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 you to detect the pathology in time, undergo a comprehensive examination and start 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 depend directly on the nature of the inflammation.
In the first case, the cause of the disease is an infection, often the inflammation is caused by the action of sexually transmitted bacterial agents. 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. Symptoms of inflammation are acute, increase rapidly, and often fever is present.
Non-infectious prostatitis is a disease of office workers and men over 50 years of age. The disease develops due to congestion in the pelvic area. The cause of inflammation is a violation of microcirculation of blood in the prostate, stagnation of secretions in the organ and a violation of trophism in the tissues of the prostate gland. 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, 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 symptoms of prostatitis
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 request to use the toilet at night;
- general illness;
- weakening of the erection;
- violation of ejaculation;
- pain during ejaculation.
it is impossible to answer the question of how exactly the initial stage of prostatitis occurs. Each patient has different symptoms at the beginning of the disease development. 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 irritation of the organs.
Often, men experience an erection weakening, 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 weakening of the erection. As a rule, such negligence of one's own health over time results in a progressive form of prostatitis, which is quite difficult to treat.
Pain when urinating and frequent urge to use the toilet are caused by the pressure of an inflamed organ. This leads to a narrowing of the urethral lumen and incomplete emptying of the bladder. As a rule, obvious problems with urination are noted in the second stage, 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:
- increased body temperature;
- discharge from the urethra;
- blood in urine;
- acute pain in the scrotum;
- stinging and burning after urination.
Too often, patients experience severe pain at the end of urination. Often, blood is released, or a light or purulent yellow discharge is observed. Such signs are characteristic of bacterial inflammation, caused, inter alia, by diseases transmitted through unprotected sex. The temperature can rise above 38 ° C. There are also symptoms of body intoxication, general weakness and loss of strength. Often, with bacterial inflammation, the temperature initially rises and after a few days specific symptoms appear, such as pain when urinating and frequent urination.
Elevated temperature is characteristic of the bacterial form of prostatitis.Symptoms and first manifestations of 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. In 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.
As 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.
Nonspecific 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 discharge 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 forms of diagnosing the disease is fungal prostatitis. The disease develops against the background of systemic mycoses or chronic candidate balanoposthitis. Characteristic symptoms are inflammation of the glans penis, formation of a dense white plaque, and pain when urinating. Furthermore, anal pain and genital itching may be present.
Congestive prostatitis may present with discharge after urination. In this case, light mucous masses, drops of pus or blood are released. Often, if there is a discharge, there are no symptoms other than discomfort after urination.
When to see a doctor?
It is important to understand that prostatitis in the initial stage is quite curable, while the chronic form of the pathology requires long-term treatment and treatment in this case lasts for years.
The reason to go to the urologist is:
- urinary disorder;
- change in the nature of the erection;
- foreign matter in semen;
- drops of blood in the urine;
- fullness in the anus.
It is recommended that all men over the age of 40 visit a urologist every year. Over the past decades, prostatitis has been "renewed" considerably, today the first symptoms and manifestations of the disease are found more and more in men 25-30 years old. The first signs of the disease are encountered by office workers, overweight patients and all men who lead a sedentary life.
So, the first thing you need to do when you discover the initial stage of prostatitis is to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes:
- examination of the finger of the organ (prostate massage);
- ultrasound of the prostate gland, kidneys and bladder;
- blood test to determine PSA level;
- bacterial sperm analysis;
- microscopic examination of prostate secretions.
Stages of the disease can be identified by photography (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 Prostate 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 performed.
Specific treatments include:
- prostate protectors;
- antibiotics;
- alpha-blockers;
- restoration agents;
- diet and lifestyle adjustments.
Prostate protectors are drugs that improve prostate tissue trophism. The drug is prescribed for any form of prostatitis, both for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
Antibiotics are indicated for bacterial inflammation. They are drunk in a long course - up to a month and a half. In some cases, they can be replaced with fluoroquinolone drugs. 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 medication in this group aims to facilitate the urination process.
Strengthening 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;
- tincture of ekinaceas;
- herbal preparations; tablet
- .
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 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 analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, so they are often prescribed for non-infectious prostate. According to the doctor's indications, sedatives may be recommended to the patient. They are prescribed for insomnia and stress, which are caused by anxiety and frequent desire to use the toilet.
Possible complications
Every disease is easier to treat at an early stage and prostatitis is no exception. Timely treatment will not only get rid of the discomfort and pain, but will also significantly improve a man's quality of life and sexual activity.
Started prostate becomes chronic and is fraught with a number of complications, including:
- acute urinary retention;
- 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 by a picture, as the disease has no obvious manifestations. To notice the first symptoms in a timely manner, you need to listen to your health.