Under prostatitis, urologists understand the inflammatory processes in the prostate that occur for various reasons. The prostate belongs to the genitourinary system, surrounded by other organs and tissues, therefore the symptoms, especially at the initial stage, do not help to determine the disease. Let's try to figure out what the first signs of prostatitis can indicate the onset of the disease and tell you where to turn 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 a number of other factors:
- sedentary lifestyle and concomitant disorders of blood microcirculation;
- reflux of urine into the prostate;
- narrowing of the lumen of the urethra due to a tumor, stone or inflammation;
- strong contraction of the pelvic muscles;
- hypothermia, smoking, alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of this form appear gradually, their severity increases over time. At first, men may complain of frequent urges 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 tissues of the prostate:
- 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.
In case of violation of the integrity of the tissues of the prostate or adjacent areas of the urethra, blood can 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 observed, enter the prostate through the urethra and quickly grow in the tissues of the gland. Another option is the penetration of the pathogen into the urethra and then into the prostate during unprotected sex. Infection is also possible with an incorrect prostate biopsy.
Once on the mucous membrane of the prostate, the bacteria grow 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 therapeutic 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 striking clinical picture can be 3-4 days.
Signs of chronic bacterial prostatitis
The chronic form of bacterial prostatitis occurs with improper treatment of an acute course, as well as due to trauma to the bladder and illiterate catheterization. It is not excluded that the inflammatory process in adjacent organs passes to the prostate.
A man can ignore the first signs of chronic prostatitis - the symptoms of this form 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 can mistakenly think about healing and not see a doctor. Such an attitude is dangerous - the inflammatory process progresses, prostate tissues are reborn, and the organ loses its functions. As a result, prostatitis can lead to infertility and cause sepsis - blood poisoning.
Clinical manifestations of pathology
Prostatitis does not have 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 0. 5 ° C higher than the temperature in the armpits;
- increase in the number of leukocytes in the urine;
- decrease in the number of eosinophils;
- increased C-reactive protein;
- increased PSA levels in the blood.
A blood test for PSA content is not mandatory, but helps to get a clearer picture of the disease process.
How to give first aid and who to contact for treatment
Prostatitis refers to diseases that do not threaten the patient's life at 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 drink such pills, so as not to confuse the clinical picture and prevent the doctor from making a correct diagnosis. Antipyretics can be taken to combat a high fever.
With a competent approach, first aid is provided in a medical institution. To do this, a man should contact a urologist at the place of residence or stay. If for some reason it is impossible to consult a doctor on your own, you should 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 intake can increase the resistance of bacteria and aggravate the manifestation of intoxication.
Consequences of ignoring early signs
Most men prefer not to see a doctor, especially when it comes to problems in the genitourinary system. This attitude can be dangerous. Prostatitis is a serious disease and can have negative consequences:
- transition to a chronic, practically incurable form;
- development of infertility;
- spread of infection to nearby organs;
- decrease in potency;
- occurrence of sepsis.
The latter condition directly threatens the life of the patient. The probability of a fatal outcome is 30-50%, and each hour of delay in medical care increases this value by 8%.
Summary
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 a laboratory study of blood and urine. Prostatitis can threaten the life of a man, therefore self-treatment is unacceptable. If you delay the visit to the doctor, the disease can become chronic, which is very difficult to manage.