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 about 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 rapidly and cannot go unnoticed.
With acute prostatitis, a man will feel:
- sharp, often throbbing pain in the perineum;
- temperature rise to 39°C;
- pain when urinating.
When the disease occurs, the focus of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland is extensive, so nearby organs may be involved in the pathological process.For example, prostatitis can affect the condition of the rectum, leading to painful bowel movements.
Chronic prostatitis is more often detected in men of retirement age.The disease may occur without any special symptoms.Sometimes patients complain to the doctor of burning or itching when urinating, or notice 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 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 so.
- The jet is sluggish, the range is no more than 20 cm.
- Splashing of urine, splitting or involuntary intermittency of the stream.
- Frequent urge to go to the toilet at night.
- Pain during urination.
- Feeling of an unemptied 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, 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 may also indicate prostate cancer, in which case the treatment tactics will be fundamentally different.
Certain manifestations do not always indicate prostatitis; they can 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 inflammation in the prostate.
Urination disorders
A patient with acute prostatitis has difficulty urinating.Normally, a man can feel up to 15 urges to relieve himself per day, this is due to the 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 are working without failure, but the walls of the bladder are being compressed by the prostate.
Constriction of the prostatic urethra causes strangury.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 especially characteristic of purulent prostatitis and is a harbinger of septic shock.As the severe infectious process progresses, body temperature may 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 laboratory examination of urine, less often - visually by the man himself.This is a dangerous manifestation of prostatitis, which is very difficult to combat.The cause of hematuria (the 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 examination.
This manifestation is also possible with calculous prostatitis, when stones and sand damage the gland tissue.Fortunately for men, hematuria with prostatitis is very rare.
Groin pain syndrome
Acute prostatitis, as well as cases of complications in the 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;
- aching 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 goes away 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 test of blood and urine, as well as based on 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 grains in prostate juice;
- tenderness in the prostate area during rectal examination;
- an 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 urine - Trichomonas, chlamydia, E. coli, etc.
Among the instrumental methods, in addition to TRUS, radiographic examination with contrast can be used.On pictures 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, you need to make an appointment with a doctor, undergo an examination and only then begin treatment.It is forbidden to choose your own therapy based only on unpleasant symptoms.