region.The highest incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
The cause of the pathological process is infectious foci, which can be located in distant organs.The causative agent of the disease can enter the prostate rectally or through the urethra, or hematogenously (through the blood) and lymphogenously (through the lymph).
The type of pathogen directly affects the therapy performed:
| Pathogen | Frequency of occurrence | Gram stain (required to select antibiotic therapy) |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli | Often | GR- |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) | Often | GR- |
| Klebsiella spp. | Often | GR- |
| Enterococcus faecalis | Often | GR+ |
| Proteus (Proteus mirabilis) | Often | GR- |
| Serratia marcescens | Rarely | GR- |
| Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) | Often | GR- |
| Staphylococcus (Staphylococcus spp.) | Rarely | GR+ |
| Enterobacteriaceae | Rarely | GR- |
| Ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum) | Rarely | GR- |
| Gonococci (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | Rarely | GR- |
| Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis) | Rarely | Mollicutes |
| Candida (Candida spp.) | Rarely | Mushroom |
| Trichomonas | Rarely | Protozoa |
Prostatitis can be caused by:
- intestinal and urological infections;
- infectious diseases of the genital organs;
- upper and lower respiratory diseases.
Dental caries is often the cause of inflammatory changes in internal organs.
The ascending route of infection by bacteria, fungi and protozoa is when they enter the prostate tissue from the urethra and rectum.More 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 prostatitis, with gonorrhea being the most common.The formed pathological focus, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the prostate, easily spreads to the prostate tissue.In order to prevent such diseases, it is important to practice protected sex.
The pathogen's descending route of spread consists of lymphogenous and hematogenous penetration of the prostate from the primary focus.The source of the infection can be a pathological process in the throat (sore throat), in the upper and lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, flu) or in the oral cavity (caries).
Disseminated or hematogenous tuberculosis.The first symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after the underlying disease.Collecting the epidemiological anamnesis is an important element of the diagnosis.
The immune status plays an important role in the occurrence 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 gland tissue stops without the occurrence of pathology.On the other hand, weakened immunity leads to complications.The prostate is a vulnerable organ located close to potential entry points for infection, making it the first to be negatively affected by microbes.
Chronic
A chronic process develops if acute prostatitis has not been treated.The symptoms of this form of pathology are less pronounced, the general condition is satisfactory, the temperature is normal.Therefore, men do not consider such a pathological process to be dangerous and postpone going to the doctor.
Like any chronic disease, prostatitis also occurs in stages of remission and exacerbation.In the case of a chronic course, the inflammation of the prostate tissue is slow, so the symptoms may not appear completely.They only increase at the moment of exacerbation.
The chronic pathological process causes deterioration of the innervation of the organ, which leads to disturbances in the trophism (nutrition) of the organ, which negatively affects its functioning.An autoimmune reaction is also likely to develop.A person's own immune system produces antibodies against prostate cells.In this case, the inflammation persists even after the causative microorganism has been completely disposed of.
Stagnant
Non-infectious inflammation of the prostate occurs due to pelvic congestion.The disease develops gradually, and the intensity of the symptom complex increases over time.This form of prostatitis is the most common today.
The main reason for this is discirculation phenomena, which lead to the fact that blood does not flow out of the pelvic area, so that all the organs in this area do not receive enough nutrition and adequate oxygen supply.The outflow of secretions is interrupted, and degeneration of the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm occurs.The most important cause of stagnation is an inactive lifestyle.Suffered traumas also contribute to stagnation.Diabetes mellitus can reduce blood flow to the pelvic organs through macro- and microangiopathy.
Causes of congestive inflammation of the prostate:
| Etiological factor | Pathogenesis |
|---|---|
| Low physical activity | According to experts, this is the most common cause of stagnant prostatitis.This is facilitated by the fact that technological development has an increasing impact on human life: escalators, elevators, cars.Low physical activity leads to a failure of the muscle pump mechanism, which promotes the outflow of blood from the organs.Prevention is movement, sports, walking |
| Bad nutrition | Due to local and systemic factors, it negatively affects all body systems, and above all, the regulation of the vascular system |
| He is overweight | Obesity is a component of the metabolic syndrome, which also includes hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes.One component has a beneficial effect on the probability of the development of the others, each of 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 outflow |
| Sedentary lifestyle (common among drivers and office workers) | Sitting on a chair, a person does not change his position for a long time.As a result, compression of individual venous vessels and local congestion occurs.Prevention consists of changing the sitting position and periodic gymnastics and walks |
| Irregular sex life | It leads to stagnation not only of the blood, but also of the secretion of the prostate.As a result of metabolic processes, the secretion can turn into a poison and cause a systemic toxic effect.Excessive sexual activity is also harmful to men, as it leads to the exhaustion of the nervous and hormonal systems, loss of nutrients, gland overactivity and exhaustion of regenerative abilities. |
| Often withholds the urge to urinate | The prostate is another sphincter in the male body.Its overload leads to an increase in the volume of muscle tissue and a decrease in the volume of glandular tissue.Also, an enlarged bladder puts pressure on the veins, impairing outflow |
| Smoking and alcohol consumption | Smoking and alcohol lead to dysregulation of vascular tone |
| Traumatization in the lumbar region | Trauma often damages the prostate itself or important neurovascular bundles.This disrupts the gland's trophism and reduces blood flow |
| Excessive nervous tension, stress and depression | It leads to exhaustion of the neural control of vascular tone.A hormonal imbalance develops, which leads to disruption of the regulation of the gland (formation of prostate adenoma) and systemic blood circulation. |
| Characteristics of the development and structure of the organs of the urogenital system | It can make the gland more likely to become infected or transformed |
All these causes have a destructive effect on the circulatory system, both locally and generally.
If a man feels that he has problems urinating, starts going to the toilet more often, is bothered by pain in the waist and groin while urinating, he should consult a urologist.
The effect of age
Experts consider prostatitis to be a disease that occurs more often in old age, but recently the proportion of young people suffering from this pathology is increasing.According to unofficial statistics, based on a comparison of diagnostic cases and research data, about 16% of men between the ages of 20 and 40 are officially diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.
Based on the indicators of men between the ages of 20 and 39, the experts estimate that the statistical incidence of prostatitis is 1.7 times higher in the age group of 40 to 49 years, and 3.1 times higher in those over the age of 55.However, the statistics only take into account identified patients.However, official statistics have a noticeable error, and the methods for diagnosing prostatitis are not developed enough.
Diagnosis and treatment
The method of treatment depends directly on the cause of the disease, so the most important point is the diagnosis, which includes:
- Life history and epidemiologic history collection.
- Ultrasound.
- Rectal digital examination.
- Bacteriology of prostatic secretion.
- PSA level - analysis (necessary to rule out prostate adenoma and prostate cancer).
- Urine tests.
- General and biochemical blood test.
Treatment of prostatitis is effective with a combination of the following methods:
- Drug treatment.Medicines are usually selected comprehensively.
- Medical massage.
- Physiotherapy.Medical electrophoresis, darsonvalization, UHF therapy, etc.
- Gymnastics and an active lifestyle.
- Folk remedies.Use of various herbal preparations sold in pharmacies.
Do not self-prescribe pills or practice traditional medicine without consulting a specialist.Many drugs and herbs used to treat prostatitis are systemic and contraindicated in some patients.
Don't forget about prevention, which includes eliminating harmful factors and leading an active lifestyle.