Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Currently, urologists tend to believe that prostatitis is not one disease, but combines 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. With age, the risk of developing prostatitis increases.
Causes of prostatitis
The immediate cause of prostatitis are two factors of equal importance. The first is the appearance of congestion in the 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 tissue, probably in such cases autoimmune processes cause prostatitis, which means that the prostate gland is attacked by cells of its own immune system. system as a result of a malfunction in it.
Predisposing factors for inflammation in the prostate gland are: weakening of the immune system as a result of infection, hypothermia, stress; hormonal disorders, incomplete ejaculation, lack of physical activity, dietary preferences (addiction to fried, fatty, smoked, spicy foods), frequent urinary retention. Irregular sex 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 is detected that lasts more than 3 months;
- Subcategory III A. Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (leukocytes are determined in prostate secretion);
- Subcategory III B. Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (lack of leukocytes in prostate secretion);
- Category IV. Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis (there are leukocytes in the secretion of the prostate, the patient has no complaints, the disease is detected by chance).
- pain in the pelvis and genitals;
- urinary disorders, which include slow flow, intermittent flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, frequent urination, etc. ;
- disorders in the genital area.
- analysis of prostate secretion;
- digital rectal examination;
- transrectal ultrasound of the prostate;
- 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. They include:
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 gland, which is attributed to the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back; worsening of the general condition, fever, headache and muscle aches, general weakness; impaired urination to acute urinary retention as a result of prostate edema and urethral compression.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain in the prostate gland, but less intense than in acute prostatitis; urinary 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 weight loss, or there may be persistent mild symptoms.
Unlike other inflammatory diseases, when the chronic process is a consequence of untreated acute inflammation, chronic prostatitis is often primarily chronic, when the patient himself can hardly determine the onset of the disease.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
The following tests are performed to diagnose prostatitis:
The main thing in the diagnosis is to identify the cause of prostatitis, as therapeutic measures depend on it. Another diagnostic challenge is to rule out prostate cancer.
Treatment of prostatitis
Acute and chronic prostatitis of bacterial origin is treated with antibacterial drugs. In acute prostatitis, strong doses of antibiotics are prescribed, even before the results of bacterial culture are obtained, as the acute process requires immediate measures. The complex prescribes anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs, which also have an analgesic effect.
Chronic prostatitis is treated depending on the underlying cause. In nonbacterial prostatitis, general strengthening, immunomodulatory drugs are taken. The treatment of prostatitis is carried out with the obligatory participation of physiotherapeutic procedures: laser therapy, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis of drugs, ultrasound and others.
Urologists say that treating prostatitis with medical drugs alone will only bring temporary relief, because without a change in lifestyle, prostatitis treatment is ineffective. It is necessary to give up bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminate hypodynamia, avoid stagnation in the pelvis with the help of special gymnastics, try to spend less time in the car, walk more and also toget enough rest.
It is also important to improve your sex life, make it regular and eat well. Chronic prostatitis is prone to recurrence, so lifestyle changes must be permanent, only in this case the treatment of prostatitis will 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 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 teas of medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action: chamomile tea, sage leaves, marigold flowers and others. Medicinal herbs are also used in the form of tinctures and balms. Honey and bee products are used as tonics. Beeswax is ideal for coatings in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, replacing paraffin wax. Echinacea tincture is used as a mild immunostimulating agent, for the same purpose some varieties of honey are successfully used.