Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate that is often diagnosed in older men. The initial or first signs of prostatitis are quite specific, which allows timely detection of pathology, undergo a comprehensive examination and treatment.
Types of disease and first signs
There are two forms of the disease - bacterial (infectious) prostatitis and non-bacterial congestive prostatitis. The first signs of the disease directly depend on the nature of the inflammation.
In the first case, the cause of the disease is an infection, often inflammation is caused by the action of bacterial agents that are sexually transmitted. This form of prostatitis is characterized by an ascending or descending route of infection of the prostate gland - the infection enters either through the urethra or from the kidneys. The symptoms of inflammation are acute, rapidly increasing, and fever is often present.
Non-infectious prostatitis is a disease of office workers and men over 50. The disease develops due to congestion in the pelvic area. The cause of inflammation is a violation of blood microcirculation in the prostate, stagnation of secretions in the organ and a violation of trophism in the tissues of the prostate gland. The characteristic features of this form of inflammation are a slow increase in symptoms, often a latent course. If, with the bacterial form of the disease, the deterioration of well-being occurs rapidly, then non-infectious prostatitis rarely bothers in the early stages, which makes it difficult to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.
Common Prostatitis Symptoms
Regardless of the form of the disease, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are as follows:
- pain when urinating;
- discomfort in the anus;
- incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- weakened urine pressure;
- frequent urge to use the toilet at night;
- general malaise;
- weakening of erection;
- violation of ejaculation;
- pain on ejaculation.
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how exactly the initial stage of prostatitis manifests itself. Each patient has different symptoms at the beginning of the development of the disease. This is due to the characteristics of the organism.
In most cases, the first signs of prostatitis are discomfort in the anus and light discharge during urination. Such symptoms indicate organ irritation.
Often, men are faced with a weakening of erection, while other symptoms of the initial form of inflammation may be completely absent. The problem is that patients rarely go to the doctor with the problem of ejaculation disorder or erection weakening. As a rule, such neglect of one's own health over time results in a progressive form of prostatitis, which is rather difficult to treat.
Pain during urination and frequent urge to use the toilet are caused by the pressure of an inflamed organ. This leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the urethra and incomplete emptying of the bladder. As a rule, obvious problems with urination are noted in the second, but not in the first stage of the disease.
Specific Symptoms
Specific signs are characteristic symptoms of various forms of inflammation. With the bacterial form of the disease, note:
- increase in body temperature;
- discharge from the urethra;
- blood in urine;
- acute pain in the scrotum;
- stinging and burning after urinating.
Quite often, patients face severe pain at the end of urination. Often, blood is released, or light yellow or purulent discharge is observed. Such signs are characteristic of bacterial inflammation, caused, among other things, by diseases transmitted through unprotected sex. The temperature can rise over 38 ° C. There are also symptoms of intoxication of the body, general weakness and loss of strength. Often, with bacterial inflammation, the temperature first rises, and after a few days, specific symptoms appear, such as pain when urinating and frequent urge to urinate.
Elevated temperature is characteristic of the bacterial form of prostatitis.
The first symptoms and manifestations of the non-infectious form of the disease:
- pressure and expansion in the anus;
- weakening of urine pressure;
- erectile dysfunction;
- Frequent urge to urinate, especially at night.
The temperature in this case rarely rises, there are no symptoms of intoxication. Pain in the perineal region does not develop. At the initial stage of non-infectious prostatitis, there is always discomfort in the anus, which is due to an increase in the size of the inflamed organ.
Since the frequency of the urge to urinate increases at night, patients often complain of insomnia and loss of energy, against this background, stress and neurosis may develop.
Non-specific symptoms that are rare
Prostatitis refers to diseases with specific symptoms, which, in most cases, are sufficient to prescribe a digital examination of the prostate gland and make a diagnosis. Nonspecific manifestations of prostatitis are due to clinical cases in which the disease develops against the background of some primary pathology.
So, prostatitis against the background of stones in the prostate gland is diagnosed quite rarely, but in this case, a characteristic symptom will be blood in the urine and the release of blood droplets from the urethra during urination.
In genital infections, prostatitis can be accompanied by severe pain in the perineum and purulent discharge.
