In medicine, an infection is understood as the infection of an organ or tissue by several microorganisms, in addition to parasites and some insects. Therefore, infectious prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
The first group of microorganisms becomes the culprit most often. Consider what causes a prostate infection, how the disease will manifest itself, and how it can be treated in men.
Causes of Infectious Prostatitis
A healthy man has a defense mechanism against many foreign organisms - the immune system. If this mechanism fails or conditions are created in which infections are 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. Even if a woman has no visible symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, but there is a pathogen, a man can be infected. As a rule, urethritis starts first, then an infection along the urinary tract enters the prostate and causes prostatitis.
- The existing focus of infection in the body. The pathogen can be carried to the prostate with blood flow from other organs in case of pneumonia, flu, tooth decay and other illnesses.
- Lifestyle Features. Alcohol, nicotine, lack of physical activity weaken the immune system, making the bacteria that constantly inhabit a person's skin and mucous membranes to become the culprits of the disease.
- Injuries. In the practice of sports, fighting or accident, there can be a mechanical effect on the perineum, which leads to tissue damage in the prostate and can cause an infectious form of the disease.
- Hypothermia. Due to the low ambient temperature and subsequent freezing, the immune system may not be able to deal with the bacteria that have entered the body.
Prostate infection is possible with some medical procedures and operations. For example, prostatitis can be triggered by catheterization, which was done in violation of all rules and regulations. In this case, urethritis develops first and only later, as a complication, prostatitis. Also, the disease can be a complication of the biopsy.
Sexually transmitted infections are the most dangerous to men's health.
Symptoms of the infectious form
Infectious prostatitis always has an acute course, symptoms appear unexpectedly for the patient, intensify rapidly, and cause great concern. It is impossible to ignore the signs of this disease.
Men see doctors with the following complaints:
- Sharp pain, usually throbbing, between the anus and the eggs. It can "give" to Organs genitals, lower back or abdomen.
- Increased body temperature up to 38-39 degrees, fever, chills. The temperature in the rectum can be increased and the temperature in the armpits can be kept within the normal range.
- Frequent urination and urge to urinate, especially at night.
- Pain when urinating, intermittent stream of urine, burning in the urethra.
- Weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain.
- Disorder of the stool - constipation or pain occurs during the act of defecating.
- Decreased sexual desire, slow erection, painful ejaculation.
If a man is in no hurry to go to the doctor and feels pain or tries to be treated with antibiotics and folk remedies on his own, the pain and urinary disturbances may subside after a while. The illusion of recovery arises. In fact, the infection has not disappeared and the acute form of prostatitis has become chronic. This means that every now and then a man will have exacerbations and there is also a risk of developing infertility.
Infectious prostatitis can result in blood poisoning and the patient's death, so there is no time to waste trying to deal with the condition on your own.
Modern diagnostic methods
The clinical picture is so pronounced that the doctor can make the correct diagnosis based on the symptoms listed above. In addition to the typical complaints, the anamnesis that is received at the reception is also taken into account - which is why it is important to contact a medical institution in a timely manner.
In order to select the right treatment tactics, it is important to understand more precisely what is going on in the body and which pathogen is causing the condition. So there is a certain amount of examination required for this case.
During the consultation, the doctor will carry out the following activities:
- It will measure the body temperature in the anus and armpit (with acute infectious prostatitis there will be a difference in readings of up to 0. 5 °C).
- Check the condition of the lymph nodes in the pelvic region.
- Palpate the lower abdomen, perineum, lower back.
Prostate massage with this form of the disease is not performed due to the pronounced pain. Furthermore, such manipulation can lead to transmission of the infection from the gland to other organs and systems, with probable subsequent death. Even suspected infectious prostatitis is a contraindication for such procedures.
Laboratory tests of blood, urine, and bacterial cultures are important. With their help, you can determine the type of pathogen and confirm inflammation.
Of the instrumental methods, TRUS, CT, MRI, uroflowmetry (to determine the urine output rate) and other methods may be used at the discretion of the treating physician. Most of the time, transrectal ultrasound examination in combination with laboratory methods and history data is sufficient. CT or MRI is performed if a tumor is suspected or in doubtful cases.
Modern treatment principles
If there are no pronounced signs of bodily intoxication, treatment is allowed at home. Otherwise, hospitalization, intravenous infusions of antibacterial agents, and increased monitoring by the medical team will be required. In either case, a sick man needs bed rest - even light physical activity can spread the infection through the body through the bloodstream.
The treatment of patients aims to achieve two goals: combating pathogenic microflora and improving general well-being. As a whole, the movement in this direction is aimed at preventing death or the development of complications.
Fighting the Infection
If in the course of laboratory testing it is established that infectious prostatitis is caused by bacteria (which is more often), the use of antibacterial agents should become the mainstay of therapy. If this treatment is started, an improvement in well-being will occur after 2-3 days. However, for this, the drug must be selected correctly. The duration of medication intake is also important - it can reach up to a month, depending on the specific medication and the degree of prostate damage. Treatment cannot be stopped.
In addition to the type of pathogen, the doctor must consider a few other factors.
- Individual characteristics of the patient, the state of the heart, liver and kidneys.
- If possible, choose a stronger drug, overshadowing these bacteriostatic agents.
- The effect of antibacterial therapy should be bactericidal, that is, aimed at the destruction of the pathogen, and not at halting its development in prostate tissues.
It is for these reasons that infectious prostatitis cannot be treated on its own. Without medical training and without the ability to interpret diagnostic measures, it is almost impossible to choose the right antibacterial substance. The delay, like the wrong treatment in this case, can cost lives.
Symptomatic treatment
The intensity of pain in infectious prostatitis is such that conventional analgesics and antispasmodics may be useless. In such exceptional cases, to relieve pain, the doctor may prescribe narcotic drugs in a short course.
Can also be assigned:
- Diuretics (if there is no acute urinary retention) for the prevention of cystitis.
- Laxatives (if constipated) to relieve pressure on the prostate.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Alpha-blockers - to normalize the urination process.
- Muscle relaxants to relieve spasm of the pelvic floor muscles.
If acute urinary retention has started during infectious prostatitis, a urinary catheter may be placed in the patient.
If during therapy it becomes obvious that the patient's well-being is not improving, this is a reason to take additional TRUS to exclude a possible prostate abscess. In doubtful cases, a biopsy of the prostate tissue may also be taken. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient undergoes an emergency operation to open and drain the abscess. Antibiotic therapy will not be canceled in this case.
Danger of infectious prostatitis
If a man has consulted a doctor in a timely manner and has not violated his prescriptions, recovery almost always occurs. In some variants of the development of events, transition to a chronic form or the occurrence of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is possible.
Other likely consequences:
- pyelonephritis or cystitis;
- blood poisoning;
- the formation of fistulas.
Infectious prostatitis responds well to treatment if it is started in a timely manner. For this, the man must hear his health status. If the pain starts in the perineal region with a simultaneous rise in body temperature in the anus and difficulty urinating, you should see a doctor right away. Using folk remedies and following the advice of a friend or spouse can end in disaster.