Prostatitis can affect potency or cause infertility.The success of the treatment largely depends on how quickly the treatment is started, so the man must independently pay attention to the first signs.Let's see how prostatitis manifests itself in acute and chronic forms, and also provide information on clinical manifestations and symptoms.
Signs of acute and chronic prostatitis
Acute prostatitis most often occurs in men of reproductive age who are sexually active.The first signs of the disease in this case appear unexpectedly, develop quickly and cannot go unnoticed.
With acute prostatitis, a man will feel:
- sharp, often throbbing pain in the perineum;
- rise in temperature up to 39°C;
- pain when urinating.
When the disease appears, the focus of the inflammatory process in the prostate is extensive, so nearby organs can be involved in the pathological process.For example, prostatitis can affect the state of the rectum, leading to painful bowel movements.
Chronic prostatitis is more often detected in men of retirement age.The disease can appear without special symptoms.Sometimes patients complain to the doctor about burning or itching when urinating, or they notice a mucous or purulent discharge from the head of the penis.Pain in chronic prostatitis is either absent or insignificant, and the temperature rises to 37 degrees.
Initial symptoms
Doctors identify a number of manifestations that are considered precursors of the disease.They are a signal that a man will visit a doctor in the near future.The six symptoms listed below indicate a problem in the genitourinary system and are therefore combined into one group - dysuric syndrome:
- Urine is released in drops, the man tries to do it.
- The jet is slow, the range is no greater than 20 cm.
- Urine splashing, splitting or involuntary interruption of flow.
- Frequent desire to go to the toilet at night.
- Pain during urination.
- A feeling of not emptying the bladder.
If there is only one symptom - prostatitis, most likely we are not talking about it.However, if a man can notice two or three signs, it is a reason to consult a doctor.Most likely, the inflammatory process has started in the prostate.
The doctor will make a more accurate diagnosis after a rectal examination, TRUS and laboratory methods, which together form a comprehensive examination.Treatment is selected based on the results of these measures, therefore self-medication is strictly prohibited.
Problems with urination can also indicate prostate cancer, in which case the treatment tactics will be significantly different.
Certain manifestations do not always indicate prostatitis;they can indicate any other inflammatory process in the genitourinary system.However, when they do appear, there is reason to be cautious.Let's consider what a man will feel if he has prostatitis.
Urinary disorders
A patient with acute prostatitis has difficulty urinating.Normally, a man can feel up to 15 urges to relieve himself a day, this is due to his drinking regime.Average indicators are 4-5 times.However, with prostatitis the picture changes.A man may feel the urge twice as often, but the volume of urine will not increase.This means that the kidneys work without interruption, but the walls of the bladder are compressed by the prostate.
The constriction of the prostatic urethra causes a strange condition.This is a pathological condition in which a man feels severe pain when urinating.It is also possible to develop ischuria (inability to go to the toilet).
Temperature rise
The first sign of acute prostatitis will be an increase in temperature to febrile levels (38-39 degrees).This symptom is particularly characteristic of purulent prostatitis and is a precursor to septic shock.As the severe infectious process progresses, the body temperature can drop to 35-36°C.
In some cases, this condition can be life-threatening.It is especially dangerous for men with DIC syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation).
The appearance of blood in the urine
This sign is more often detected during a laboratory examination of urine, less often - visually by the man himself.This is a dangerous manifestation of prostatitis, which is very difficult to fight.The cause of hematuria (the scientific name of the symptom) can be:
- the location of the blood vessel in the area of the purulent-inflammatory process;
- development of prostate cancer or adenoma;
- urethral or prostate trauma during examination.
This manifestation is also possible in calculous prostatitis, when stones and sand damage the tissue of the gland.Fortunately for men, hematuria with prostatitis is very rare.
Groin pain syndrome
Acute prostatitis, as well as cases of complications in a chronic form, can be accompanied by pain of a different nature, from moderate to severe.This is not the first sign of prostatitis, but it cannot be ignored.The following types of unpleasant sensations are distinguished:
- shooting, sharp pains;
- feeling pain or pressure;
- itching and burning (more common in chlamydial prostatitis).
In some cases, men can also feel pain in the anus.It intensifies during defecation, in a sitting position and disappears if the man rests.
Laboratory signs of the disease
It can be said that a man has prostatitis only after laboratory analysis of blood and urine, as well as based on the results of ultrasound, CT, MRI and palpation.There are several well-known signs that indicate inflammation in an organ:
- appearance of leukocytes in blood and urine;
- detection of pathogenic microflora in urine and prostate secretions;
- an increase in the number of leukocytes against the background of a decrease in the number of lecithin grains in the prostate juice;
- tenderness in the prostate area during rectal examination;
- increase in the size of the gland on TRUS images, the presence of areas with increased echogenicity.
Also, the presence of inflammation in the body can be judged by other parameters - an increase in ESR in blood tests, a shift in the leukogram, the presence of immobile sperm in the ejaculate.
Various bacteria can be found in the urine - Trichomonas, chlamydia, E. coli, etc.
Among the instrumental methods, apart from TRUS, radiographic examination with contrast can be used.On the images of the prostate in different projections, signs of inflammation will be clearly visible - areas with tissue structure disorders.
Conclusion
From a practical point of view, the following first signs of prostatitis are important for a man - problems with urination and pain in the perineum.If the temperature rises at the same time, we can talk about acute bacterial prostatitis.
In any case, it is necessary to make an appointment with a doctor, perform an examination and only then start treatment.It is forbidden to choose your own therapy based only on unpleasant symptoms.