Chronic bacterial prostatitis: treatment, causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Inflammation of the prostate caused by bacteria can be acute or chronic. It develops when a reproductive organ or pathogenic microflora multiplies in the tissues of a given organ. The disease becomes chronic in those cases when treatment of the acute form of prostatitis has been given insufficient attention. Also with this problem are those men who lead a sedentary lifestyle, abuse alcohol and smoke.

Symptoms of problems

Each man after the beginning of the pain can suspect an acute bacterial prostatitis. Treatment in this case is reduced to a long reception of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and analgesics. But diagnosing the chronic form of bacterial prostatitis is somewhat more difficult.

The disease can be accompanied by symptoms such as:

• Periodic pain of varying intensity in the crotch, testicles, above the womb, in the sacrum, rectum;
• Frequent urination;
• Weak or intermittent urine stream;
• Pain during urination;
• Discomfort during ejaculation;
• Problems with erection.

In men suffering from chronic prostatitis, there may be only a few of these symptoms. Symptoms of the disease are so implicit that many do not pay attention to them.

Diagnosis of the disease

Establish an accurate diagnosis and choose which treatment regimen for bacterial prostatitis will be the most acceptable, can only a doctor. He can conduct differential diagnosis and exclude other diseases, the symptoms of which are similar. It is necessary to exclude the possibility of developing urinary tract infections, bladder cancer, prostatic hyperplasia, inguinal hernia and other diseases.

A finger rectal examination is used to determine the size, shape, consistency and degree of soreness of the prostate gland. This method also allows differential diagnosis with cancer, prostate obstruction and acute prostatitis.

To clarify the diagnosis is taken on the analysis of urine. For diagnosis, it is necessary to perform microscopy and bacussis of the prostate secretion. Also experts make crop from 3 portions of urine. By results of analyzes can define the concrete form of disease.

In some cases, ultrasound helps identify chronic bacterial prostatitis. The course of treatment doctors appoint, focusing on the received tests and the results of the surveys. Ultrasound can identify the stones, determine the degree of enlargement of the prostate gland, see its contours.

The causes of chronic prostatitis

Bacterial lesion of the prostate arises from the ingress of pathogenic microflora into its tissues . The disease is caused by staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fecal enterococci. Also, prostatitis can begin because of getting into the body of chlamydia, klebsiella, trichomonads and other pathogenic microorganisms.

But chronic prostatitis occurs not only against the background of an infectious lesion. Such factors can lead to its development:

• Supercooling;
• passive lifestyle;
• Stress, lack of sleep and other causes that weaken immunity;
• Irregular sexual life (worsens blood flow in the tissues of the prostate);
• Changes in the hormonal background.

The men are subject to the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis:

• After operations on the pelvic organs;
• After catheterization;
• Prefer anal sex without the use of barrier contraception;
• Suffering from the narrowing of the foreskin.

An untreated acute bacterial prostatitis can pass into a chronic form.

Choice of therapy tactics

If the doctor diagnosed bacterial prostatitis, the treatment will last for a long time. Men should be prepared for the fact that only 30% of patients manage to get rid of this problem. The rest, if all the recommendations are observed, can enter into a period of prolonged remission. But in almost half of all patients relapses occur.

Treatment of acute bacterial prostatitis usually lasts 2 weeks. Correctly selected medications allow for this period to destroy all pathogenic microorganisms. With the transition of the disease into a chronic form, getting rid of it becomes more difficult. Treatment should be aimed at eliminating all factors that contribute to the maintenance of the disease in a protracted sluggish form.

Antibiotic therapy becomes more effective if at the same time use alpha-blockers that affect the receptors of the tissues of the prostate gland. Also, prostate massage and physiotherapy procedures are effective. They should be aimed at stimulating the nerve endings of the prostate tissue and activating clogged mucous ducts that are involved in spermatogenesis.

Selection of antibacterial drugs

It is only the doctor who must choose the remedies that will help the patient to get rid of chronic prostatitis. For treatment, antibiotics from the group of fluorinated quinolones are often prescribed. These are such drugs as "Ofloxacin", "Sparfloxacin", "Ciprofloxacin", "Lomefloxacin".

With individual intolerance or insensitivity to these antibiotics, the doctor selects other drugs for the treatment of bacterial prostatitis. The list of drugs can be expanded with antibiotics belonging to the group of macrolides. These are such drugs as "Erythromycin", "Clarithromycin", "Josamycin", "Roxithromycin". In some cases, "Doxycycline" is prescribed. It is an antibiotic belonging to the group of tetracyclines.

Complex approach to treatment

To get rid of prostatitis or to achieve a prolonged remission, antibiotics can be prescribed for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. If a man has frequent relapses, or the disease does not respond to treatment, then he is prescribed antibacterial drugs in minimal preventive doses for a long period.

In addition, treatment with alpha-1-adrenoblockers is recommended. They should be taken for 3 months. This helps to reduce pelvic discomfort and increase the volume flow rate of urine in patients who have been diagnosed with chronic bacterial prostatitis. Treatment helps improve their quality of life. Doctors can prescribe Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, or Tamsulosin.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Drug treatment is mandatory for the detection of chronic prostatitis. But to ease the condition and reduce the manifestations of the disease will help massage the prostate and special physiotherapy procedures. These methods are aimed at improving blood circulation in tissues.

Massage can reduce unpleasant symptoms, because it helps to eliminate stasis secretions in the prostate gland, reduce inflammation. After him, libido increases, potency improves even in those who have long been bothered by bacterial prostatitis.

Treatment becomes more effective in the appointment of physiotherapy. The doctor can recommend microclysters from decoctions of chamomile, calendula or other herbs. Also appoint an electromagnet, electrophoresis, ultrasound effect on prostate tissue. For treatment, light therapy is also used. Infrared radiation improves metabolic processes and blood circulation, thereby reducing pain. Ultraviolet can activate immunity. It also promotes resorption of infiltrates.

Preventative methods

Prevent the development of chronic prostatitis under the power of every man. For this it is necessary only to adhere to all the recommendations of the doctor and not to try to get rid of the disease with the help of alternative methods. Treatment of bacterial prostatitis with folk remedies can be carried out in consultation with the urologist in combination with prescribed antibiotic therapy.

Also, you can alleviate the condition, if you do not forget that it provokes the development of the disease. Men should:

• Avoid supercooling;
• Lead a regular sex life;
• Use barrier methods of contraception with casual partners;
• stick to a diet;
• Exclude alcohol.

The food should be balanced. From the diet excluded spicy dishes, flour products, rich broths, spices. The menu should contain products that improve digestion and promote softening of stool.

Possible complications

Many refuse antibiotics and prescribed procedures after they learn that they have chronic bacterial prostatitis. Treatment (drugs for which should be selected only by a doctor), they consider it optional. But at the same time they forget that chronic prostatitis can lead to the development of a number of serious problems. Among them:

• infertility;
• Problems with erection;
• Inflammation of the testes, seminal vesicles, epididymis;
• Sclerosis of the prostate;
• Fistula formation in the prostate;
• BPH;
• The formation of cysts and stones in the tissues of the prostate.

To prevent the development of such complications, it is possible, if you regularly go to the doctor and see if there is a bacterial prostatitis. Treatment of chronic form does not always lead to complete recovery. But it can eliminate all unpleasant manifestations of the disease. In this case, the patient is in a state of persistent remission.