Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate tissue. Today, it is the most common urological disease, affecting mainly sexually active men. According to various data, the prevalence of chronic prostatitis in the group of patients aged 20-40 ranges from 20-35%. Moreover, this diagnosis, in addition to benign prostate enlargement, occurs more and more often in the older age group.
Lack of effective treatment in time leads to complications such as erectile dysfunction and infertility.
Types of prostatitis
The classification used today is based on the division of all types of prostatitis, depending on the presence of an infectious pathogen, leukocytes in the secretion of the prostate, and clinical manifestations. According to this, there are 4 categories of prostatitis, each of which has certain symptoms:
| Category of prostatitis | Signs | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|
| Acute bacterial | 1. Frequent urination, burning sensation. 2. Difficulty urinating with pain. 3. Pain to touch in the lower abdomen. 4. Pain when palpating the prostate. 5. Many leukocytes, bacteria and mucus in the urine. 6. High temperature, malaise. |
up to 5% |
| Chronic bacterial | The signs are the same as in acute bacterial infections, but less pronounced, without systemic manifestations and purulent content in the urine. There may also be blood in the semen, pain in the perineum and testicles, and a large number of leukocytes in the semen and prostatic secretions. | 5-10% |
| Chronic non-bacterial (inflammatory, non-inflammatory) | Signs are the same as in the previous categories, but microorganisms cannot be detected in prostatic secretions, urine, or semen. And in a non-inflammatory version, the concentration of leukocytes in prostatic secretions, semen and urine may not increase. | 80-90% |
| Asymptomatic inflammation | There are no clinical manifestations. An inflammatory process can be observed in urine, semen and prostate secretions. | Unknown |
Signs and symptoms of prostatitis
Signs of prostatitis can be laboratory and clinical in nature. In the first case, characteristic changes are detected in the general analysis of blood, urine and prostate secretions. Clinical symptoms refer to symptoms accompanying the disease.
These include:
- Increased body temperature.
- Pain in the perineum or lower abdomen.
- Frequent urination.
- Presence of blood in the urine or ejaculate.
- Pain during urination.
Depending on the type of prostatitis, the severity of symptoms may vary. In the acute form, the first signs of prostatitis in men appear suddenly, which is a reason to consult a doctor. Chronic prostatitis, on the contrary, is asymptomatic and can only be felt during periods of exacerbation. The first signs of exacerbation of chronic prostatitis are aching pain in the perineum and urination disorders in the form of slow urine flow and the inability to urinate even with a strong desire. Without timely treatment, the disease leads to the development of complications, which are manifested in erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorders and infertility.
Diagnostics
In the case of chronic prostatitis, the signs of the disease can change significantly. Most often, patients experience 4 main syndromes:
- Painful. Complaints usually occur in the lower abdomen, perineum, sacrum and genitals. It can also occur at rest and during exercise.
- Dysuric. Patients experience frequent or difficult urination, thinning or slowness of the stream, sudden urge to urinate, and incomplete emptying of the bladder.
- Sexual. It is characterized by a violation of potency. Some scientists associate this with abnormally high excitability of the prostate's nerve endings caused by prolonged inflammation.
- Reproductive. Not only a violation of sperm production, but also a decrease in the amount of ejaculate and a change in the composition of prostate secretions.
According to some authors, reproductive and sexual syndromes have become more common in recent years.
In addition to subjective complaints, a digital rectal examination of the prostate is important. It is important to assess the shape, condition, consistency of the margins, the condition of the seminal vesicles, and the presence of pain.
Laboratory tests for prostatitis may include:
- General blood and urine test.
- Microscopic examination of prostate secretions or urine.
- Bacteriological examination of urine or prostate secretion.
- PCR test for sexually transmitted infections.
- Uroflowmetry and residual urine determination.
Laboratory data may be accompanied by instrumental examinations, including ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc.
How to treat the signs of prostatitis
Symptom management is only one area of treatment. It also aims to restore the normal functioning of the prostate and prevent complications.
For bacterial forms of prostatitis, the treatment plan includes antibacterial drugs that eliminate the pathogen. In this case, it is possible to influence the direct cause of the inflammation. The treatment program is always selected individually after a comprehensive examination and final diagnosis.
One of the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of chronic abacterial prostatitis is prostate extract, which has an organotropic effect on the prostate gland.
Prostate extract helps reduce swelling, reduce inflammation and improve secretory function, increasing bladder muscle tone. The drug helps to improve the microcirculation of the tissues of the prostate gland, reduces the risk of thrombosis of small vessels, reduces pain, restores urination and normalizes sexual function.
Nextfirst phasetreatment, prostate extract is prescribed in the form of suppositories, and asecond stagetablets are used for therapy. There is moreenhanced forma drug that contains twice as many active ingredients as classic suppositories. Thanks to this diversity, the doctor can use an individual approach when prescribing treatment for each patient.