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A prostate infection (prostatitis) is
an infection in the prostate gland which causes swelling. Prostatitis
occurs mostly in men aged 30-50 but can also happen to men who are
older.
Prostatitis is broken into 4
categories:
Acute Bacterial Prostatitis
Acute bacterial prostatitis is the most
uncommon of the four categories but it is the easiest to detect and
easiest to treat. Men with this infection usually have a urinary
tract infection. Doctors are not sure what causes acute bacterial
prostatitis. The two most common ways to be tested are either to have
a digital rectal exam or a urethral swab test to check for bacteria
or white blood cells in the urine and/or prostate. Acute bacterial
prostatitis can effectively be treated with antibiotics (intravenous
antibiotics in serious cases).
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a
condition where the prostate gland reoccurringly becomes inflamed or
infected. It is generally linked to a hidden defect in the prostate
making it a target for repeated bacterial infection in the urinary
tract. To effectively treat chronic bacterial prostatitis the defect
usually has to be treated or removed and then the patient often
starts a course of antibiotics. However antibiotics do not cure the
bacterial infection in some patients.
Chronic Non-Bacterial Prostatitis
Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is
the most common form of prostatitis. It is a condition where patients
have all the symptoms of prostatitis but urine tests are negative for
bacteria. Even though antibiotics in theory should have no effect in
males with chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, some doctors find
prescribing their patients with a low dose of antibiotics can relieve
some of the pain. Unfortunately there is no cure for chronic
non-bacterial prostatitis. However, after a while, many find they can
find ways to relieve the symptoms. Some common ways are:
Prostatodynia
Prostatodynia
(also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome) is used to describe
patients with prostatitis symptoms but with no inflammation or
bacterial infection in the prostate or urinary tract. Doctors know
very little about how or why males get this condition, though some
believe it may be stress related. The main symptom is pain in the
pelvis and/or perineum, but other symptoms associated with
non-bacterial prostatitis like fever, pain in the urinary tract, pain
after ejaculation and an increased need to go to the bathroom may
also be evident. The most common remedy for prostatodynia is to look
for way to relieve stress that patients may be having though low
dosage of diazepam may be given in some cases.
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