Prostatitis can affect potency or cause infertility. The success of treatment largely depends on how quickly treatment is started, so the man must pay attention to the first signs. Consider 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 quickly and can not go unnoticed.
In acute prostatitis, the man will feel:
- acute, often throbbing pain in the perineum;
- raising the temperature to 39 ° C;
- pain when urinating.
In disease, the focus of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland is wide, therefore nearby organs may be involved in the pathological process. For example, prostatitis can affect the rectum, leading to painful bowel movements.
Chronic prostatitis is more commonly diagnosed in men of retirement age. The disease can occur without special symptoms. Sometimes patients complain to the doctor of burning or itching when urinating, notice a mucous or purulent discharge from the glans penis. The 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 for the man to visit a doctor in the near future. The six symptoms listed below indicate a problem in the genitourinary system and are therefore grouped together in one group - dysuric syndrome:
- Urine is excreted in drops, the man makes an effort to do so.
- The jet is slow, the range is not more than 20 cm.
- Dispersion of urine, separation or involuntary interruption of the jet.
- Often a desire 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 may notice 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 constitute a comprehensive examination. Based on the results of these measures, treatment is chosen, which is why self-medication is strictly prohibited.
Problems with urination may indicate prostate cancer, then the tactics of therapy will be radically different.
Some manifestations are not always indicative of prostatitis, they may indicate some other inflammatory process in the genitourinary system. However, when they do occur, there is reason to be cautious. Think about how a man will feel if there is inflammation in the prostate.
Disorders of urination
In a patient with acute prostatitis, the process of urination is disturbed. Usually a man can feel up to 15 urges to relieve a small need a day, this is due to the drinking regime. Average indicators - 4-5 times. In prostatitis, however, the picture changes. The man may feel the desire twice as often, but the volume of urine will not increase. This means that the kidneys work smoothly, but the walls of the bladder are compressed by the prostate.
Narrowing of the prostate urethra causes stranguria. This is a pathological condition in which a man experiences severe pain when urinating. It is also possible to develop ischuria (inability to go to the toilet).
Rising temperature
The first sign of acute prostatitis will be a rise 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, the body temperature may drop to 35-36 ° C.
In some cases, this condition can be life-threatening. It is especially dangerous for men with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation).
The appearance of blood in the urine
This symptom is more often found in 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 trait) can be:
- the location of the blood vessel in the area of purulent-inflammatory process;
- the development of prostate cancer or adenoma;
- trauma to the urethra or prostate on examination.
Also, such a manifestation is possible in calculous 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 complications in the chronic form, can be accompanied by pain of various nature, from moderate to severe. This is not the first sign of prostatitis, but it cannot be ignored. There are the following types of discomfort:
- shooting, sharp pains;
- painful or oppressive sensations;
- itching and burning (more common in chlamydial prostatitis).
In some cases, men may also experience pain in the anus. It increases when passing stool, in a sitting position and disappears if the man is at rest.
Laboratory signs of the disease
It can be said that the man 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 detect inflammation in an organ:
- the appearance of leukocytes in the blood and urine;
- identification of pathogenic microflora in urine and prostate secretions;
- increase in the number of leukocytes against the background of a decrease in the number of lecithin grains in the juice of the prostate;
- prostate pain during rectal examination;
- increase in the size of the gland on TRUS images, the presence of areas of increased echogenicity.
Also, the presence of inflammation in the body can be judged by other parameters - increased ESR in blood tests, shift of the leukogram, the presence of immobile sperm in the ejaculate.
Various bacteria can be found in the urine - Trichomonas, Chlamydia, E. coli and others.
Of the instrumental methods, in addition to TRUS, contrast-enhanced X-ray examination may also be included. On the photos 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 for a man the following first signs of prostatitis are important - disorders 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 should make an appointment with a doctor, undergo an examination and only then begin treatment. It is forbidden to choose therapy on your own, focusing only on unpleasant manifestations.