Under prostatitis, urologists understand the inflammatory processes in the prostate that occur due to various reasons. The prostate belongs to the genitourinary system, surrounded by other organs and tissues, so the symptoms, especially in the initial phase, do not allow to determine the disease. We will try to find out which early signs of prostatitis may indicate the onset of the disease and tell you where to look for help.
Signs of chronic abacterial prostatitis
The disease occurs due to trauma to the tissues of the prostate or due to the influence of several other factors:
- sedentary lifestyle and concomitant blood microcirculation disorders;
- backflow of urine into the prostate;
- narrowing of the lumen of the urethra due to a tumor, stone, or inflammation;
- sharp contraction of the pelvic muscles;
- hypothermia, smoking, alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of this form appear gradually, their severity increasing over time. At first, men may complain of frequent urge to urinate, accompanied by a burning sensation in the urethral orifice.
At this stage, prostatitis can be confused with urethritis, so laboratory diagnosis is important.
As the inflammatory process progresses, other signs of the disease appear in the prostate tissues:
- urge to urinate at night;
- perineal pain (may radiate to the head of the penis, anus, thighs, and lower abdomen);
- absent or weak erection;
- pain during ejaculation;
- increase in body temperature to 37. 5-37. 8 °C.
In case of violation of the integrity of the tissues of the prostate or adjacent areas of the urethra, blood may be observed in the urine or semen. The man pays attention to small flakes of scarlet or brown color.
Signs of acute bacterial prostatitis
Bacterial prostatitis is caused by pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora. Microorganisms can live in the intestines or on the skin of a man, if the rules of hygiene are not followed, they enter the prostate through the urethra and quickly develop in the tissues of the gland. Another option is penetration of the pathogen into the urethra and then into the prostate during unprotected intercourse. Infection is also possible with an incorrect prostate biopsy.
Once on the mucous membrane of the prostate, the bacteria develop rapidly, the colony grows in just 2-3 days. The first signs of prostatitis in this case will be:
- chills, fever, fever;
- pain in the perineum, lower back, or lower abdomen;
- violation of urination (pain, intermittent stream of urine, frequent urge).
In the absence of treatment or incorrect therapy tactics, the disease will progress. After a few days, constipation, acute urinary retention, muscle, joint and lymph node pain may appear. Signs of intoxication are also possible - nausea, vomiting, weakness.
The interval between the first symptoms and the most marked clinical picture can be 3-4 days.
Signs of chronic bacterial prostatitis
The chronic form of bacterial prostatitis occurs with inadequate treatment of acute course, as well as due to trauma to the bladder and illiterate catheterization. The situation in which the inflammatory process in adjacent organs passes into the prostate is not excluded.
A man can ignore the first signs of chronic prostatitis - symptoms in this way are characterized by mild severity, periods of remission are possible. You can suspect the disease by the following manifestations:
- problems with urination;
- dull, aching pain in the perineum;
- erection problems.
Periods of exacerbation alternate with calm. A man may mistakenly think of healing and not visit a doctor. Such an attitude is dangerous - the inflammatory process progresses, the tissues of the prostate are reborn, and the organ loses its functions. As a result, prostatitis can lead to infertility and cause sepsis - blood poisoning.
Clinical manifestations of the pathology
Prostatitis has no characteristic signs, it can be confused with other diseases that have similar symptoms - with cystitis, urethritis, chlamydia.
Knowing the first signs of the disease will not help to make an accurate diagnosis. It is more effective to pay attention to clinical manifestations.
For acute bacterial prostatitis, the following signs are characteristic, which are revealed during examination and laboratory examination of urine and blood:
- body temperature in the anus is higher than the temperature in the armpits by 0. 5 ° C;
- increased number of leukocytes in the urine;
- decrease in the number of eosinophils;
- increase in C-reactive protein;
- increased levels of PSA in the blood.
A blood test for PSA content is not mandatory, but it helps to get a clearer picture of the pathological process.
How to provide first aid and who to contact for treatment
Prostatitis refers to diseases that do not threaten the patient's life in the initial stage. With severe pain, you can take painkillers, but this is an exception to the rule. It is better not to drink these pills, so as not to blur the clinical picture and prevent the doctor from making a correct diagnosis. Antipyretics can be taken to fight a high fever.
With a competent approach, first aid is provided at a medical center. To do this, a man must contact a urologist at the place of residence or stay. If for some reason it is impossible to visit a doctor on your own, you need to call an ambulance.
It is strictly forbidden to take antibiotics on your own.
These drugs are prescribed taking into account the type of pathogen, uncontrolled ingestion can increase the resistance of bacteria and worsen the manifestation of intoxication.
Consequences of ignoring the first signs
Most men prefer not to see a doctor, especially when it comes to problems with the genitourinary system. This attitude can be dangerous. Prostatitis is a serious disease and can cause negative consequences:
- transition to a chronic, practically intractable form;
- development of infertility;
- spread of infection to nearby organs;
- decrease in potency;
- occurrence of sepsis.
This last condition directly threatens the patient's life. The probability of a fatal outcome is 30 to 50%, and each hour of delay in medical care increases this value by 8%.
In short
Knowing the first signs of prostatitis in men helps to suspect problems in the body. A more accurate diagnosis is made based on the instrumental examination and the results of a laboratory study of blood and urine. Prostatitis can threaten a man's life, so self-treatment is unacceptable. If you put off visiting the doctor, the illness can become chronic, which is very difficult to deal with.