Prostatitis can affect potency or cause infertility. The success of treatment largely depends on how quickly the treatment was started, therefore a man must independently pay attention to the first signs. Consider how prostatitis manifests itself in acute and chronic forms, and also give information about the 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 perineal region;
- temperature rise to 39 ° C;
- pain when urinating.
With a disease, the focus of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland is extensive, therefore, nearby organs may be involved in the pathological process. For example, prostatitis can affect the rectum, resulting in painful bowel movements.
Chronic prostatitis is more often diagnosed in men of retirement age. The disease can proceed without any special symptoms. Sometimes patients complain to the doctor about burning or itching when urinating, notice mucous or purulent discharge from the glans penis. Pain in chronic prostatitis is either absent or insignificant, and the temperature rises to 37 degrees.
Initial symptoms
Doctors distinguish a number of manifestations that are considered to be the 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 therefore are combined into one group - dysuric syndrome:
- Urine is excreted in drops, the man makes an effort to this.
- The jet is sluggish, the range is no more than 20 cm.
- Spattering of urine, splitting or involuntary interruption of the stream.
- Frequent urge to use the toilet at night.
- Pain during urination.
- Feeling of an empty bladder.
If there is only one symptom - prostatitis, most likely, we are not talking. However, if a man can note two or three signs in himself, 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 rectal examination, TRUS, laboratory methods, which together make up a comprehensive examination. Based on the results of these measures, treatment is also selected, therefore self-medication is strictly prohibited.
Problems with urination may indicate prostate cancer, then the tactics of therapy will be fundamentally different.
Certain manifestations are not always indicative of prostatitis; they may indicate any other inflammatory process in the genitourinary system. However, when they appear, there is reason to be wary. Consider how a man will feel if he has an inflammation in the prostate.
Violation of urination
In a patient with acute prostatitis, the process of urination is disturbed. Normally, a man can feel up to 15 urges to relieve a small need per day, this is due to the drinking regimen. Average indicators - 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 smoothly, but the walls of the bladder are compressed by the prostate.
Narrowing of the prostatic urethra causes stranguria. This is a pathological condition in which a man feels severe pain when urinating. Development of ischuria is also possible (inability to go to the toilet).
Temperature increase
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 a severe infectious process progresses, body temperature can drop to 35-36 ° C.
In some cases, this condition can be life threatening. It is especially dangerous for men with disseminated intravascular coagulation (disseminated intravascular coagulation) syndrome.
The appearance of blood in the urine
This symptom is more often detected in a laboratory study 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 trait) can be:
- the location of the blood vessel in the area of the purulent-inflammatory process;
- the development of prostate cancer or adenoma;
- trauma to the urethra or prostate on examination.
Also, such a manifestation is possible with 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 the chronic form, can be accompanied by pains 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 discomfort are distinguished:
- shooting, sharp pains;
- aching or pressing sensations;
- itching and burning (more often with chlamydial prostatitis).
In some cases, men may also feel pain in the anus. It increases with bowel movements, 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 started prostatitis only after laboratory tests of blood and urine, as well as according to the results of ultrasound, CT, MRI and palpation. There are several known signs by which it is possible to establish inflammation in an organ:
- the appearance of leukocytes in the blood and urine;
- identification 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 juice of the prostate;
- soreness 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.
From instrumental methods, in addition to TRUS, X-ray examination with contrast can be involved. In the 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 - violations 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 start treatment. It is forbidden to choose your own therapy on your own, focusing only on unpleasant manifestations.