Only men have the organ called a prostate. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. There are many conditions that affect the prostate including Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, prostate cancer, and prostatitis. There are many factors that can predispose certain men to develop these conditions. Maintaining prostate health is important especially for men. Good prostate health practices can include annual prostate exams and living a healthy lifestyle.
Chronic Prostatitis
- Refers to a bacterial infection of the prostate
- This condition involves the swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland.
- The disease develops slowly and continuously over a long period of time.
- There is also another type of this condition that is nonbacterial in origin and is referred to as chronic nonbacterial prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
- The condition often develops with or after certain disease conditions such as acute prostatitis, epididymitis, urinary tract infection, or urethritis.
- Causative agents responsible for this condition include Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Proteus species.
- Men who are over the age of 30, observe certain sexual practices, drink alcohol excessively or have a history of injury to the perineum are at greater risk for developing this condition.
Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition mimic that of an acute case of prostatitis but are less severe.
In some cases, the patient does not manifest any symptom at all. Symptoms include:
- Hematuria
- Decreased stream of urine
- Urinary hesitancy
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Urinary incontinence
- Dysuria
- Low-grade fever
- Flank pain
- Pelvic pain
- Pain on bowel movement
- Pain with ejaculation
- Testicular pain
What are the Treatment for Chronic Prostatitis
There are treatments available to help resolve cases of infected prostates. These often involve a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery.
- Antibiotic treatment with the use of long course administration of antibiotics particularly trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin.
- Other medications are used for palliative treatment such as stool softeners to reduce the discomfort felt with bowel movements and NSAIDs for pain and to help decrease the swelling.
- Surgical management involves the performance of a procedure called transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP which is only done if the patient does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
- Prostate massage as well as myofascial release has also been known to help relieve the condition.
- Insertion of a suprapubic catheter may be done to help in the frequent emptying and complete urination which may be difficult for some patients to accomplish without assistance.
- Increased fluid intake is recommended to help encourage urination and to enable flushing of bacteria from the urinary bladder.
- Avoid substances and foods that irritate the bladder such as caffeine, alcohol, hot and spicy foods, citrus juices and the like.
