Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate that is often diagnosed in older men. The first or first signs of prostatitis are quite specific, which allows you to timely detect the pathology, undergo a comprehensive examination and begin treatment.
Types of disease and early 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 pathway of infection of the prostate gland: the infection penetrates through the urethra or from the kidneys. Symptoms of inflammation are acute, rapidly increasing, and fever is often present.
Non-infectious prostatitis is a disease of employees 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. 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 in well-being occurs quickly, non-infectious prostatitis rarely disturbs 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 urinary pressure;
- frequent need to use the bathroom at night;
- general malaise;
- weakening of the 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 when urinating. Such symptoms indicate organ irritation.
Often men are faced with a weakening of the erection, while other symptoms of the initial form of inflammation can 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 neglect of one's health over time results in a progressive form of prostatitis, which is quite difficult to treat.
Pain when urinating and frequent urge to go to the toilet are caused by pressure from 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;
- secretion from the urethra;
- blood in the urine;
- acute pain in the scrotum;
- burning and stinging after urinating.
Quite often, patients face severe pain at the end of urination. Often blood is released or a light yellow or purulent discharge is observed. Such signs are characteristic of bacterial inflammation, caused, among other things, by diseases transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. The temperature can exceed 38 ° C. There are also symptoms of body intoxication, general weakness and loss of strength. Often, with bacterial inflammation, the temperature rises before 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 urinary pressure;
- erectile dysfunction;
- Frequent need 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, due to an increase in the size of the inflamed organ.
As the frequency of urge to urinate increases during the night, patients often complain of insomnia and loss of energy, stress and neurosis can develop in this context.
Nonspecific symptoms which are rare
Prostatitis refers to diseases with specific symptoms, which, in most cases, are enough 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 pathologies.
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 droplets of blood from the urethra when urinating.
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 thick white plaque and pain when urinating. Also, pain in the anus and itchy genitals may be present.
Congestive prostatitis can 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 urinating.
When to see a doctor?
It is important to understand that prostatitis in the initial stage is successfully treatable, while the chronic form of the pathology requires long-term medication, and treatment in this case lasts for years.
The reason to go to the urologist is:
- urination disorder;
- change in the nature of the erection;
- foreign bodies in semen;
- droplets of blood in the urine;
- fullness in the anus.
It is recommended that all men over 40 years of age visit a urologist every year. In recent decades, prostatitis has grown considerably "young", today the first symptoms and manifestations of the disease are increasingly found in men aged 25-30. The first signs of the disease are seen by office workers, overweight patients and all men who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Therefore, 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, kidneys and bladder;
- blood test to determine the PSA level;
- bacterial sperm analysis;
- microscopic examination of prostatic secretions.
The stages of the disease can be identified from the photo (ultrasound) of the prostate gland. Based on these diagnostic methods, the doctor determines what stage the inflammation is in and selects the optimal treatment regimen.
Principle of treatment of prostatitis
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;
- remedial agents;
- diet and lifestyle changes.
Prostate protectors are drugs that improve the trophism of prostate tissue. Drugs are prescribed for any form of prostatitis, both for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
Antibiotics are indicated for bacterial inflammation. They are drunk for a long time - up to one and a half months. In some cases, they can be replaced by drugs from 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. Taking drugs in this group is intended to facilitate the urination process.
Fortifying agents in the treatment of prostatitis are various herbal preparations, both pharmaceutical and popular. 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 relieve 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, so they are often prescribed for non-infectious prostatitis. According to the doctor's indications, the patient may be recommended sedatives. They are prescribed for insomnia and stress, caused by discomfort and the frequent need 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 eliminate discomfort and pain, but also significantly improve a man's quality of life and sexual activity.
Initiated 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, so the only method of normalizing the patient's condition is surgical intervention - partial or complete removal of the organ.
The initial stage of prostatitis lasts 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 diagnosed from a photo, as the disease has no visible manifestations. To notice the first symptoms in a timely manner, you should listen to your health.