An infection of the prostate is called prostatitis, and its prostate infection symptoms can mirror the symptoms for other prostate conditions like enlarged prostate (BPH). Only 5 – 10% of all cases of prostatitis are caused by a bacterial infection; the remainder of cases are commonly manifested by an inflammation that demonstrates no signs of infection.
Prostatitis affects men of all age groups, and may account for as much as one quarter of all prostate symptoms in young men and middle-aged men who experience urinary and genital system problems. In fact, chronic prostatitis (the type that keeps reoccurring) is the top-ranked reason why men under the age of 50 visit their urologists. Chronic prostatitis is also thought to be linked to other infections of the urinary tract.
No one knows for sure how the prostate gets infected. Urine containing bacteria may backflow from the urethra into the prostate, or some other method of contamination occurs. Some common prostate infection symptoms include:
- Feeling the need to urinate frequently
- A burning sensation, pain, or other difficulty urinating
- Fever, chills, and nausea
- Intermittent pain in the groin, abdomen, or back
- Pain during ejaculation
Acute bacterial prostatitis is a sudden bacterial infection causing prostate inflammation. Although not very common, the symptoms can be quite severe. They include increased urinary activity, fever, vomiting, chills, nausea, and pain in the pelvic area. Acute bacterial prostatitis should be treated promptly as the condition can lead to abscesses in the prostate, bladder infections, and even blocked urine flow. It’s usually treated in the hospital using antibiotics given intravenously, along with pain medication and fluids.
Prostatitis is considered to be “chronic” when bouts of it last more than 3 months. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is the condition that results from frequent urinary tract infections of the prostate gland. Although its symptoms are similar to those of acute bacterial prostatitis, they are usually less intense, sometimes making the diagnosis more challenging. Frequently it is difficult to locate the source of the bacterial infection.
However, by far the most common form of prostatitis is what’s called chronic nonbacterial prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome which accounts for more than 90% of all prostatitis cases. Sufferers of this variety have no bacteria in their urine, but they may have other indications of inflammation. Prostate symptoms in young men generally mirror these prostate infection symptoms in other men.
Common treatments for cases of prostatitis include:
- A 14-day regimen of antibiotic medicine for acute infections, and for chronic infectious prostatitis, a 4 – 12 week treatment of antibiotics.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines, muscle relaxants, pain medications, and sitz baths.
