General Description
Prostatitis may account for roughly 25 percent of doctor visits
by young and middle-aged men for complaints involving genital and
urinary symptoms. Prostatitis literally means "inflammation of the
prostate" but, in practice, the term is used to describe four classifications
of prostate disorders: acute bacterial prostatitis,
chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic
nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and asymptomatic
inflammatory prostatitis (AIP). The symptoms of prostatitis
depend on the type of disorder. There may be no noticeable symptoms,
or symptoms so sudden and severe that they require emergency medical
care. When present, symptoms can include: fever, chills, urinary
frequency, frequent nighttime urination, difficulty urinating, burning
or painful urination, pain between the scrotum and the anus, low
back pain, joint and muscle pain, tender or swollen prostate, blood
in the urine, or painful ejaculation. Because the symptoms of prostatitis
often resemble those of other infections or prostate disorders,
a prostate examination is required for accurate diagnosis.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
Acute bacterial prostatitis (also known as acute infectious prostatitis)
refers to a bacterial infection in the prostate gland. It is the
least common of the four classes of prostatitis, but is also the
easiest to diagnose and treat effectively. Men with this disease
often have chills, fever, pain in the lower back and genital area,
urinary frequency and urgency (especially at night), body aches,
and a demonstrable infection of the urinary tract, as evidenced
by white blood cells and bacteria in the urine.1
Treatment usually involves 7 to 14 days of antibiotic therapy.
Almost all acute infections can be cured with this treatment.
Analgesic drugs may be used to relieve pain and discomfort. In
more serious cases, hospitalization may be required.2
Chronic bacterial
prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis (also known as chronic infectious
prostatitis) refers to recurrent bacterial infection of the prostate.
Relatively uncommon, this disease is typified by acute prostatitis
associated with an underlying defect in the prostate, which serves
as a focal point for bacterial growth in the urinary tract.1
The symptoms typically mirror those of acute bacterial prostatitis.
Effective treatment usually requires identifying and removing
the defect and administering appropriate antibiotics for a period
of 4 to 12 weeks.2 However, antibiotics often
do not cure it.
Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic
pain syndrome
This is the most common but least understood form of prostatitis.
It occurs with no demonstrable infection, is found in men of any
age, and its symptoms may go away and return without warning.
There are two subgroups of this form of prostatitis, inflammatory
and noninflammatory. In the inflammatory form, urine, semen, or
prostatic fluids show no evidence of an infectious organism, but
contain cells the body normally uses to fight infection. In the
non-inflammatory form, there is no evidence of inflammation, including
infection-fighting cells.1 Because these disorders
are not caused by bacteria, antibiotics are not used in treatment.
Depending on the symptoms, a variety of treatments may be used.
If the condition responds to muscle relaxation, alpha blockers
(drugs that relax muscle tissue in the prostate and reduce difficulty
in urination) may be prescribed. Many people try "home remedies"
like hot baths and dietary changes. While there is no scientific
evidence that these practices are effective, they are not harmful
and some people experience relief from symptoms while using them.2
Asymptomatic inflammatory
prostatitis
This term refers to prostate conditions in which there are no
subjective symptoms but white blood cells are found in prostate
secretion or in prostate tissue during evaluations for other disorders.3
Usually no treatment is necessary, but regular examinations may
be required to monitor the patient's status and detect any infection
or other problem that may develop.
Nutritional considerations
Although there is little research on the relationship between
diet and prostatitis, a few general recommendations seem practical.
Substances that can irritate the prostate (such as coffee and
other caffeine sources, alcohol, and tobacco) should be avoided.4
Increasing intake of water and other liquids can improve urinary
output and and help discourage the growth of bacteria. A healthy
intake of zinc, selenium, and antioxidant vitamins like C and
E can help support the body's natural resistance to harmful organisms.
Some studies indicate that the antioxidant bioflavonoid quercetin
may help improve symptoms of prostatitis in some men.5
Foods rich in quercetin include onions and shallots. It is also
available as a dietary supplement. |
