Prostatitis can affect potency or cause infertility.The success of treatment depends largely on how quickly treatment is started, so the patient must independently pay attention to the first signs.Let's look at how prostatitis manifests in acute and chronic forms and provide information on clinical manifestations and symptoms.
Symptoms of acute and chronic prostatitis
Acute prostatitis most commonly occurs in sexually active men of childbearing age.In this case, the first symptoms of the disease appear unexpectedly, develop rapidly and cannot be ignored.
With acute prostatitis, men will feel:
- Severe, often throbbing pain in the perineum;
- The temperature rises to 39°C;
- Pain during urination.
When the disease occurs, the focus of the inflammatory process in the prostate is widespread, so nearby organs may be involved in the pathological process.For example, prostatitis can affect the condition of the rectum, causing bowel movements to be painful.
Chronic prostatitis is more common in men of retirement age.This disease may occur without any specific symptoms.Sometimes patients complain to their doctor of a burning or itching sensation when urinating, or notice mucus or purulent discharge from the head of the penis.The pain of chronic prostatitis is either non-existent or not obvious, and the body temperature will rise to 37 degrees.
initial symptoms
Doctors have identified a number of symptoms that are considered precursors to the disease.They are a sign for a man to see a doctor in the near future.The six symptoms listed below indicate problems with the genitourinary system and have therefore been combined into one group - dysuria syndrome:
- The urine comes out in drops, and the man struggles to do so.
- The jet speed is slow and the range does not exceed 20 cm.
- Urine spills, urine stream breaks, or is involuntary intermittent.
- I often want to go to the toilet at night.
- Pain during urination.
- The feeling that the bladder is not empty.
If there was only one symptom - prostatitis, we probably wouldn't talk about it.However, if a person notices two or three signs, it's time to see a doctor.Most likely, the prostate has already begun an inflammatory process.
After a comprehensive examination with rectal examination, TRUS, and laboratory methods, the doctor will make a more accurate diagnosis.The choice of treatment is based on the results of these measures, so self-medication is strictly prohibited.
Urinary problems may also indicate prostate cancer, in which case treatment strategies will be fundamentally different.
Certain manifestations do not necessarily indicate prostatitis; they can indicate any other inflammatory process in the genitourinary system.However, when they appear, there are reasons to be wary.Let's consider how a man would feel if he had inflammation of the prostate.
urination disorder
Patients with acute prostatitis may have difficulty urinating.Typically, a man can have the urge to relieve himself up to 15 times a day, which is caused by his drinking habit.The average indicator is 4-5 times.However, the situation with prostatitis changes.A person may feel the need to urinate twice as often, but the amount of urine will not increase.This means that the kidneys are working normally, but the bladder wall is being compressed by the prostate.
Prostatic urethra contraction can lead to urethral stricture.This is a pathological condition in which men experience severe pain during urination.It is also possible to develop diabetics (inability to go to the toilet).
temperature rise
The first sign of acute prostatitis is an increase in body temperature to febrile levels (38-39 degrees).This symptom is unique to purulent prostatitis and is also a precursor to septic shock.As a severe infectious process progresses, body temperature may drop to 35-36°C.
In some cases, this condition can be life-threatening.It is particularly dangerous for men with DIC syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation).
blood in urine
This sign is more commonly found during a urine lab test and less often visually on one's own.This is a dangerous sign of prostatitis and can be difficult to fight.Hematuria (the scientific name for the symptom) may be caused by:
- location of blood vessels in areas of purulent inflammation;
- Development of prostate cancer or adenoma;
- Injury to the urethra or prostate during the test.
Calculous prostatitis may also appear this way when stones and sand damage glandular tissue.Fortunately for men, hematuria caused by prostatitis is very rare.
groin pain syndrome
Cases of acute prostatitis, as well as chronic forms of complications, may be accompanied by pain of varying nature, ranging from moderate to severe.This is not the first sign of prostatitis, but it should not be ignored.Unpleasant feelings can be divided into the following types:
- shooting, severe pain;
- pain or pressure;
- Itching and burning (more common with chlamydial prostatitis).
In some cases, men may also experience anal pain.This feeling is intensified during defecation, while sitting, and disappears at rest.
Laboratory signs of the disease
Only after laboratory tests of blood and urine and the results of ultrasound, CT, MRI and palpation can a man be said to have prostatitis.There are several known signs that indicate inflammation of an organ:
- The presence of white blood cells in the blood and urine;
- Detection of pathogenic microbiota in urine and prostate secretions;
- Against the background of a decrease in the number of lecithin granules in the prostatic fluid, there is an increase in the number of leukocytes;
- Tenderness in the prostate area on rectal examination;
- The glands are enlarged in size and have areas of echogenicity on TRUS images.
In addition, the presence of inflammation in the body can be determined by other parameters - an increase in ESR in blood tests, changes in the white blood cell profile, the presence of immobile sperm in the semen.
A variety of bacteria can be found in urine - Trichomonas, Chlamydia, E. coli, etc.
Among the instrumental methods, in addition to TRUS, contrast X-ray examination can also be used.On pictures of the prostate in different projections, signs of inflammation will be clearly visible - areas of disorganized tissue.
in conclusion
From a practical perspective, the following first symptoms of prostatitis are important for men: urinary problems and perineal pain.If the body temperature rises at the same time, you can talk about acute bacterial prostatitis.
No matter what, you need to make an appointment with your doctor, get tested, and then start treatment.It is forbidden to choose your own treatment based solely on unpleasant symptoms.