Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate. Currently, urologists tend to believe that prostatitis is not one disease, but a combination of several diseases of the male genital area. This is one of the most common pathologies of the male urogenital tract, and according to experts, the percentage of men suffering from prostatitis in one form or another is constantly growing. The risk of developing prostatitis increases with age.
Causes of prostatitis
The immediate cause of prostatitis are two factors of equal importance. The first is the occurrence of congestion in the small pelvis, and as a result in the prostate, and the second is the addition of infection. However, in some cases it is not possible to detect an infectious agent in the prostate tissues, probably in such cases autoimmune processes become the cause of prostatitis, which means that the prostate is attacked by cells of its own immune system. system, as a result of a malfunction in it.
Predisposing factors for the development of prostatitis are: weakening of the immune system as a result of infection, hypothermia, stress; hormonal disorders, incomplete ejaculation, physical inactivity, food cravings (dependence on fried, fatty, smoked, spicy foods), frequent urinary retention. Improper sex life is considered one of the common causes of prostatitis.
Types of prostatitis
Currently, the international classification of prostatitis has been adopted, which is the most complete and covers all types of inflammation:
- Category I. Acute prostatitis;
- Category II. Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III. Non-bacterial chronic prostatitis / Chronic pelvic pain syndrome - a disease in which no infection lasting more than 3 months is detected;
- Subcategory III A. Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (leukocytes are determined in prostate secretion);
- Subcategory III B. Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (no leukocytes in prostate secretion);
- Category IV. Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis (leukocytes are present in the secretion of the prostate, the patient does not complain, the disease is detected by chance).
- pelvic and genital pain;
- urination disorders, which include slow jet, intermittent jet, incomplete bladder emptying, frequent urination, etc. ;
- disorders in the genital area.
- prostate secretion analysis;
- digital rectal examination;
- transrectal prostate ultrasound;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder;
- blood test for PSA (prostate antigen);
- general blood test;
- general urine analysis;
- urine analysis for urogenital infections before and after prostate massage;
- uroflowmetry (urination test).
Symptoms of prostatitis
There is the so-called "triad of prostatitis", the three most common symptoms of prostatitis. This includes:
It should be noted that not all three symptoms of prostatitis are mandatory, in addition, acute and chronic prostatitis occur in different ways.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis: severe, sharp pain in the prostate, which is given in the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back; worsening of general condition, fever, headache and muscle pain, general weakness; violation of urination to acute urinary retention as a consequence of prostate edema and urethral compression.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain in the prostate area, but less intense than in acute prostatitis; urination disorders, sexual disorders: incomplete erection, short-term erection, accelerated ejaculation, etc. Chronic prostatitis may have a wavy course, when periods of exacerbation are replaced by periods of sedation, or it may have persistent mild symptoms.
Unlike other inflammatory diseases, when the chronic process is the result of untreated acute inflammation, chronic prostatitis is often primarily chronic, when the patient himself finds it difficult to determine the onset of the disease.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
The following studies are performed to diagnose prostatitis:
The main thing in the diagnosis is to identify the cause of prostatitis, because therapeutic measures depend on it. Another diagnostic challenge is to rule out prostate cancer.
Treatment of prostatitis
Acute and chronic prostatitis of bacterial origin are treated with antibacterial drugs. For acute prostatitis, strong doses of antibiotics are prescribed even before the results of bacterial culture are obtained, because the acute process requires urgent measures. In the complex are prescribed anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs, which also have analgesic effect.
Chronic prostatitis is treated depending on the underlying cause. For nonbacterial prostatitis, general strengthening, immunomodulatory drugs are taken. Treatment of prostatitis is carried out with the obligatory participation of physiotherapeutic procedures: laser therapy, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, ultrasound, etc.
Urologists say that treating prostatitis with medical means alone will only lead to temporary relief, because without changing the usual way of life, treating prostatitis is ineffective. It is necessary to abandon bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminate hypodynamics, avoid stagnation in the small pelvis with the help of special gymnastics, try to spend less time in the car, walk more, and also get enough rest.
It is also important to improve your sex life, make it regular and eat well. Chronic prostatitis is prone to recurrence, so changes in lifestyle should be permanent, only then will the treatment of prostatitis lead to a complete cure.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
For the treatment of prostatitis, folk methods are widely and successfully used, especially for the treatment of chronic prostatitis. They are milder than drugs, but they are still quite effective and give fewer side effects, so the treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies can be carried out for a long time, until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated.
Of the folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis are widely used herbal teas with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action: chamomile tea, sage leaves, marigold flowers, etc. Medicinal herbs are also used in the form of tinctures and balms. Honey and bee products are used as tonic. Beeswax is perfect for compresses in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, replacing paraffin. Echinacea tincture is used as a mild immunostimulating agent, and some types of honey have been used successfully for the same purpose.