The fight against prostatitis is a complex and rather long process that does not allow for self-treatment. Because this disease can also lead to pathologies of male reproductive function and severe dysfunction of other organs and systems, all procedures should be performed by a urologist alone to establish a diagnosis and determine the necessary treatment strategy. How to treat prostatitis so that the disease recedes as quickly as possible, and what is the complex of therapeutic measures?
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Identifying the presence of prostatitis in a patient is usually not difficult for the urologist, and the main purpose of diagnostic procedures is to determine the cause and form of the disease. Certain types of tests may cause discomfort or pain in patients, but it is necessary to go through certain stages of the clinical diagnosis in order for the treating physician to gather useful information:
- Primary rectal digital examination and inclusion of prostatic secretions for analysis that determines the nature of the disease (bacterial or infectious forms of prostatitis). If an infectious agent is found in the biological material, susceptibility testing of the pathogen microflora to antibiotics is performed to optimize the complexity of subsequent therapeutic interventions.
- Transabdominal or transrectal ultrasound. It is prescribed as needed to clarify the characteristics of the condition of the prostate gland. Transabdominal ultrasound is performed through the anterior abdominal wall and does not cause discomfort to the patient. However, transrectal examination of the prostate (through the rectum) is a moderately painful but more informative procedure as it can determine not only glandular parameters but also structural changes.
- Blood test for PSA. Excess levels of prostate-specific antigen (4 ng / ml) in the blood may indicate the presence of abnormal processes in the prostate gland. Determination of PSA indicators should be performed not only in the process of diagnosing prostatitis, but also in the treatment of the disease 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 the disease are treated according to similar regimens. Properly selected, rational therapy in the first case presupposes the complete recovery of the patient, and in the second case it leads to the cure or long-term remission of the disease. Only one urologist can decide how to treat prostatitis without compromising the patient’s health, and with the maximum impact of the tools and methods used, the patient’s role in this process lies in strictly adhering to all of the specialist’s guidelines.
Medical therapy
Medication is based on any therapeutic effect of inflammation of the prostate. The selection of the required drugs is made by the urologist based on the data from laboratory tests and other preliminary tests. Drug therapy focuses on:
- reducing the patient's pain;
- 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;
- stabilizing immunity, sexual performance, and overall patient well-being
Optimal efficacy of drug therapy in the wellness program is achieved through a combination of antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory and hormonal agents, antidepressants, microclusters and suppositories.
Local therapy
The local restorative effect on the prostate gland and inflamed areas is achieved by using different types of physiotherapy in the treatment program:
- ultrasonic phonophoresis;
- transrectal microwave hyperthermia;
- diadynophoresis;
- 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 secretions of the prostate gland are removed, which helps to improve the blood circulation of the affected tissues and increase the effectiveness of the drugs used by the patient. The massage is prescribed to the patient during the period of remission or subsidence of the acute manifestations of the disease. If your prostatitis gets worse, your doctor will exclude the procedures from the list of therapeutic measures because they may provoke the spread of the infection.
Phytotherapy
Treatment with phytopreparations is prescribed for patients with prostatitis as part of a complex therapy. The long-term use of herbal health products is possible due to their harmless effects 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, Persian, burdock, nettle and other herbs. In the chronic form of prostatitis, your doctor may prescribe magneto-, phono- or electrophoresis of phytopreparations.
Medications for the treatment of prostatitis
The course of medication for patients is prescribed individually by the treating physician. The antibiotic program shall be designed taking into account the following specific criteria:
- the form of the disease;
- the type of pathogen and the antimicrobial effect of the drug;
- the ability of the drug to penetrate prostate tissue;
- there are no contraindications to taking the drug;
- the method of administration of the drug;
- possible side effects
According to the efficacy indicators for the treatment of chronic and acute prostatitis, three main groups of antibacterial agents are distinguished:
- Fluoroquinolones. Drugs in this group have a broad spectrum of action and are able to accumulate in high concentrations in the tissues of the prostate gland; however, resistance of the pathogenic bacteria to the drug does not develop. The "disadvantage" of fluoroquinolones lies in their potential negative effects on the central nervous system and the likelihood of allergic reactions in patients.
- Tetracyclines. These drugs are most 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. Formulations of the macrolide group readily penetrate and actively accumulate in glandular tissues, however, are low in toxicity and effective in killing Gram-positive bacteria, ineffective in suppressing Gram-negative bacteria.
Patients diagnosed with prostatitis should see their doctor regularly during the first few days of taking the prescribed antibacterial medications. Such a measure is necessary for the urologist to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotics. If, after three days of treatment, the specialist does not notice a visible improvement in the patient's condition, he will replace the main medication. When prescribing antibiotics, the physician should take into account the patient's experience with similar medications to rule out re-prescribing of the same class of medication.
In addition to antibacterial and analgesic agents, patients with prostatitis may be prescribed hormone therapy and / or alpha-blockers:
- Hormone therapy. The condition and function of the prostate are directly dependent on the amount of androgens and estrogens in the male body. The use of hormonal drugs in the treatment of prostatitis allows the balance of "female" and "male" hormones to shift in a certain direction. Since such drugs help to reduce prostate glandular tissue, we can talk about the indirect role of antiandrogens in the healing of patients with prostatitis.
- Alpha blockers. The inclusion of such funds relates to the method of pathogenetic therapy; aims to relieve the general symptoms of prostatitis. The use of alpha-blockers is particularly effective in urinary problems. Due to spasms of the sphincter, the wall of the ureter, the smooth muscle of the bladder, and the prostate itself, stagnation or reverse reflux of prostate secretions ceases and edema of the inflamed organ ceases.
Regardless of the purpose and characteristics of the use of the drug, any drug should be taken only as prescribed and under the supervision of a physician. Self-medication may lead to a complication of the disease or render subsequent therapy in the clinic ineffective.
Immune correction is the key to successful treatment
The full complex of medical procedures for chronic or acute prostatitis should necessarily be accompanied by immunocorrection measures (regular immunologist visits, lifestyle normalization, vitamins, immunomodulators, etc. ). The high state of the body contributes to the rapid recovery of the patient or to the prolongation of the remission phase in the chronic form of the disease.
A visit to a specialist during the symptoms of the disease, strict adherence to medical recommendations for the diagnosis of prostatitis, prevention of recurrence of existing disease and categorical rejection of self-medication in favor of professional intervention allow the urologist to avoid long-term treatment and severeundesirable consequences of the disease.