Prostatitis

Pelvis | Urology | Prostatitis (Disease)


Description

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, in men. The term prostatitis refers, in its strictest sense, to histological (microscopic) inflammation of the tissue of the prostate gland. Like all forms of inflammation, it can be associated with an appropriate response of the body to an infection, but it also occurs in the absence of infection.

The symptoms depend on the type of prostatitis infection the man is suffering from. With acute bacterial prostatitis, the symptoms are severe and sudden and may cause the patient to seek emergency medical care. Common symptoms also include chills, fever, severe burning during urination and the inability to empty the bladder.

In chronic bacterial prostatitis, the symptoms are similar to the acute bacterial prostatitis infections but it does not produce a fever. Other symptoms are burning during urination; urinary frequency, especially at night; perineal, testicular, bladder and low back pain; and painful ejaculation. The condition can be episodic, with flare-ups and remissions, associated with infection, treatment and subsequent recurrence.

Causes and Risk factors

Acute bacterial prostatitis is often caused by common strains of bacteria. The infection may start when bacteria carried in urine leaks into your prostate. Chronic bacterial prostatitis may be the result of small amounts of bacteria that arent eliminated with antibiotics because they hide in the prostate. Some men with chronic prostatitis have pain but no evidence of an inflamed prostate.

In most cases of prostatitis, the cause is never identified. Causes other than bacterial infection can include: an immune system disorder, a nervous system disorder, injury to the prostate or prostate area.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing prostatitis involves ruling out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms and determining what kind of prostatitis a person has. Prostatitis treatments vary depending on the underlying cause. They can include: antibiotics, alpha blockers, pain relievers, prostate massage, other treatments.

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