Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate that is often diagnosed in older men. The early or first signs of prostatitis are quite specific, allowing you to detect the pathology in a timely manner, undergo a thorough examination and begin treatment.
Types of disease and the first signs
There are two forms of the disease - bacterial prostatitis (infection) 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 infection, often inflammation caused by the action of sexually transmitted bacterial agents. This form of prostatitis is characterized by an ascending or decreasing pathway of prostate gland infection - the infection enters through the urethra or from the kidneys. The symptoms of inflammation are acute, rapidly increasing, and fever is common.
Non-communicable 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 causes of inflammation are violations of blood microcirculation in the prostate, stagnation of secretions in organs and violations of trophism in the tissues of the prostate gland. A characteristic feature of this form of inflammation is a slow increase in symptoms, often latent. If, with the bacterial form of the disease, the deterioration of well-being occurs rapidly, then non-communicable prostatitis rarely interferes at an early stage, which complicates the diagnosis of the disease in time.
General Prostatitis Symptoms
Regardless of the form of the disease, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are as follows:
- pain when urinating;
- anal discomfort;
- incomplete bladder emptying;
- poor urine pressure;
- urges frequent use of the toilet at night;
- general discomfort;
- weak erection;
- ejaculation violation;
- pain in ejaculation.
It is not impossible to answer firmly the question of how the early stages of prostatitis manifest themselves. 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 anal discomfort and mild discharge during urination. Such symptoms indicate organ irritation.
Men often face erectile dysfunction, while other symptoms from the initial form of inflammation may not be completely present. The problem is that patients rarely see a doctor with ejaculatory problems or erectile dysfunction. As a rule, neglect of personal health over time results in a progressive form of prostatitis, which is quite difficult to treat.
Pain during urination and frequent urging to the toilet due to inflamed organ pressure. This causes narrowing of the urethral lumen and incomplete bladder emptying. As a rule, significant problems with urination are noted in the second, but not in the first stage of the disease.
Specific symptoms
Specific signs are characteristic of various forms of inflammation. With the bacterial form of the disease, note:
- rising body temperature;
- out of the urethra;
- blood in urine;
- acute pain in scrotum;
- stings and burns after urinating.
Often, patients experience severe pain at the end of urination. Often, blood is released, or a light yellow or purulent discharge is observed. These symptoms are characteristic of bacterial inflammation, which is caused, among other things, by diseases transmitted through unprotected sex. 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 first rises, and after a few days, certain symptoms appear, such as pain when urinating and frequent urging to urinate.
Increased temperature is a characteristic of bacterial forms of prostatitis.
The first symptoms and manifestations of non-communicable forms of the disease:
- pressure and expansion in the anus;
- decreased urine pressure;
- erectile dysfunction;
- Frequent urination, especially at night.
The temperature in this case is rarely increased, there are no symptoms of intoxication. Pain in the perineum area does not develop. In the early stages of non-communicable prostatitis, there is always discomfort in the anus, which is caused by an increase in the size of the inflamed organ.
Due to the increased frequency of urination at night, patients often complain of insomnia and loss of energy, with this background, stress and neurosis may arise.
Rare nonspecific symptoms
Prostatitis refers to a disease with specific symptoms, which, in most cases, is enough to prescribe a digital examination of the prostate gland and make a diagnosis. Specific manifestations of prostatitis are caused by clinical cases in which the disease develops against the background of several primary pathologies.
Thus, prostatitis with a stone background in the prostate gland is rarely diagnosed, but in this case, special symptoms are 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 forms of the disease to diagnose is fungal prostatitis. The disease develops against the background of systemic mycoses or chronic candidal balanoposthitis. Characteristic symptoms are glans penis inflammation, white plaque formation, thickening and pain during urination. In addition, pain in the anus and itching in the genitals may be present.
Congestive prostatitis may arise after urination. In this case, a light mass of mucus, drops of pus or blood is 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 at an early stage can be cured successfully, while chronic forms of pathology require long-term medication and treatment in this case lasts for many years.
The reason for going to a urologist is:
- urinary disorders;
- erectile changes;
- foreign matter in semen;
- drops of blood in urine;
- fullness in the anus.
It is recommended that all men over the age of 40 visit a urologist every year. In recent decades, prostatitis is significantly "younger", today the first symptoms and manifestations of the disease are increasingly found in men aged 25-30 years. The first signs of illness are faced by office workers, overweight patients and all men living sedentary lives.
Therefore, the first thing to do when detecting the early stages of prostatitis is to undergo a thorough examination, which includes:
- finger examination of organs (prostate massage);
- Ultrasound of the prostate, kidneys and bladder;
- blood tests to determine PSA levels;
- bacterial semen analysis;
- microscopic examination of prostate secretion.
The stage of the disease can be identified by a photo (ultrasound) of the prostate gland. Based on this diagnostic method, the doctor determines at what stage the inflammation is and chooses the optimal treatment regimen.
Principles 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, specialized and symptomatic treatment is carried out.
Specific treatments include:
- prostate protector;
- antibiotics;
- alpha barrier;
- recovery agent;
- diet and lifestyle adjustments.
Prostate protection is a drug that enhances 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 get drunk in the long run - up to a month and a half. In some cases, such drugs can be replaced with fluoroquinolone group drugs. In the treatment of non-communicable prostatitis, anti-inflammatory drugs of the non-steroidal group are used.
Alpha-blocker is a drug that relaxes the muscles of the bladder and prostate gland. Taking medication in this group aims to facilitate the process of urination.
Fortress agents in the treatment of prostatitis are various herbal preparations, both pharmaceutical and folk. These tools include:
- wax with pumpkin extract;
- pumpkin seed oil;
- rectal suppositories with propolis;
- tingtur echinacea;
- herbal preparations;
- tablet.
These funds are used regardless of the form of inflammation at any stage of the disease.
Symptomatic therapy includes an appointment:
- antispasmodik;
- antipyretic drugs;
- analgesic;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- sedative.
Antispasmodics help reduce urination during the early stages of prostatitis. Antipyretic drugs are indicated when the temperature rises with the background of bacterial inflammation. Analgesics help relieve pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, so these drugs are often prescribed for non-communicable prostatitis. According to the doctor's instructions, sedatives can be recommended to patients. They are prescribed for insomnia and stress, caused by discomfort and frequent urging to use the toilet.
Possible complications
Any disease is easier to treat at an early stage, and prostatitis is no exception. Timely treatment can not only eliminate discomfort and pain, but also improve the quality of life and sexual activity of a man.
Prostatitis launched into chronic and is full of several complications, including:
- acute urinary incontinence;
- 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 for years, so the only method to normalize the patient's condition is surgical intervention - removal of part or all of the organ.
The early stages of prostatitis last about three to four years. Then the disease becomes chronic. Knowing the first signs of prostatitis in men and the treatment of the early stages of the disease, you should see a specialist as soon as possible. Prostatitis is not a disease diagnosed from photos, as the disease has no visible manifestations. To know the first symptoms in a timely manner, you should listen to your own health.