Infectious prostatitis and its features

In medicine, an infection is understood to mean the infection of an organ or tissue with various microorganisms as well as parasites and some insects. Therefore, infectious prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

The first group of microorganisms becomes more often the culprit. Think about the causes of prostate infection, how the disease manifests itself, and how it can be treated in men.

Causes of Infectious Prostatitis

A healthy man has a defense mechanism against various foreign organisms - the immune system. When this mechanism fails or conditions are created in which infections are stronger than immunity, the prostate tissue becomes infected, leading to an inflammatory process and unpleasant symptoms.

Infectious prostatitis can be caused by:

1. Sex with an infected partner. Even if a woman has no visible symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease, but a pathogen is present, a man can become infected. Urethritis usually begins first, then infection penetrates the prostate along the urinary tract, causing prostatitis.
2. The existing focus of infection in the body. In pneumonia, flu, tooth decay and other diseases, the pathogen can be brought into the prostate with the blood flow from other organs.
3. Lifestyle features. Alcohol, nicotine, sedentary lifestyle weaken the immune system, as a result of which bacteria that constantly inhabit the skin and mucous membranes of a person become the culprits of the disease.
4. Injuries. During sport, fighting or an accident, mechanical action can be exerted on the perineum, which can damage the prostate tissue and cause an infectious form of the disease.
5. Hypothermia. Due to the low ambient temperature and subsequent freezing, the immune system may not be able to process 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 performed in violation of all rules and regulations. In this case, urethritis develops first, and only then, as a complication, prostatitis. The disease can also 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, the symptoms appear unexpectedly for the patient, intensify quickly, and give rise to serious concern. It is impossible to ignore the signs of this disease.

Men come to the doctor with the following symptoms:

1. Sharp, often throbbing pains between anus and eggs. Can "give" to the genitals, lower back, or abdomen.
2. Body temperature increase to 38-39 degrees, fever, chills. The temperature in the rectum can be increased and kept within the normal range in the armpits.
3. Frequent urination and urination, especially at night.
4. Pain when urinating, intermittent urine stream, burning sensation in the urethra.
5. Weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain.
6. Stool disorder - constipation develops or pain occurs during bowel movements.
7. Decreased sex drive, sluggish erection, painful ejaculation.

If a man is in no hurry to go to the doctor and is in pain or tries to self-medicate with antibiotics and folk remedies, pain and urinary tract disease can pass after a certain time. The illusion of recovery arises. In fact, the infection has not gone away and the acute form of prostatitis has turned into a chronic one. This means that from time to time a man has exacerbations and is also at risk of developing infertility.

Infectious prostatitis can lead to blood poisoning and the death of the patient, so there is no need to waste time coping with the pathology yourself.

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 typical complaints, the anamnesis received at reception is also taken into account - it is therefore important to contact a medical facility in good time.

In order to choose the correct tactic of treatment, it is important to understand in more detail what is happening in the body and what pathogen is causing the pathology. Therefore, a certain amount of investigation is required for this case.

During the appointment, the doctor will do the following:

1. It measures the body temperature in the anus and in the armpit (with acute infectious prostatitis there is a difference in the measured values of up to 0. 5 ° C).
2. Check the condition of the lymph nodes in the pelvic area.
3. Palpate the lower abdomen, perineum, and lower back.

Prostate massage in this form of the disease is not carried out due to pronounced pain. Such manipulation can also provoke the transmission of infection from the gland to other organs and systems with a subsequent probable death. The suspicion of infectious prostatitis is also a contraindication for such interventions.

Laboratory tests of blood, urine, bacterial cultures are important. With their help, you can determine the type of pathogen and confirm inflammation.

From instrumental methods, at the discretion of the attending physician, TRUS, CT, MRI, uroflowmetry (to determine the rate of urine outflow) and other methods can be used. A transrectal ultrasound examination in combination with laboratory methods and anamnesis data is usually sufficient. CT or MRI is performed if a tumor is suspected or in doubt.

Modern treatment principles

In the absence of pronounced signs of intoxication of the body, home treatment is allowed. Otherwise, hospitalization, intravenous infusions of antibacterial agents, and increased surveillance by medical staff will be required. In both cases, a sick man needs bed rest - even light physical activity can provoke the infection to spread through the bloodstream in the body.

Treatment of patients has two goals: combating pathogenic microflora and improving general well-being. Overall, movement in this direction is intended to prevent death or development of complications.

Fight infection

If, in the course of laboratory tests, it is found that infectious prostatitis is caused by bacteria (which is the most common), then the use of antibacterial agents should become the basis of therapy. If such a treatment is started, there will be an improvement in wellbeing after 2-3 days. But to do this, it is necessary to correctly choose the drug. The length of time you take the drug is also important - it can be up to a month, depending on the drug and the degree of prostate damage. Treatment cannot be interrupted.

In addition to the type of pathogen, the doctor must also consider a few other factors.

1. Individual characteristics of the patient, the condition of the heart, liver and kidneys.
2. If possible, you should go for a stronger drug that dwarfs such bacteriostatic agents.
3. The effect of therapy with antibacterial drugs should be bactericidal, that is, should be aimed at destroying the pathogen and not stopping its development in the tissues of the prostate.

For these reasons, infectious prostatitis cannot be treated on its own. Without medical training and the ability to interpret diagnostic measures, it is almost impossible to choose the right antibacterial agent. Delay, as in this case, wrong treatment, can cost lives.

Symptomatic treatment

The pain intensity of infectious prostatitis is so high that traditional pain relievers and anticonvulsants may be useless. In such exceptional cases, the doctor can prescribe short-term anesthetics to relieve pain.

Can also be assigned:

1. Diuretics (if there is no acute urinary retention) to prevent cystitis.
2. Laxatives (for constipation) to relieve the prostate.
3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
4. Alpha blockers - to normalize urination.
5. Muscle relaxants to relieve cramps in the pelvic floor muscles.

If acute urinary retention has started during infectious prostatitis, a urinary catheter can be placed in the patient.

If it turns out during the therapy that the patient's well-being does not improve, this is a reason for an additional TRUS to rule out a possible prostate abscess. In cases of doubt, a biopsy of the prostate tissue can also be performed. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient undergoes emergency surgery to open and empty the abscess. The antibiotic therapy is not stopped in this case.

Risk of infectious prostatitis

If a man consulted a doctor in a timely manner and did not violate his prescriptions, recovery almost always occurs. In some variants of the event development, a 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 started on time. To do this, a man has to listen to his health. If pain in the perineal area begins with a simultaneous increase in body temperature in the anus and disturbances in urination, you should immediately consult a doctor. Using folk remedies and following the advice of a friend or woman can end in disaster.