The fight against prostatitis is a complex and rather long process that does not allow self-medication.Since this disease can lead to both pathologies of the male reproductive function and serious disorders in the functioning of other organs and systems, all measures for diagnosis and determining the necessary therapeutic strategy should be carried out exclusively by a urologist.How to treat prostatitis so that the disease subsides as quickly as possible and what does the complex of therapeutic measures consist of?
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Identifying the presence of prostatitis in a patient is usually not difficult for a urologist, and the main goal of diagnostic procedures is to determine the cause and form of the disease.Some types of examination may cause discomfort or pain to patients, but passing through certain stages of clinical diagnosis is necessary to collect useful information from the attending physician:
- Primary digital examination of the rectum and collection of prostate secretions for analysis to determine the nature of the disease (bacterial or infectious forms of prostatitis).If an infectious agent is detected in biological material, a test is carried out to determine the sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora to antibiotics in order to optimize the set of subsequent therapeutic measures.
- Transabdominal or rectal ultrasound examination.It is prescribed as needed to clarify the characteristics of the prostate gland.Transabdominal ultrasound is performed through the anterior abdominal wall and does not cause discomfort to the patient.However, rectal examination of the prostate (through the rectum) is, although moderately painful, a more informative procedure, as it allows you to determine not only the parameters of the gland, but also its structural changes.
- PSA blood test.Exceeding the normal level (4 ng/ml) of prostate-specific antigen in the blood may indicate the presence of pathological processes in the prostate gland.The determination of PSA values should be carried out not only in the process of diagnosing prostatitis, but also during the treatment of the disease to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.
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.Correctly chosen, rational treatment presupposes a complete recovery of the patient in the first case and leads to his cure or a long-term remission of the disease in the second.Only a urologist can decide how to treat prostatitis without harming the patient's health and achieving the maximum effect from the means and methods used.The role of the patient in this process is to strictly follow all the instructions of the specialist.
Pharmacotherapy
Drug therapy is the basis of any therapeutic effect in foci of inflammation in the prostate gland.The selection of the necessary drugs is made by a urologist based on data from laboratory tests and other preliminary studies.The direction of action of drug therapy includes:
- reducing the patient's pain level.
- normalization of blood circulation in the prostate gland and adjacent organs.
- detection 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
The optimal effectiveness of drug therapy is achieved by combining antibiotics, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs, antidepressants, micro-enemas and suppositories in a wellness program.
Local treatment
A local restorative effect on the prostate gland and its inflamed areas is achieved through the use of various types of physiotherapy in the treatment program:
- ultrasound phonophoresis?
- rectal microwave hyperthermia.
- empowerment?
- laser therapy;
- prostate massage.
It should be noted that, despite its associated pain, massage is the most effective means of combating prostatitis.Thanks to such procedures, stagnant secretions are removed from the prostate gland, which improves blood circulation in the affected tissues and increases the effectiveness of the drugs used by the patient.Massage is prescribed to the patient in periods of remission or remission of acute manifestations of the disease.During an exacerbation of prostatitis, procedures are excluded by the doctor from the list of therapeutic measures, as they can cause the infection to spread.
Herbal medicine
Treatment with herbal medicines is prescribed to patients with prostatitis as part of complex treatment.The use of herbal health products is possible in the long run, due to their harmless effects on the body and the low prevalence of side effects.Herbal therapy can be carried out with internal and (or) external use, in the form of juices, decoctions or decoctions of St. John's wort, ginseng, calamus, periwinkle, burdock, nettle and other medicinal plants.In the chronic form of prostatitis, the doctor can prescribe magnetic, phono- or electrophoresis herbal remedies.
Drugs in the treatment of prostatitis
The course of medication that patients use is prescribed by their doctor on an individual basis.The antibiotic program is developed taking into account the following specific criteria:
- form of the disease;
- type of pathogen and antimicrobial activity of the drug.
- penetration of the drug into the prostate tissue.
- there are no contraindications for taking the drug.
- method of drug administration;
- possible side effects
Based on 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 high concentrations in prostate tissue.In this case, pathogenic bacteria do not develop resistance to the active agent.The "disadvantage" of fluoroquinolones is their possible negative effect on the central nervous system and the possibility of allergic reactions in patients.
- Tetracyclines.These drugs are more effective against atypical pathogens, but are not sufficiently active against E. coli and staphylococci and are completely ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Macrolides.Drugs from the group of macrolides easily penetrate and actively accumulate in the tissues of the gland.However, because they are low toxic and effective in killing Gram-positive bacteria, they are weakly effective in suppressing Gram-negative bacteria.
During the first few days of taking the prescribed antibacterial drugs, a patient diagnosed with prostatitis should see their doctor regularly.This measure is necessary to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotics by the urologist.If, after three days of treatment, the specialist does not notice obvious improvements in the patient's condition, he replaces the main drug.When prescribing antibiotics, the doctor must take into account the patient's experience of taking similar drugs in order to avoid re-prescribing a drug of the same group.
In addition to antibacterials and painkillers, a patient with prostatitis may be prescribed hormone therapy and (or) alpha-blockers:
- Hormonal therapy.The state and functions of the prostate depend directly on the amount of androgens and estrogens in the male body.The use of hormonal drugs in the treatment of prostatitis allows you to shift the balance of "female" and "male" hormones in a given direction.Since such drugs help to reduce the glandular tissue of the prostate, we can talk about the indirect role of antiandrogens in the recovery of a patient with prostatitis.
- Alpha adrenergic blockers.Taking such drugs refers to the pathogenetic treatment method.its purpose is to relieve the general symptoms of prostate inflammation.The use of alpha-blockers is particularly effective for problems with urination.By relieving the spasms of the sphincter, the walls of the ureter, the smooth muscles of the bladder, as well as the prostate gland itself, it prevents stagnation or backflow of prostatic secretion and relieves swelling from the inflamed organ.
Regardless of the purposes and specifics of the use of drugs, any drug should be taken exclusively according to the doctor's instructions and under his supervision.Self-medication may lead to complications of the disease or render subsequent treatment ineffective in a clinical setting.
Immunocorrection is the key to successful treatment
The entire complex of treatment 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 rapid recovery of the patient or to the prolongation of the phase of remission in the chronic form of the disease.
Timely visit to a specialist in case of characteristic symptoms of the disease, strict adherence to medical recommendations in case of diagnosis of prostatitis, prevention of recurrence of an existing disease and categorical refusal of self-medication in favor of professional intervention of a urologist will allow you to avoid long-term treatment and unwanted consequences of a serious disease.