By prostatitis, urologists understand the inflammatory processes in the prostate gland that occur for various reasons.The prostate belongs to the genitourinary system and is surrounded by other organs and tissues, so the symptoms, especially in the initial stage, do not allow the disease to be identified.Let's try to understand what the first signs of prostatitis are that can indicate the onset of the disease and tell you who to turn to for help.
Signs of chronic abacterial prostatitis
The disease occurs due to injury to the prostate tissue or due to the influence of a number of other factors:
- sedentary lifestyle and concomitant disorders of blood microcirculation;
- reflux of urine into the prostate gland;
- narrowing of the lumen of the urethra due to a tumor, stones or an inflammatory process;
- strong contraction of the pelvic muscles;
- hypothermia, smoking, alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of this form appear gradually, their severity increases over time.Initially, men may complain of a frequent urge to urinate, accompanied by a burning sensation in the area of the urethral opening.
At this stage, prostatitis can be confused with urethritis, so laboratory diagnosis is important.
As the inflammatory process progresses in the tissues of the prostate gland, other signs of the disease appear:
- urge to urinate at night;
- pain in the perineum (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.
If the integrity of the tissue of the prostate or adjacent areas of the urethra is damaged, the presence of blood in the urine or semen may be observed.The man pays attention to small flakes of scarlet or brown color.
Signs of acute bacterial prostatitis
Bacterial prostatitis is caused by pathogenic and opportunistic microflora.Microorganisms can live in the intestines or on a man's skin;if hygiene rules are not followed, they can enter the prostate through the urethra and quickly develop in the tissues of the gland.Another option is the penetration of the pathogen into the urethra and subsequently into the prostate during unprotected sexual intercourse.It is also possible to get the infection if the prostate biopsy is performed incorrectly.
Once on the mucosa of the prostate gland, the bacteria develop rapidly, the colony grows literally in 2-3 days.The first signs of prostatitis in this case will be:
- chills, fever, increased body temperature;
- pain in the perineum, lower back, or lower abdomen;
- urination disorder (pain, intermittent flow of urine, frequent urgency).
Without treatment or incorrect treatment tactics, the disease will progress.After a few days, constipation, acute urinary retention, pain in the muscles, joints and lymph nodes may appear.Signs of intoxication are also possible: nausea, vomiting, weakness.
The interval between the first symptoms and the most striking clinical picture can be 3-4 days.
Signs of chronic bacterial prostatitis
The chronic form of bacterial prostatitis occurs due to improper treatment of the acute course, as well as due to injury to the bladder and improper catheterization.It is possible that the inflammatory process in adjacent organs spreads to the prostate gland.
A man may not notice the first signs of chronic prostatitis: the symptoms of this form are characterized by mild severity, periods of remission are possible.The disease can be suspected based on the following symptoms:
- problems with urination;
- dull, aching pain in the perineum;
- problems with erection.
Periods of exacerbation alternate with periods of calm.A man may mistakenly think about recovery and not visit a doctor.This attitude is dangerous: the inflammatory process progresses, the prostate tissue degenerates and the organ loses its functions.As a result, prostatitis can lead to infertility and cause sepsis, which is blood poisoning.
Clinical manifestations of the pathology
Prostatitis has no characteristic signs;it can be confused with other diseases that present similar symptoms: cystitis, urethritis, chlamydia.
Knowing the early signs of the disease will not help make an accurate diagnosis.It is more effective to pay attention to clinical manifestations.
Acute bacterial prostatitis is characterized by the following signs, which are detected during examination and laboratory tests of urine and blood:
- the body temperature in the anus is 0.5 °C higher than the temperature in the armpits;
- increased number of leukocytes in the urine;
- decreased number of eosinophils;
- increased C-reactive protein;
- increased PSA level 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.In case of severe pain, you can take painkillers, but this is an exception to the rule.It is better not to take such pills so as not to cloud the clinical picture and prevent the doctor from making a correct diagnosis.To combat high fever, you can take antipyretics.
With a competent approach, first aid is provided in a medical institution.To do this, a man must contact a urologist at his 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 yourself.
These drugs are prescribed taking into account the type of pathogen;uncontrolled use can increase bacterial resistance and aggravate the manifestation of intoxication.
Consequences of ignoring early signs
Most men prefer not to consult 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 practically incurable chronic form;
- development of infertility;
- spread of infection to nearby organs;
- decrease in power;
- the occurrence of sepsis.
The latter condition directly threatens the patient's life.The probability of death is 30-50% and every hour of delay in medical care increases this value by 8%.
Let's summarize
Knowing the first signs of prostatitis in men helps to suspect problems in the body.A more accurate diagnosis is made on the basis of an instrumental examination and the results of laboratory tests on blood and urine.Prostatitis can threaten a man's life, so self-treatment is unacceptable.If you postpone the visit to the doctor, the disease can become chronic, which is very difficult to deal with.