Prostatitis

As the name suggests it is the inflammation of the prostate gland. It is quite a common problem and 50% of men experience it at some point in their lives. In fact 25% of the males visiting the urological clinics are diagnosed to have prostatitis.

Causes

In 10% cases the cause is bacterial (can be acute or chronic) . Rest of the cases are classified as non-bacterial or prostatodynia (where the symptoms are that of prostatitis but the prostate gland itself is not inflamed).

Symptoms

• These are severe in case of acute bacterial prostatitis. The patient experiences pain while urination, passes urine frequently, has pain in the lower back and perineum (region between the back passage and testicles). The patient may have fever with chills and rigors.
• In case of chronic bacterial prostatitis the patient presents with symptoms such as the above but less severe in intensity and usually no fever. The symptoms are recurrent and the patient is well between the attacks.
• In the nonbacterial type, patients mainly present with pain which could be an aching sensation in the perineum, lower abdomen ,area around the back passage or the testis. There may even be pain on ejaculation .

Diagnosis

The bacterial cases are diagnosed by urine cytology and culture and sometimes ultrasound and CT scan may be used to rule out prostatic abscess which can follow a bacterial infection. Rest of the cases are a diagnosis of exclusion.

Treatment

Antibiotics are given if infection is the cause. Otherwise a multitude of treatments are there for other forms, none of which is effective enough to become a standard. Some patients recover from the symptoms over a period of years.

Compiled by: Shelly Gill, Last updated: 02.12.07 © Medhospital Foundation

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