Prostatitis Infection

Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate gland that results in inflammation. It is most often caused by a bacterial infection that stems from the urethra, which is the tube through which urine travels from the bladder out of the body.

Prevalence

• Urologychannel.com states that 50 percent of men will experience prostatitis sometime in their life.

Symptoms

• Symptoms associated with prostatitis include painful or difficult and frequent urination, fatigue, weak urine flow, muscle and joint pain, fever and pain in the groin and lower back, decreased interest in sex and inability to have an erection.

Diagnosis

• Prostatitis is diagnosed by a physical exam looking for swelling and tenderness, followed by a urine sample to check for bacteria and white blood count levels.

Treatment

• Prostatitis infection is treated with antibiotics. Patients might be on antibiotics for weeks to months, or in severe cases, hospitalized, and will receive fluids along with antibiotics.

Considerations

• Prostatitis that is not caused by an infection is treated with self-help activities such as hot soaking baths, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes antibiotics in case of a hidden infection. Sometimes medications that improve bladder and prostate function are also used.