Chronic bacterial prostatitis is one of the most common types of disease. This form of the disease is characterized by the frequency of its manifestation, and the lack of timely treatment can lead to various disorders, sexual dysfunction, as well as contribute to the development of prostatic hyperplasia. But what is the causative agent of the disease and what will be the consequences if it is not treated? Let's take a closer look at these questions.
What is bacterial prostatitis?
Chronic bacterial prostatitis occurs in 15-20% of all people with the underlying disease. This ailment is typical for middle-aged men, as they still have a normal sex life and there is a fairly high probability that harmful bacteria will enter their body. Harmful microorganisms with this type of prostatitis fall directly into the area of the prostate gland, where they actively multiply and disrupt the activity of an organ that is so important to a man.
At the same time, inflammation can be promoted not only by the bacteria themselves, but also by their metabolic products.
Unlike other subspecies of the disease, chronic bacterial prostatitis has more pronounced symptoms, and microorganisms can spread not only within the gland, but also go further, disrupting the functions of the bladder and other nearby organs.
Causes of the disease
The main causative agent of chronic prostatitis of a bacterial nature is bacteria that can enter the body both during intercourse and from the environment. Among the pathogenic microbes, the following should be noted:
- Chlamydia;
- Streptococci;
- Staphylococci;
- Klebsiella;
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- Trichomonas;
- Gonococci;
- Enterobacteria;
- Escherichia coli.
The most common causative agent of the disease is E. coli, as it is found in 80% of patients with prostatitis.
Individual factors and diseases can also aggravate the course of the disease and provoke its development. There is a high probability of developing chronic prostatitis in a man who:
- Lead an inactive lifestyle;
- You have pyelonephritis or cystitis;
- Has weak immunity;
- Consume alcoholic beverages and tobacco products;
- Often supercooled;
- Prone to stress;
- Suffering from constipation;
- You have an ugly sex life;
- Often comes into contact with direct sources of infection;
- You have hormonal disorders;
- He does not have a normal intimate life.
It is worth noting that chronic prostatitis, as a rule, is preceded by its acute form, so the patient has some time to prevent the development of the disease. The reason for the development of a permanent form is the spread of bacteria throughout the body through the circulatory, lymphatic and other systems of the body, and as soon as the immune system weakens, for example, during colds, the prostate gland it can catch fire. , which causes discomfort and a host of other consequences.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis are similar to other types. The patient may experience:
- Pain in the lower abdomen;
- The inflammatory process is accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
- Muscle fatigue and general weakening of the body are observed;
- Urination can be accompanied by pain;
- There is pain in the anus and rectum.
It is worth noting that, unlike the acute form, the symptoms of chronic prostatitis are less pronounced. With an exacerbation of the disease, blood particles can be observed in the urine, and the pain syndrome increases significantly.
If you do not pay attention to this symptomatology and do not consult a doctor in time, then there is a fairly high probability of a complication in the form of:
- Development of purulent processes of the genitourinary system;
- Prostate adenomas;
- Problems with urine output;
- Stone-like prostatitis;
- Sterility;
- Sexual dysfunction
Similar complications are also possible in case of prescribing wrong treatment or self-medicating without first consulting a doctor.
Diagnosis of the disease
The diagnosis of chronic bacterial prostatitis can be made based on:
- General blood test - helps to determine the change in the leukocyte formula to the left, which indicates the course of inflammatory processes in the body;
- Routine urinalysis - will determine the increase in the content of leukocytes and erythrocytes, which are produced to fight harmful microorganisms;
- A three-vessel urine sample: This test is similar to the usual one, only the changes in a three-vessel urine sample will be more noticeable;
- Analysis of prostate secretion: in the presence of bacterial prostatitis, specific protein fragments will appear in the secret;
- Uroflowmetry - observation of a patient to determine the daily amount of urine, as a rule, is performed by the patient himself in a hospital setting, and the results of the calculations are reported to the attending physician.
Diagnostic methods are determined directly by a specialist. It is not possible to make a diagnosis based on a classic exam and interview.
Treatment methods
In the treatment of bacterial prostatitis, a course of treatment is prescribed, consisting of:
- Antibacterial drugs, the duration of admission varies from 1, 5 to 2 weeks;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - will help relieve inflammation and relieve the patient of pain;
- Muscle relaxants: they are prescribed for severe pain that does not allow the patient to empty the bladder, they relax the walls of the bladder.
An optional symptom of bacterial prostatitis is a depressive state in which antidepressants are prescribed to the patient. This helps reduce stress levels throughout the body, reduces the production of hormones that can negatively affect the course of the disease.
Also, with chronic bacterial prostatitis, physiotherapy courses are often prescribed, which may include one or more procedures:
- Electrophoresis - the introduction of special drugs under the influence of an electrical voltage of a special frequency;
- Ultrasound - activates the tissue regeneration process, eliminates inflammation, prevents scars and normalizes metabolism;
- Magnetotherapy - aimed at normalizing the blood circulation process;
- Electrical stimulation of smooth muscles - allows you to get rid of congestion, improves the movement of secretory secretions;
- Laser therapy - normalizes the functioning of the prostate gland.
In some cases, prostate massage can also be used as a preventive measure, helping to eliminate pain and improve the activity of the organs.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis in recent years has been observed in patients with an increasing frequency. This is due, in the first place, to the increase in cases of STD registration, especially chlamydia and candidiasis. This type of disease can occur regardless of age, although it most often attacks weaker middle-aged organisms.