Chronic bacterial prostatitis: causes, signs, diagnosis, methods of therapy

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 - to 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 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. This ailment is typical for middle-aged men, since they still have a normal sex life and there is a fairly high probability of harmful bacteria entering 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 for 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, bacterial chronic prostatitis has more pronounced symptoms, and microorganisms can spread not only inside the gland, but also go beyond it, 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;
• 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 provoke its development. There is a high probability of developing chronic prostatitis in a man who:

1. Leads an inactive lifestyle;
2. Suffering from pyelonephritis or cystitis;
3. Has weak immunity;
4. Consumes alcoholic beverages and tobacco products;
5. Often supercooled;
6. Prone to stress;
7. Suffering from constipation;
8. Has an ugly sex life;
9. Often comes into contact with direct sources of infection;
10. Has hormonal disorders;
11. Has no 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 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 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 may be accompanied by pain;
• There are pains in the anus and rectum.

It is worth noting that, in contrast to 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, there is a fairly 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 outflow;
4. Stone-like prostatitis;
5. Infertility;
6. Sexual dysfunction.

Similar complications are also possible in case of prescribing the wrong treatment or self-medication 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 shift of 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-glass urine sample - this analysis is similar to the usual one, only changes in a 3-glass urine sample will be more noticeable;
• Prostate secretion analysis - in the presence of bacterial prostatitis, specific protein fragments will appear in the secret;
• Uroflowmetry - observation of a patient in order to determine the daily amount of urine, as a rule, is carried out 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 classical examination and interviewing.

Treatment methods

In the treatment of bacterial prostatitis, a course of treatment is prescribed, which consists of:

1. Antibacterial drugs, the duration of admission ranges from 1. 5 to 2 weeks;
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - will help relieve inflammation and relieve the patient from pain;
3. Muscle relaxants - 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 the patient is prescribed antidepressants. This helps to reduce stress levels for the whole 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 electric voltage of a special frequency;
• Ultrasound - activates the process of tissue regeneration, eliminates inflammation, prevents scarring 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 performance of the prostate gland.

In some cases, prostate massage can also be used as a preventive measure, which helps to eliminate pain and improve organ activity.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis in recent years has been observed in patients with increasing frequency. This is due, first of all, to the increase in cases of registration of STDs, especially chlamydia and candidiasis. This type of disease can occur regardless of age, although it most often attacks weaker middle-aged organisms.