In medicine, an infection is understood as an infection of an organ or tissue with various microorganisms, as well as parasites and some insects. Thus, infectious prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
The first group of microorganisms becomes a more frequent cause. Consider the causes that can trigger a prostate infection, how the disease will manifest and how it can be treated in men.
Causes of Infectious Prostatitis
Healthy men have a defense mechanism against various foreign organisms - the immune system. If this mechanism fails or a situation is created where the infection is stronger than immunity, the prostate tissue becomes infected, which leads to an inflammatory process and unpleasant symptoms.
Infectious prostatitis can be caused by:
- Sex with an infected partner. Although a woman has no visible symptoms of venereal disease, but there are pathogens, a man can be infected. As a rule, urethritis begins first, then the infection along the urinary tract enters the prostate and causes prostatitis there.
- The focus of the infection is pre -existing in the body. Pathogens can be carried into the prostate by blood flow from other organs in the event of pneumonia, influenza, caries and other diseases.
- Lifestyle features. Alcohol, nicotine, lack of physical activity weaken the immune system, as a result, bacteria that constantly inhabit the skin and mucous membranes of a person become the cause of this disease.
- injuries. When playing sports, fighting or having an accident, mechanical impacts on the perineum can occur, leading to damage to prostate tissue and can trigger a form of infectious disease.
- Hypothermia. Due to the low ambient temperature and subsequent freezing, the immune system may not be able to cope with the bacteria that have entered the body.
Prostate gland infection is possible with some medical procedures and surgeries. For example, prostatitis can be triggered by catheterization, which is performed in violation of all rules and regulations. In this case, urethritis first develops and only later, as a complication, prostatitis. Also, the disease can be a complication of biopsy.
Sexually transmitted infections are the most dangerous to men's health.
Symptoms of an infectious form
Infectious prostatitis always has an acute course, symptoms appear unexpectedly for the patient, quickly increase and cause serious concern. It is impossible to ignore the symptoms of this disease.
The man came to the doctor with the following complaints:
- Sharp pain, often throbbing between the anus and the egg. Can "give" on the genitals, lower back or abdomen.
- Increased body temperature up to 38-39 degrees, fever, chills. The temperature in the rectum can be increased, and in the armpit it can be kept in the normal range.
- Frequent urination and want to urinate, especially at night.
- Pain during urination, intermittent flow of urine, burning in the urethra.
- Weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain.
- Stool disorders - constipation develops or pain occurs during the act of defecation.
- Decreased sex drive, moist erections, painful ejaculation.
If a man is not in a hurry to go to the doctor and is in pain or tries to be treated with antibiotics and folk remedies himself, the pain and urinary disturbances can pass after a certain time. The illusion of recovery arises. In fact, the infection has not gone away, and the acute form of prostatitis has developed into chronic. This means that from time to time a man will experience deterioration, and there is also a risk of developing infertility.
Infectious prostatitis can result in blood poisoning and death of the patient, so there is no time to waste time trying to overcome the pathology on their own.
Modern diagnostic methods
The clinical picture is so clear that a doctor can make a correct diagnosis based on the symptoms listed above. In addition to the usual complaints, the anamnesis received at the reception counter is also taken into account - so it is important to contact the medical institution in a timely manner.
To choose the right treatment tactics, it is important to understand more precisely what is going on in the body and what pathogens are causing the pathology. Therefore, there are a number of examinations required for this case.
During the appointment, the doctor will perform the following activities:
- It will measure body temperature in the anus and in the armpit (with acute infectious prostatitis, there will be differences in readings up to 0. 5 ° C).
- Check the condition of the lymph nodes in the pelvic area.
- Palpation of the lower abdomen, perineum, lower back.
Prostate massage with this form of the disease is not performed because of significant pain. Also, such manipulation can trigger the transmission of infection from the glands to other organs and systems, with the possibility of subsequent death. Even the suspicion of infectious prostatitis is a contraindication to such a procedure.
Laboratory tests of blood, urine, bacterial cultures are important. With their help, you can determine the type of pathogen and confirm inflammation.
From instrumental methods, TRUS, CT, MRI, uroflowmetry (to determine the rate of urine outflow) and other methods can be used, at the discretion of the attending physician. Often, transrectal ultrasound examination in combination with laboratory methods and data from anamnesis is sufficient. CT or MRI is performed if a tumor is suspected or in doubtful cases.
Principles of modern treatment
If there are no obvious signs of body intoxication, treatment is allowed at home. Otherwise, hospitalization, intravenous infusion of antibacterial agents and increased monitoring by medical personnel will be required. In both cases, a sick man needs a sleep break - even a little physical activity can trigger the spread of infection through the body through the bloodstream.
Treatment of patients aims to achieve two goals: combat pathogenic microflora and improve general well -being. Overall, movement in this direction is designed to prevent death or the development of complications.
Fight infection
If during laboratory tests it is found that infectious prostatitis is caused by bacteria (the most common), the use of antibacterial agents should be the basis of therapy. If only such treatment is started, then an improvement in well-being will come after 2-3 days. However, for this, the drug must be chosen correctly. The duration of taking the drug is also important - it can reach up to a month, depending on the particular drug and the degree of prostate damage. Treatment should not be interrupted.
In addition to the type of pathogen, the doctor must take into account several other factors.
- Individual characteristics of the patient, condition of the heart, liver and kidneys.
- If possible, make a choice in favor of a stronger drug, overshadowing the bacteriostatic agent.
- The effect of therapy with antibacterial drugs should be bactericidal in nature, that is, aimed at destroying the pathogen, and not to stop its development in prostate gland tissue.
It is for these reasons that infectious prostatitis cannot be treated on its own. Without medical education and lack of skills to interpret diagnostic measures, it is almost impossible to choose the right antibacterial substance. Delays, such as incorrect treatment in this case, can be life -threatening.
Symptomatic treatment
The intensity of pain in infectious prostatitis is such that standard painkillers and antispasmodics may not be useful. In exceptional cases, to relieve pain, the doctor may prescribe narcotic medication in a short course.
Can also be assigned:
- Diuretics (in the absence of acute urinary retention) for the prevention of cystitis.
- Laxative (if constipation) to relieve pressure on the prostate gland.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Alpha blockers - to normalize the process of urination.
- Relax the muscles to relieve pelvic floor muscle spasms.
If acute urinary retention has begun during infectious prostatitis, a urinary catheter may be placed on the patient.
If during therapy it becomes clear that the well -being of the patient does not improve, this is a reason to perform additional TRUS to exclude the possibility of prostate abscess. In doubtful cases, a prostate tissue biopsy can also be performed. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the sick man undergoes emergency surgery to open and drain the abscess. Antibiotic therapy will not be canceled in this case.
Dangers of infectious prostatitis
If a man consults a doctor in a timely manner and does not violate his prescription, recovery almost always occurs. In some variants of event progression, transition to a chronic form or the occurrence of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is possible.
Other possible consequences:
- pyelonephritis or cystitis;
- blood poisoning;
- fistula formation.
Infectious prostatitis responds well to treatment if it is started on time. For this, a man must listen to his state of health. If the pain begins in the perineum area with a simultaneous increase in body temperature in the anus and urinary disturbances, you should immediately see a doctor. Using folk remedies and following the advice of a friend or wife can end in disaster.