Acute prostatitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, methods of treatment

Many doctors jokingly call the male menopause of prostatitis. This disease is diagnosed in 20% of cases in men after forty years, in 70% - after sixty years and in 90% of cases after the age of seventy. The disease can occur in two forms: acute and chronic prostatitis. This disease must be treated, especially since it lends itself well to therapy. But many men ignore the unpleasant symptoms, which leads to the development of many complications, which become more difficult to cure.

Development reasons

Acute prostatitis is an acute pathology of the prostate gland that develops as a result of an inflammatory and infectious process in an organ due to the penetration of pathogens into its tissues. The disease is characterized by the appearance of swelling of the gland, purulent content in its tissues.This leads to the appearance of many unpleasant symptoms, disruption of the functionality of the organs of the genitourinary system.

There are many causes of acute prostatitis. In most cases, it is caused by pathogens.Some microbes can exist passively in a healthy person on the skin or intestines. Under the influence of certain factors, they are activated, enter the tissues of the gland and actively multiply there. Often the disease appears due to STDs, for example,chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea, etc.

In addition, an acute form of prostatitis occurs as a complication of urethritis. Germs enter through ducts that open into the urethra. In addition, the spread of bacteria from other organs of the genitourinary system often becomes the cause of the appearance of prostatitis. Often the gland can be affectedduring surgeries, catheterization, diagnostic measures.

Since there is a large number of blood vessels in the prostate, infection can enter here with the blood flow in the presence of chronic pathologies in the body, for example,tonsillitis, bronchitis, etc.In the presence ofanal fissures, microbes can enter the prostate with lymphatic flow.

But infections do not always lead to the development of disease. Congestion of the vessels of the pelvic region, which developswith prolonged abstinence from sexual intercourse or a large number of them.

Congestion is also associated withlack of physical activity, constant constipation, alcoholism, varicose veins in the pelvic area, hypothermia.

Classification

In urology, there are several forms of pathology, which are also its stages of development:

The
1. Catarrhal formis ​​characterized by the appearance of inflammation in the organ, a change in its mucous epithelium. Over time, the swelling of the gland occurs, a mucopurulent secret is collected in it, contributing to the progression of the disease.
2. Then the focal suppuration appears. The disease enters the second stage (form) -follicular form. The urinary ducts are narrowed or blocked, the secret ceases to be excreted normally from the organ. Pus can be secreted into the urinary tract, forming purulent foci there. The cells of the gland change, the prostate continues to swell and grow.
The
3. parenchymal formdevelops when an organ is completely inflamed, a purulent infection develops in it. In the absence of treatment, small purulent foci merge into one, an abscess develops, which often opens into the urethra, intestines and bladder. In some cases, the development of this form of pathology at once is possible when the infection enters the interstitial tissue of an organ with blood or lymphatic flow.

Symptoms

Has symptoms of acute prostatitis. The strength with which the signs will be visible and felt will depend on the form (stage) of the disease. Common signs of the disease are:

pain syndrome
• during urinary excretion;
• symptoms of intoxication;
• pain in the genital area;
• frequent urge to go to the bathroom, especially at night;
• possible discharge from urethra.

As a man's prostatitis progresses, the pain syndrome spreads to other areas. This is due to the transmission of impulses along the nerve endings. Excretion of urine becomes very painful. Often at this stage, an acute delay develops, which is considered a dangerous condition because it can lead to a ruptured bladder.

Symptoms of acute prostatitis continue to increase. There is severe pain during a bowel movement, the body temperature rises. The prostate becomes enlarged, tense, and painful. The urine will be cloudy due to the pus and mucus content.

In the last stage, the disease manifests itself strongly.

Body temperature rises significantly, it is accompanied by fever and chills, loss of appetite, severe weakness, exhaustion of the body as a whole. Urination may stop completely, and the man will experience sharp, severe pain when trying to use the toilet. This condition is excruciating, the pain syndrome begins to spread throughout the pelvic area. A man cannot find a place for himself, he is forced to lie down with his limbs bent. If the inflammation has spread to the rectum, mucus will come out of the anus. Yellow-green mucus mixed with blood is released from the urinary tract.

This condition can causesepsis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, chronic prostatitis, abscess. In this case, urgent hospitalization of the patient and emergency treatment is required.

Diagnostics

Since the symptoms of acute prostatitis in men are quite pronounced, the doctor can immediately suspect a pathology. But it needs a closer look. Rectal examination in this case is strictly contraindicated.

The urologist should determine the stage (form) of the disease using laboratory and instrumental techniques. The doctor takes aprostate secretfor examination. The concentration of leukocytes will be increased there, which indicates acute inflammation.

