The fight against prostatitis is a complex and rather long process that does not allow self-treatment. Since this disease can cause both pathologies of the male reproductive function and serious malfunctions in the functioning of other organs and systems, all measures to make a diagnosis and determine the necessary treatment strategy should be carried out exclusively by a urologist. How to treat prostatitis so that the disease regresses as quickly as possible, and what is the complex of therapeutic measures?
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Identification of the presence of prostatitis in a patient for a urologist is usually not difficult, and the main goal of diagnostic procedures is to determine the cause and form of the disease. Some types of examinations can cause discomfort or pain in patients, but it is necessary to go through certain stages of clinical diagnosis in order for the treating physician to collect useful information:
- Primary digital rectal examination and taking of prostatic secretion for analysis, which determines the nature of the disease (abacterial or infectious forms of prostatitis). If an infectious agent is found in the biological material, a test for the sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora to antibiotics is carried out in order to optimize the complex of subsequent therapeutic measures.
- Transabdominal or transrectal ultrasound. It is prescribed as needed to clarify the features of the state of the prostate gland. Transabdominal ultrasound is performed through the anterior abdominal wall and does not cause discomfort to the patient. However, a transrectal examination of the prostate (through the rectum) is, although moderately painful, but a more informative procedure, since it allows you to determine not only the parameters of the gland, but also its structural changes.
- Blood test for PSA. The excess in the blood of the normal level (4 ng/ml) of the specific prostate antigen can indicate the presence of pathological processes in the prostate gland. Determination of PSA indicators should be carried out not only in the process of diagnosing prostatitis, but also during the treatment of the disease in order to assess the effectiveness of therapy.
The main therapeutic components and methods of treatment of prostatitis.
Acute prostatitis and exacerbation of the chronic form of this disease are treated according to similar schemes. Properly selected rational therapy assumes a complete recovery of the patient in the first case, and leads to his cure or long-term remission of the disease in the second. Only a urologist can decide how to treat prostatitis without harm to the patient's health and with the maximum effect of the means and methods used, the patient's role in this process lies in his strict compliance with all the specialist's prescriptions.
medical therapy
Drug treatment underlies any therapeutic effect on inflammation in the prostate gland. The selection of the necessary drugs is made by the urologist on the basis of data from laboratory tests and other preliminary studies. The drug therapy approach includes:
- reduction of the patient's pain level;
- normalization of blood circulation in the prostate gland and adjacent organs;
- localization and destruction of the infectious agent;
- elimination of inflammatory reactions and congestion in the prostate;
- stabilization of immunity, sexual performance and general well-being of the patient
Optimal effectiveness of drug therapy is achieved through a combination of antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs, antidepressants, microclysters and suppositories in the wellness program.
spot therapy
The local restorative effect on the prostate and its inflamed areas is achieved through the use of various types of physiotherapy in the treatment program:
- ultrasonic phonophoresis;
- transrectal microwave hyperthermia;
- diadynamophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- prostate massage
It should be noted that, with its relative pain, massage is the most effective means of combating prostatitis. Thanks to such procedures, the stagnant secretion of the prostate is removed, which helps to improve the blood circulation of the affected tissues and increases the effectiveness of the drugs used by the patient. Massage is prescribed to the patient during periods of remission or subsidence of acute manifestations of the disease. During an exacerbation of prostatitis, the doctor excludes procedures from the list of therapeutic measures, since they can lead to the spread of infection.
Phytotherapy
Treatment with phytopreparations is prescribed for patients with prostatitis as part of complex therapy. The use of herbal health products is possible for a long period of time, due to their harmless effect on the body and the low incidence of side effects. Phytotherapy can be performed internally and (or) externally, in the form of juices, decoctions or infusions of St. John's wort, ginseng, calamus, periwinkle, burdock, nettle and other medicinal plants. In the chronic form of prostatitis, the doctor may prescribe magneto, phono or electrophoresis of phytopreparations.
Drugs in the treatment of prostatitis.
The course of drug use by patients is prescribed by their doctor individually. An antibiotic program is designed with the following specific criteria in mind:
- the form of the disease;
- type of pathogen and antimicrobial activity of the drug;
- ability to penetrate the drug into the prostate tissue;
- no contraindications to taking the drug;
- drug administration method;
- possible side effects
According to the indicators of the effectiveness of the treatment of chronic and acute prostatitis, there are three main groups of antibacterial agents:
- Fluoroquinolones. Drugs of this group have a wide spectrum of action and have the ability to accumulate in the tissues of the prostate gland in high concentration; at the same time, resistance of pathogenic bacteria to the active agent does not develop. The "disadvantage" of fluoroquinolones lies in their possible negative effects on the central nervous system and the probability of allergic reactions in patients.
- tetracyclines. These drugs are more effective against atypical pathogens, but are not active enough in the fight against Escherichia coli and staphylococci, and are completely ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- macrolides. Preparations of the macrolide group easily penetrate and actively accumulate in the tissues of the gland, however, being poorly toxic and effective in destroying gram-positive bacteria, they are ineffective in suppressing gram-negative bacteria.
In the first days of taking prescribed antibacterial drugs, a patient diagnosed with prostatitis should regularly visit his doctor. Such a measure is necessary for the urologist to track the effectiveness of antibiotics. If, after three days of treatment, the specialist does not notice visible improvements in the patient's condition, she replaces the main drug. When prescribing antibiotics, the doctor must take into account the patient's experience when taking similar drugs to exclude the new prescription of a drug from the same group.
In addition to antibacterials and pain relievers, a patient with prostatitis may be prescribed hormone therapy and (or) take alpha-blockers:
- Hormone therapy. The condition and functions of the prostate directly depend on the amount of androgens and estrogens in the male body. The use of hormonal drugs in the treatment of prostatitis allows you to change the balance of "female" and "male" hormones in a certain direction. Since such drugs help to shrink the glandular tissue of the prostate, we can talk about the indirect role of antiandrogens in the recovery of a patient with prostatitis.
- Alpha blockers. The intake of such funds refers to the method of pathogenetic therapy; Its purpose is to relieve the general symptoms of prostate inflammation. Especially effective is the use of alpha blockers for problems with urination. Thanks to the elimination of spasms of the sphincter, the walls of the ureter, the smooth muscles of the bladder, as well as the prostate gland itself, stagnation or reverse reflux of prostatic secretion is prevented, and edema of the inflamed organ is eliminated.
Regardless of the purpose and details of the use of drugs, taking any drug should be carried out exclusively as prescribed by a doctor and under the control of it. Self-medication can lead to a complication of the disease or make subsequent therapy ineffective in the clinic.
Immunocorrection is the key to successful treatment
The entire complex of medical procedures for chronic or acute prostatitis must necessarily be accompanied by immunocorrective measures (regular visits to an immunologist, normalization of lifestyle, taking vitamins, immunomodulators, etc. ). The high immune status of the organism contributes to the prompt recovery of the patient or to the prolongation of the remission phase in the chronic form of the disease.
Timely visit to a specialist in case of symptoms characteristic of the disease, strict adherence to medical recommendations in case of diagnosis of prostatitis, prevention of recurrence of an existing disease, and categorical rejection of self-treatment in favor of professional intervention. by a urologist will allow you to avoid long-term treatment and the undesirable consequences of serious illness.