By prostatitis, urologists understand that inflammatory processes in the prostate arise for many reasons.The prostate belongs to the genitourinary system and is surrounded by other organs and tissues, so symptoms, especially in the early stages, do not allow to identify the disease.Let's try to find out what the first signs of prostatitis can indicate the onset of the disease and tell you where to get help.
Signs of chronic prostatitis caused by bacteria
The disease occurs due to damage to 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;
- narrowing of the urethral lumen due to tumors, stones or inflammatory processes;
- Strong contractions 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 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 very important.
As the inflammatory process progresses in the tissues of the prostate, other signs of the disease appear:
- wanting to urinate at night;
- pain in the perineum (may spread to the tip of the penis, anus, thighs and lower abdomen);
- absent or weak erection;
- pain during ejaculation;
- increase body temperature to 37.5-37.8 ° C.
If the integrity of prostate tissue or adjacent areas of the urethra is damaged, blood may appear in urine or semen.The man noticed small bright red or brown scales.
Signs of acute bacterial prostatitis
Bacterial prostatitis is caused by pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms.Microorganisms can live in the intestines or on human skin;If hygiene rules are not followed, they can enter the prostate through the urethra and quickly grow in the tissues of the gland.Another option is the penetration of pathogens into the urethra and deeper into the prostate during unprotected sex.Infection is also possible if a prostate biopsy is performed incorrectly.
Once on the mucous membrane of the prostate, bacteria grow rapidly, colonies grow 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;
- Urinary disorders (pain, interrupted urine flow, frequent urge to urinate).
If left untreated or using the wrong treatment method, the disease will progress.After a few days, constipation, acute urinary retention, muscle, joint, and lymphadenopathy may appear.Signs of intoxication may also occur - nausea, vomiting, weakness.
The interval between the first symptoms and the most prominent clinical picture can be 3-4 days.
Signs of chronic prostatitis caused by bacteria
The chronic form of bacterial prostatitis occurs due to improper treatment of the acute stage, as well as due to damage to the bladder and improper catheterization.It is possible that the inflammatory process in neighboring organs spreads to the prostate.
A man can miss the first signs of chronic prostatitis - symptoms of this form are characterized by mild severity, with periods of remission possible.The disease can be suspected based on the following symptoms:
- urination problems;
- dull, aching pain in the perineum;
- problems with erection.
Periods of exacerbation alternate with periods of lull.A man may think wrongly about treatment and not go to the doctor.This attitude is very dangerous - the inflammatory process progresses, prostate tissue degenerates, and the organ loses its functions.As a result, prostatitis can lead to infertility and cause sepsis - blood poisoning.
Clinical manifestations of the disease
Prostatitis has no characteristic signs;it can be confused with other diseases with similar symptoms - cystitis, urethritis, chlamydia.
Knowing the first signs of the disease will not help make an accurate diagnosis.It would be more effective to pay attention to clinical manifestations.
Acute bacterial prostatitis is characterized by the following signs, which are manifested on examination and laboratory tests of urine and blood:
- Body temperature in the anus is 0.5°C higher than the temperature in the armpit;
- increased white blood cell count in urine;
- decreased eosinophil count;
- increased C-reactive protein;
- increased PSA levels in the blood.
A blood test for PSA levels is not required, 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 early stages.For 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 obscure the clinical picture and prevent the doctor from making an accurate diagnosis.To combat high fever, you can use fever-reducing medicine.
With a competent approach, first aid is provided in a medical facility.To do this, the man must contact a urologist at his place of residence or stay.If for some reason you cannot see a doctor yourself, you need to call an ambulance.
It is strictly forbidden to arbitrarily use antibiotics.
These drugs are prescribed taking into account the type of pathogen;Uncontrolled use can increase bacterial resistance and aggravate the manifestations of intoxication.
Consequences of ignoring the first signs
Most men do not want to see a doctor, especially when there are problems with the genitourinary system.This attitude can be dangerous.Prostatitis is a dangerous disease and can cause negative consequences:
- turning into a chronic form that is almost impossible to treat;
- the development of infertility;
- spread of infection to neighboring organs;
- decreased potency;
- occurrence of sepsis.
The latter condition directly threatens the patient's life.The probability of death is 30-50% and each 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 that there is a problem in the body.A more accurate diagnosis is made on the basis of instrumental examination and results of laboratory blood and urine tests.Prostatitis can be life-threatening for men, so self-treatment is unacceptable.If you delay seeing a doctor, the disease can become chronic and difficult to treat.