One of the most difficult to diagnose forms of the disease is fungal prostatitis. The disease develops against the background of systemic mycoses or chronic candidal balanoposthitis. The characteristic symptoms are inflammation of the glans penis, the formation of a white dense plaque and pain during urination. Additionally, pain in the anus and genital itching may be present.
Congestive prostatitis may present with a discharge after urination. In this case, light mucous masses, droplets of pus or blood are released. Often, if there is a discharge, there are no other symptoms other than discomfort after urination.
When to see a doctor?
It is important to understand that prostatitis at the initial stage is quite treatable, while the chronic form of pathology requires long-term medication and treatment in this case lasts for years.
The reason for going to the urologist is:
- urination disorder;
- change in the nature of erection;
- foreign matter in semen;
- blood droplets in urine;
- fullness in the anus.
It is recommended that all men over 40 years of age visit a urologist annually. Over the past few decades, prostatitis has significantly "younger", today the first symptoms and manifestations of the disease are increasingly found in men 25-30 years old. The first signs of illness are encountered by office workers, overweight patients and all men leading a sedentary life.
Thus, the first thing to do when detecting the initial stage of prostatitis is to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes:
- finger examination of the organ (prostate massage);
- ultrasound of the prostate gland, kidneys and bladder;
- blood test to determine the level of PSA;
- bacterial semen analysis;
- microscopic examination of prostate secretions.
The stages of the disease can be identified by a photo (ultrasound) of the prostate gland. Based on these diagnostic methods, the doctor determines at what stage the inflammation is and selects the optimal treatment regimen.
Principle of Prostatitis Treatment
When the first signs of prostatitis are detected, the choice of treatment method depends on the form of the disease. As a rule, specific and symptomatic treatment is carried out.
Specific treatments include:
- prostate protectors;
- antibiotics;
- alpha-blockers;
- restorative agents;
- diet and lifestyle adjustments.
Prostate protectors are drugs that improve the trophism of the prostate tissue. Drugs are prescribed for any form of prostatitis, both with therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
Antibiotics are indicated for bacterial inflammation. They are drunk in a long course - up to one and a half months. In some cases, they can be replaced by drugs of the fluoroquinolone group. In the treatment of non-infectious prostatitis, anti-inflammatory drugs of the non-steroidal group are used.
Alpha-blockers are drugs that relax the muscles of the bladder and prostate gland. Taking drugs in this group is aimed at facilitating the process of urination.
Fortifying agents in the treatment of prostatitis are various herbal preparations, both pharmaceutical and folk. These tools include:
- candles with pumpkin extract;
- pumpkin seed oil;
- rectal suppositories with propolis;
- echinacea tincture;
- herbal preparations;
- tablets.
These funds are used regardless of the form of inflammation at any stage of the disease.
Symptomatic therapy includes an appointment:
- antispasmodics;
- antipyretic drugs;
- analgesics;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- sedatives.
Antispasmodics help to ease urination during the early stages of prostatitis. Antipyretic drugs are indicated when the temperature rises against the background of bacterial inflammation. Analgesics help relieve pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, therefore they are often prescribed for non-infectious prostatitis. According to the doctor's indications, sedatives may be recommended to the patient. They are prescribed for insomnia and stress, which are caused by discomfort and frequent urge to use the toilet.
Possible complications
Any disease is easier to treat at an early stage, and prostatitis is no exception. Timely treatment will not only get rid of discomfort and pain, but also significantly improve the quality of life and sexual activity of a man.
Launched prostatitis becomes chronic and is fraught with a number of complications, including:
- acute stagnation of urine;
- kidney infection;
- infertility;
- impotence.
The chronic form of the disease requires constant medication to normalize a man's well-being. Often, drug therapy becomes ineffective over the years, then the only method to normalize the patient's condition is surgical intervention - partial or complete removal of the organ.
The initial stage of prostatitis lasts about three to four years. Then the disease becomes chronic. Knowing the first signs of prostatitis in men and the treatment of the initial stage of the disease, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. Prostatitis is not a disease that is diagnosed from a photo, since the disease has no visible manifestations. In order to notice the first symptoms in a timely manner, you should listen to your own health.