Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. There are primarily four different forms of prostatitis, each with different causes and outcomes. Two relatively uncommon forms, acute prostatitis and chronic bacterial prostatitis, are treated with antibiotics (category I and II, respectively). Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis or male chronic pelvic pain syndrome (category III), which comprises about 95% of prostatitis diagnoses, is treated by a large variety of modalities including alpha blockers, phytotherapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, antihistamines, anxiolytics, nerve modulators and more.More recently, a combination of trigger point and psychological therapy has proved effective for category III prostatitis as well. Category IV prostatitis, relatively uncommon in the general population, is a type of leukocytosis.

About 50% of men will experience symptoms of prostatitis during their lifetime, but many do not know what this condition is. Prostatitis is a general term for inflammation of the prostate. This condition can occur in men of any age. Prostatitis is not cancer, and there is no evidence that it leads to prostate cancer.

Prostatitis is often difficult to diagnose and treat. There are three different forms of prostatitis — acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, and chronic nonbacterial — and treatment may be different for each. Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is the most common form of this condition, and acute bacterial prostatitis is the least common but most severe form.
Put simply, prostatitis hurts. This painful condition—an inflamed, swollen, and tender prostate—can be caused by a bacterial infection or other factors.

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that about 25% of all men who see a doctor for urological problems have symptoms of prostatitis. An estimated half of all men will experience some of these symptoms during their lifetime. Prostatitis is the most common cause of urinary tract infections in men. In fact, American men make about two million trips to the doctor each year seeking help for the symptoms of prostatitis or other irritative prostatic conditions.

The major complaint in men with prostatitis is pain in the perineum (the area between the rectum and the testicles). They may also experience aches, pain in the joints or muscles and lower back, blood in the urine, pain or burning during urination, and painful ejaculation.

In its own way, prostatitis is every bit as difficult and frustrating as BPH—not only because of the symptoms, but because there is not always an apparent cause. Prostatitis is a benign ailment—it is not cancer, and it does not lead to cancer. It is not always curable, but it is almost always treatable.

There is a common belief that inflammation of the prostate may lead over time to the development of prostate cancer. Current studies are examining ways of reducing inflammation to prevent prostate cancer. While there has been a recent link between a new virus (called XMRV) and some cases of prostate cancer, most prostate cancer is likely caused by a combination of factors, such as diet, lifestyle, genetics, and environmental exposures. Many of these factors can also lead to prostatitis.

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Prostatitis — Causes of Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a general term for inflammation of the prostate, but the cause of this condition differs from patient to patient. Prostatitis is sometimes the result of a bacterial infection that originates in another part of the body and spreads to the prostate. The exact cause of non-bacterial prostatitis is not known, but is believed to be due to a non-infectious kind of inflammation or neuromuscular problem rather than an infection.

Article Source:http://www.prostatedisease.org/Prostatitis/risk_factors.aspx

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Prostatitis — Symptoms

Signs and symptoms may vary depending on the type of prostatitis you have. Acute bacterial prostatitis: A sudden bacterial infection that is characterized by inflammation of the prostate. Symptoms include: ·Increased urinary frequency and urgency during day and night ·Fever, chills, nausea and vomiting ·Pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, pelvis and genital area ·Blood in urine ·Pain with ejaculation ·Pain with bowel movement ·Pain or burning sensation when urinating Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Chronic bacterial prostatitis may exist for several years without producing any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they are similar to acute bacterial prostatitis, but are less severe and can fluctuate in intensity. Symptoms include: ·Frequent and urgent need to urinate ·Burning sensation or pain during urination ·Recurring bladder infections ·Periodic low-grade fever Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis: Most common form of prostatitis (also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome). This type of prostatitis is not caused by an infection (no bacteria detected in urine). Symptoms usually include: ·Urinary and genital area pain ·Burning sensation or pain during urination ·Painful ejaculation ·Diminished urine flow

Article Source:http://www.prostatedisease.org/Prostatitis/sign_and_symptoms.aspx

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Prostatitis — Diagnosis

There are two steps involved in the diagnosis of prostatitis: ·Ruling out other conditions ·Determining which type of prostatitis you have Diagnosis of prostatitis usually involves a complete medical history and physical examination, including a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) to check the prostate for tenderness. A test may also be performed to detect white blood cells and/or bacteria in the urine and semen.

Article Source:http://www.prostatedisease.org/Prostatitis/diagnosis.aspx

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Prostatitis — Treatment Options

Treatment for prostatitis varies depending on the type: ·Prescription antibiotics are the main treatment for acute and chronic prostatitis. Alpha-blockers may be prescribed if the patient has trouble urinating (urgency, frequency, diminished flow, or difficulty emptying the bladder). This type of medication relaxes the muscle fibers where the prostate joins the bladder (bladder neck). ·Over-the-counter pain relievers may also be used to relieve some of the discomfort associated with this condition. ·Many cases of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis respond to multidisciplinary approaches incorporating drugs, exercise, progressive relaxation and counseling. The following tips may help control the symptoms of prostatitis: ·Drink a lot of water during the day. ·Go to the bathroom regularly. ·Limit or avoid eating spicy foods. ·Limit or avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages. ·Use a "split" bicycle seat to reduce pressure on the prostate if you are a cyclist. Your doctor will help you determine which treatment is best for you.

