Chronic bacterial prostatitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is one of the most common types of disease. This form of the disease is characterized by the frequency of its manifestations, and the lack of timely treatment can lead to various disorders - sexual dysfunction, as well as contribute to the development of prostate hyperplasia. What is the cause of the disease and what are the consequences if left untreated? Let's take a closer look at these questions.

What is bacterial prostatitis?

Chronic bacterial prostatitis occurs in 15-20% of all people suffering from the underlying disease. The disease is characteristic of middle-aged men, because they still have a normal sexual life and the probability of harmful bacteria entering their bodies is quite high. Harmful microorganisms of this type of prostatitis fall directly into the prostate gland, where they actively multiply and disrupt the function of the organ, which is very important for men.

At the same time, inflammation can be promoted not only by the bacteria themselves, but also by their metabolic products.

Unlike other subtypes of the disease, bacterial chronic prostatitis has more pronounced symptoms, and microorganisms can spread not only inside the gland, but also beyond it, disrupting the function of the bladder and other nearby organs.

Causes of the disease

The main cause of chronic bacterial prostatitis is bacteria that can enter the body both during sexual intercourse and from the environment. Among the pathogenic microbes should be noted the following:

• chlamydia;
• streptococci;
• Staphylococci;
• Klebsiella;
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
• trichomonas;
• Gonococcus;
• Enterobacteriaceae;
• 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 cause its development. Men are more likely to develop chronic prostatitis:

1. Leads a passive lifestyle;
2. Suffering from pyelonephritis or cystitis;
3. Has weak immunity;
4. Consumes alcohol and tobacco products;
5. Often supercooled;
6. Prone to stress;
7. Suffering from constipation;
8. Have an ugly sex life;
9. Often comes in direct contact with sources of infection;
10. There are hormonal disorders;
11. There is no normal intimate life.

It should be noted that chronic prostatitis, as a rule, precedes its acute form, so the patient has some time to prevent the development of the disease. The reason for the development of the permanent form is the spread of bacteria throughout the body through the bloodstream, lymph and other systems of the body, and as the immune system weakens, for example, during a cold, the prostate gland can become inflamed. , thereby causing discomfort and a number of other consequences.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis are similar to other types. The patient may feel:

• Pain in the lower abdomen;
• The inflammatory process is accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
• Muscle fatigue and general weakness of the body are observed;
• Urinary excretion may be accompanied by pain;
• There is pain in the anus and rectum.

It should be noted that, unlike the acute form, the symptoms of chronic prostatitis are less pronounced. With the 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 these symptoms and do not consult a doctor in time, there is a high probability of a complication in the form of:

1. Development of purulent processes of the genitourinary system;
2. prostate adenomas;
3. problems with urine flow;
4. Stone-like prostatitis;
5. infertility;
6. Sexual dysfunction.

Similar complications are also possible when the wrong treatment or self-medication is prescribed 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 left shift of the leukocyte count, which indicates the course of inflammatory processes in the body;
• Routine urinalysis - will determine the increase in the content of leukocytes and erythrocytes produced to combat harmful microorganisms;
• Three-glass urine sample - this analysis is similar to the usual one, only the changes in the 3-glass urine sample will be more noticeable;
• Analysis of prostate secretion - in the presence of bacterial prostatitis, specific protein fragments will appear in the secretion;
• Uroflowmetry - the patient's observation to determine the daily amount of urine, as a rule, is carried out by the patient 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 classical examination and interview.

Methods of treatment

In the treatment of bacterial prostatitis, a course of treatment consisting of the following is prescribed:

1. Antibacterial drugs, the duration of administration varies from 1, 5 to 2 weeks;
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - will help eliminate inflammation and relieve pain;
3. Muscle relaxants - are prescribed for severe pain that does not allow the patient to empty the bladder, relaxes the walls of the bladder.

An optional symptom of bacterial prostatitis is a depressive condition in which the patient is prescribed antidepressants. This helps reduce stress levels for the whole body, reducing the production of hormones that can negatively affect the course of the disease.

In addition, physiotherapy courses involving one or more procedures are often prescribed for chronic bacterial prostatitis:

• Electrophoresis - the application of special drugs under the influence of electrical voltage of a specific frequency;
• Ultrasound - activates the process of tissue regeneration, eliminates inflammation, prevents scars and normalizes metabolism;
• Magnetotherapy - aimed at normalizing the circulatory process;
• Electrical stimulation of smooth muscles - allows you to get rid of congestion, improves the movement of secretions;
• Laser therapy - normalizes the function of the prostate gland.

In some cases, prostate massage can also be used as a preventative measure to help relieve pain and improve organ function.

In recent years, an increase in the incidence of chronic bacterial prostatitis has been observed in patients. This is primarily due to the increase in the incidence of STDs, especially chlamydia and candidiasis. This type of disease can occur regardless of age, although it most often attacks weaker middle-aged organisms.