Thenlaboratory blood and urine tests are performed. Urine is sent for bacteriological culture for examination, as well as for the determination of the causative agent of infection and its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. It is also possible to perform:

• PCR for the detection of STDs;
• uroflowmetry to identify the severity of organic disorders;
• Ultrasound of the prostate to determine the shape and size of the organ, its changes, the stage of the disease;
Dopplerometry
• can distinguish acute prostatitis from other pathologies;
• MRI of the pelvic organs is often ordered when planning a surgical procedure;
• analysis of the concentration of SPA in the blood;
• examination of urethral discharge smears;
• puncture of parts of the organ with suspicion of purulent infection and abscess.

Processing

A urologist will give you detailed instructions on how to treat acute prostatitis. The main component of treatment is an antibacterial drug, which is selected depending on the results of bacterial culture. In two or three days, the antibiotic begins to help, the person feels much better, the pain begins to subside. But with this form of the disease, these drugs must be taken for a month, even if the symptoms have completely disappeared.

It is also important to prevent the disease from becoming chronic, which is quite common.

When choosing a drug, the doctor takes into account other factors:

1. some agents do not penetrate well into the tissue of the gland;
2. other agents accumulate in tissues in large quantities.

Treatment of acute prostatitis in humans should be based on the use of strong drugs, as in other cases that threaten a person's life. Usually, doctors prescribe fluoroquinolones. When using macrolides, the dosage should be large. This is especially true in patients with immunosuppression.

Antibiotics are usually given by intravenous injection. At the initial stage, the disease can be treated at home or on an outpatient basis.In this case, bed rest is prescribed, since any electrical charge can provoke the spread of infection and the development of sepsis.

In combination with antibiotics, the following drugs are also prescribed:

pain relievers
• ;
• antipyretic drugs;
• NSAIDs;
• an opioid may be prescribed for severe pain;
• diuretics to reduce intoxication of the body;
• laxatives to facilitate bowel movements;
• antispasmodic drugs to facilitate urinary excretion;
• alpha blockers.

If a man has acute urinary retention, urea catheterization is done. Antiandrogens are often used to reduce swelling and inflammation in the organ, improve the flow of secretions, normalize blood flow in the gland, and reduce the risk of infection spreading throughout the body.

Use of hormones such as estrogen, cold enemas to relieve swelling and pain. Massages and spa procedures for this form of illness are strictly prohibited. They can only be applied during the payback period.

Surgery

In the absence of pain, the doctor may suspect the development of an abscess. In this case, surgery is performed to remove the areas in which it occurs. Drainage by puncture of an abscess is often used. In severe and extreme cases, the organ is removed.

The operation is prescribed in the presence of an abscess, acute urinary retention, severe pain syndrome that cannot be eliminated by any medication, the appearance of stones and neoplasms, as well asthe ineffectiveness of drug therapy, frequent infections of the genitourinary system, paraproctitis.

The surgeon can use one of the following techniques:

• TRUP (transurethral resection)involves the removal of the interior of the organ. Most often used;
• Prostatectomyinvolves the partial or complete removal of an organ through an incision in the lower abdomen;
• Laser surgery. In this case, the affected areas of the organ are removed with the help of a laser;
• The abscess is drainedthrough the rectum. A drain is inserted into the incision, through which the pus is pumped;
• To facilitate urinary excretion, atransurethral incisionis ​​made in the organ.

When the tissue structure of the gland is restored, its functions are normalized, the secret of the prostate normalizes its composition, the causative agent of pathology will be completely removed from the body, we can talk about the cure of prostatitis.

Forecast

With therapy, the prognosis for the disease will be good. Sometimes negative consequences of acute prostatitis develop. The disease can become chronic, so it will be more difficult to eliminate. Dangerous consequences of an untreated disease are organ abscess, sepsis, acute urinary retention. In some cases, due to the appearance of complications, death can occur. But usually men do not allow such consequences to develop, because they come to the doctor and start treatment.

Prevention

For the purposes of prevention, it is necessary to prevent the appearance of predisposing factors. This requires prompt treatment of all infections in the body so that they do not become chronic and do not become potential foci of infection that will spread to the prostate.

When performing surgery, the doctor should pay attention to the use of antiseptics. Otherwise, the risk of germs entering the patient's body increases. It is important for a man and his sexual partner to treat STDs in a timely manner, and it is best to prevent their occurrence. Sex life should take place with a regular partner, it should be regular.

It is necessary to lead an active life, play sports or exercise, observe the rules of intimate hygiene.

Men usually see a doctor in an emergency. But when negative signs appear, it is better to contact them immediately. It will help prevent many health issues and even save lives in some cases.