Article Source:http://www.prostatedisease.org/Prostatitis/treatments.aspx

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Dutasteride May Ease Prostatitis-Related Symptoms

SAN FRANCISCO—Dutasteride treatment may decrease prostatitis-related symptoms, data suggest. The finding emerged from a study of men in the completed Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial, a four-year placebo-controlled study that examined the effect of dutasteride on prostate cancer risk. Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) scores were available for 2,696 subjects in the dutasteride arm and 2,682 men in the placebo arm. Of these subjects, 328 and 337, respectively, had prostatitis-like pain and 184 and 182, respectively, had prostatitis-like syndrome identified at baseline. At 48 months, the total CPSI score for prostatitis-like pain decreased by 5.35 points in the dutasteride arm compared with a 2.84 point decrease in the placebo recipients. The total CPSI score for prostatitis-like syndrome decreased by 4.60 points in the dutasteride-treated men versus a 2.47 point decrease in the placebo arm. The differences between the groups were statistically significant. The researchers, led by J. Curtis Nickel, MD, Professor of Urology at Queens University in Kingston, Ont., also looked at the proportion of subjects in each group who had a least a four-point or six-point decrease in total CPSI score (minimal response and moderate response, respectively). Dr. Nickel's group observed significantly more responders (both four- and six-point CPSI responders) in the dutasteride-treated patients compared with placebo recipients. With respect to prostatitis-like pain and prostatitis-like syndrome among dutasteride-treated men, 63.3% and 58.6%, respectively, had a four-point response and 49.2% and 46.6% had a six-point response. The proportions for the placebo recipients were 49.8% and 45.4%, respectively, and 37.5% and 32.8%, respectively. Effective therapy is not available for many men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), Dr. Nickel said, so it is reasonable to suggest that dutasteride therapy may be considered for “older” treatment refractory CP/CPPS patients with an organ specific (i.e., pain or discomfort associated with the prostate gland) or urinary (i.e., LUTS) clinical phenotype.

Article Source:http://www.renalandurologynews.com/dutasteride-may-ease-prostatitis-related-symptoms/article/171391/

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Three major types of prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that may be caused by an infection. It's the most common prostate problem for men under 50—so common that about half of adult men in will be treated for it in their lifetime. There are three major types of prostatitis: •Bacterial prostatitis •Nonbacterial prostatitis •Prostatodynia Bacterial prostatitis. There are actually two types of bacterial prostatitis: acute (meaning it develops suddenly) and chronic (meaning it develops slowly over several years). Both types can be treated with antibiotics. Each type affects about 1 in 10 men with prostatitis. Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are often severe, and therefore are usually quickly diagnosed. These symptoms include: •Fever •Chills •Pain in lower back •Aching muscles •Fatigue •Frequent or painful urination Chronic bacterial prostatitis may involve few symptoms other than those of a recurring urinary tract infection, and the condition keeps returning even after the initial infection has been treated and symptoms have disappeared. Nonbacterial prostatitis occurs in about 6 out of 10 men with this condition. Although the causes are unknown, the inflammation may be related to organisms other than bacteria, like a reaction to the urine of substances in the urine. For example, men with a history of allergies and asthma sometimes develop nonbacterial prostatitis. However, doctors cannot be sure exactly how these conditions are related. Doctors do know that nonbacterial prostatitis is not found in men with recurrent bladder infections. Symptoms include: •Occasional discomfort in the testicles, urethra, lower abdomen, and back •Discharge from the urethra, especially during first bowel movement of the day •Blood or urine in ejaculate •Low sperm count •Sexual difficulties •Frequent urination Prostatodynia (pain in the area of the prostate gland) occurs in about 3 out of 10 men with prostate irritation. Unfortunately, tests used to diagnose infection and other problems affecting the prostate gland are not useful in detecting the cause of this pain. In some instances, the pain may be caused by a muscle spasm (an involuntary sudden movement or contraction) in the bladder or the urethra. Usually, though, the cause of prostatodynia is unknown. Symptoms include pain and discomfort in the prostate gland, testicles, penis, and urethra, and may include difficulty in urinating. Certain activities increase your risk of developing prostatitis. These include: •Having had a recent bladder infection •Having BPH (see below) •Having gonorrhea, chlamydia, or other sexually transmitted disease •Having frequent, unprotected sex, or unprotected sex with multiple partners •Excessive alcohol consumption •Eating a lot of spicy, marinated foods •Injury to the lower pelvis (often as a result of cycling, lifting weights, etc) Diagnosing Prostatitis Diagnosis is usually made during a DRE (digital rectal exam), where the physician inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate, or by examining fluid from the prostate under a microscope. Some doctors use a symptom index questionnaire developed by the National Institutes of Health. Still, diagnosing prostatitis isn’t easy, so the most important diagnostic tool your doctor has is you and your detailed descriptions of your symptoms. Prostatitis is not considered a serious disease, and it doesn’t lead to cancer. But it’s painful, extremely inconvenient, and sometimes difficult to cure. There are a number of treatment options that usually provide relief. These include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and surgery.

Article Source: http://www.prostatehealthguide.com/prostatitis.html

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