Blogs, Prostate

Acute and Chronic Prostatitis

August 26, 2021 | by
INTRODUCTION

What is Prostatitis?

Prostatitis can be painful. However, acute and chronic prostatitis (CP) are different and may require different courses of treatment. Prostatitis is a condition that primarily affects younger men. It is characterized by severe pain in the pelvis, usually between the anus and the scrotum, and unexplained symptoms, including depression, vague pains and aches, loss of libido and even suicidal tendencies. However, the symptoms of both acute and chronic prostatitis differ.

types

Chronic Abacterial Prostatitis

Chronic abacterial prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome can affect men of all ages. It consists of inflammation of the prostate gland and can cause issues urinating. Moreover, there can also be increased frequency of urination, pain and discomfort, a high urge to urinate and trouble emptying the bladder.

Symptoms

One of the most common symptoms of CPPS (Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome) is incurring pain under the belly button area. In order for it to be considered chronic, It should last for at least six months. Even though pain under the belly button area is a common symptom, it may vary from person to person. For some, the pain is consistent, while for others, it is less so.


Some of the possible symptoms include:

  • Difficulty or pain when you urinate.
  • Difficulty or pain during sexual intercourseĀ .
  • Headaches.
  • The feeling of the bladder not being empty even after urinating.
  • Frequent urination during the night.
  • Tenderness of the abdominal area.

Causes

The exact cause of CP/CPPS is unknown. It may be caused by a repeated infection. It may also be caused by inflammation of the gland and muscle spasms in the pelvis.

Other potential causes include:

  • Stress that tightens the pelvic muscles.
  • Urine flowing back up into the prostate ducts .
  • Not ejaculating often.
  • In many cases, the cause isnā€™t clear.

Diagnosis

Since there arenā€™t any fixed causes for the condition, it is difficult to figure out the exact source of the issue. Urine cultures and other investigations may not indicate any abnormality. Therefore, the physician may start with a physical examination based on the symptoms presented.

In case there isnā€™t any apparent cause in the initial stage, the physician may carry out other diagnostic tests, such as:


  • Pelvic ultrasound:ā€ÆThe use of sound waves to examine the organs
  • Pelvic MRI:ā€ÆThe use of radio waves and magnets to create a pelvis image
  • Pelvic laparoscopy:ā€ÆInserting an instrument with a camera to view the pelvis interior better


In some cases, the cause of pelvic pain may go unidentified, which makes treatment difficult. However, it does not entirely rule out all treatment. Instead, the treatment is more focused on managing the symptoms.

Treatment

There is not a defined way to treat chronic prostatitis. The treatment is customized according to any underlying cause and the individualā€™s requirements. However, since antibiotics cannot be utilized, there are other ways to address it.


  • Psychotherapy: Learning relaxation techniques can also assist a great deal in managing the symptoms. Moreover, they can learn to control bodily processes they thought they couldnā€™t control previously, through biofeedback.

  • Prostate Massage: Massaging the prostate assists the prostate ducts remove the fluid. It is done by a professional where a finger, covered with gloves, is slid into the rectum and then the prostate is massaged.

  • Hot Sitz Bath: It is a warm bath that helps clean the space between the rectum and scrotum or vulva. It provides relief from pain in the genital area.

  • Ejaculation: According to some theories, ejaculation is also effective in clearing prostatic secretions. However, there isnā€™t enough evidence to prove this theory.

types

Acute Prostatitis

When a bacterial infection causes inflammation in the prostate gland, it is called acute prostatitis. This occurs when the ā€˜bladder neckā€™ muscle stimulates a poor bladder to empty. Consequently, the pool of urine inside the bladder shields bacteria. Therefore, the patient experiences acute pain caused by bacterial prostatitis when the contaminated urine enters the prostate gland.

Symptoms

  • Experiencing fever and chills
  • Experiencing a burning sensation while passing urine
  • Having trouble draining your bladder

Causes

Bacteria that causes UTI are often what cause acute prostatitis. These include:

  • Proteusā€Æspecies
  • Klebsiellaā€Æspecies
  • Escherichia coli


Bacteria behind STDs,Ā such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause acute prostatitis. Other potential conditions include:

  • Inflammation of the urethra
  • Inflammation of the epididymis (the tube that connects the vas deferens and testicles)
  • Injury to the perineum (the area between rectum and scrotum)
  • Phimosis (the inability to pull back the penis foreskin)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually made using a digital rectal examination (DRE) in which the doctor inserts a lubricated finger into your rectum. If it is swollen, it can indicate acute prostatitis.


Additional tests:

  • Blood culture and urine culture
  • A urethral swab to test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
  • Cystoscopy to examine the internal area of your bladder and urethra

Treatment

The most common way of treating acute prostatitis is by using antibiotics for four to six weeks. The prescription of antibiotics will depend on the type of bacteria behind the condition. Alpha-blockers may also be used to relax the muscles of the bladder. Common ones include terazosin, tamsulosin and doxazosin. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen may also be recommended.

conclusion

Final Words

In conclusion, the disease is a nuisance and causes patients to overthink the worst possible scenarios, such as cancer. However, there is no direct evidence to prove that prostatitis can cause prostate cancer.

Disclaimer: Please note: this blog post is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to replace the guidance of your personal physician. Please consult a medical professional if you have any concerns after reading this or other blog posts on this website.