Prostatitis can affect potency or cause infertility.The success of treatment largely depends on how quickly treatment was started, so the man must independently pay attention to the first signs.Let's look at 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 occurs most often in men of reproductive age who are sexually active.The first signs of the disease in this case appear unexpectedly, develop rapidly and cannot go unnoticed.
With acute prostatitis, a man will feel:
- sharp, often throbbing pain in the perineum;
- temperature increase up to 39°C;
- pain during urination.
When the disease occurs, the focus of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland is large, so nearby organs may be involved in the pathological process.For example, prostatitis can affect the condition of the rectum, causing painful bowel movements.
Chronic prostatitis is detected more often in men of retirement age.The disease can occur without particular symptoms.Sometimes patients complain to the doctor of burning or itching during urination or notice mucous or purulent discharge from the head of the penis.Pain in chronic prostatitis is absent or insignificant, and the temperature rises to 37 degrees.
Initial symptoms
Doctors identify a series of manifestations considered to be harbingers of the disease.They are the signal for a man to 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 makes an effort to do this.
- The jet is slow, the range does not exceed 20 cm.
- Splashes of urine, splitting or involuntary intermittent jetting.
- Frequent urge to go to the bathroom at night.
- Pain during urination.
- Sensation of bladder not emptied.
If there is only one symptom - prostatitis, then most likely we are not talking about it.However, if a man manages to notice two or three signs, this is a reason to consult a doctor.Most likely, an inflammatory process has begun in the prostate.
The doctor will make a more accurate diagnosis after a rectal examination, TRUS and laboratory methods, which together constitute a comprehensive examination.Based on the results of these measures, treatment is selected, therefore self-medication is strictly prohibited.
Problems with urination can also indicate prostate cancer, in which case the treatment tactics will be fundamentally different.
Some manifestations do not always indicate prostatitis;may indicate any other inflammatory process in the genitourinary system.However, when they appear, there is reason to be wary.Let's consider what a man will feel if he has prostate inflammation.
Urination disorders
A patient with acute prostatitis has difficulty urinating.Normally a man can feel up to 15 urges per day, this is due to the alcohol consumption regime.Average indicators are 4-5 times.However, with prostatitis the picture changes.A man may feel the urge twice as often, but the urine volume will not increase.This means that the kidneys function smoothly, but the walls of the bladder are compressed by the prostate.
Constriction of the prostatic urethra causes stranguria.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 bathroom).
Temperature increase
The first sign of acute prostatitis will be an increase in temperature to feverish levels (38-39 degrees).This symptom is especially characteristic of purulent prostatitis and is a harbinger of 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 detected most often during 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 (scientific name of the symptom) can be:
- location of the blood vessel in the area of the purulent-inflammatory process;
- development of prostate cancer or adenoma;
- trauma to the urethra or prostate during the exam.
This manifestation is also possible in chalcolithic prostatitis, when stones and sand damage the glandular tissue.Fortunately for men, hematuria with prostatitis is very rare.
Groin pain syndrome
Acute prostatitis, as well as cases of chronic complications, 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:
- shots, sharp pains;
- painful or pressing sensations;
- itching and burning (more often with chlamydial prostatitis).
In some cases, men may also experience pain in the anus.It intensifies during defecation, in a sitting position and disappears if the man is at rest.
Laboratory signs of the disease
It is possible to say that a man has developed prostatitis only after a laboratory examination of blood and urine, as well as on the basis of the results of ultrasound, CT, MRI and palpation.There are several known signs that indicate inflammation in an organ:
- the appearance of leukocytes in the 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 granules in the prostate juice;
- tenderness in the prostate area during rectal examination;
- an increase in the size of the gland in 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 spermatozoa in the ejaculate.
Various bacteria can be found in urine: Trichomonas, chlamydia, E. coli, etc.
Among the instrumental methods, in addition to TRUS, radiographic examination with contrast medium can be used.On images of the prostate in different projections will be clearly visible signs of inflammation - areas with disorders of tissue structure.
Conclusion
From a practical point of view, the first signs of prostatitis are important for a man: problems with urination and pain in the perineum.If the temperature increases at the same time, we can talk about acute bacterial prostatitis.
In any case, you need to make an appointment with a doctor, undergo an examination and only then start treatment.It is forbidden to choose your therapy based only on unpleasant symptoms.