Prostatitis: symptoms, causes, treatment

Definition

What is prostatitis?

Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease that occurs in the prostate area, which can be in the form of inflammation or infection. The prostate is an organ that is located below the bladder and is only found in men. This organ plays an important role in the production of semen.

Depending on the cause, one of these prostate diseases can arise suddenly or slowly. The various types of diseases are:

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis or pelvic pain syndrome

This type of prostatitis is the most common in patients. Symptoms include pain in the urine and genitals, usually lasting three to six months. Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is an inflammatory type of prostatitis.

The symptoms often confuse the patient whether the symptoms are a sign of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis or interstitial cystitis (Chronic inflammation of the bladder).

Acute bacterial prostatic

Acute bacterial prostatitis is a type of infectious prostatitis. Symptoms that appear come on suddenly and usually tend to be severe. If this happens, the patient must immediately get treatment because this type of prostatitis is potentially life threatening.

In addition, the disease will also lead to urinary tract infections, abscesses in the prostate, and closure of urine flow.

In fatal conditions, patients must undergo treatment in the hospital to be given antibiotics intravenous, pain relievers, and additional fluids for the body. However, this disease is a rare condition.

Chronic bacterial prostatic

In chronic bacterial prostatitis, a bacterial infection has entered the prostate gland and causes inflammation in that area. Including relapsing illness, symptoms can come and go for several months. Symptoms are similar to those of acute bacterial prostatitis, but are milder and can vary in intensity.

The difficulty with this type is how difficult it is to find bacteria in the urine. Treatment usually involves giving antibiotics for a period of four to twelve weeks. Sometimes sufferers will also be given antibiotics for a long time.

Asymptomatic prostatitis

This disease is also an inflammation of the prostate. The difference is, the disease does not show symptoms. Usually, new conditions are discovered when the patient is tested for other disorders such as urinary tract infections or reproductive problems.

How common is this condition?

Prostatitis is a condition that can affect men of all ages, especially 50 years or younger. From a study published in the Canadian Urological Association Journal, it was shown that men in middle age and young people have complaints in their genital system and urinary tract.

Even some men under 50 years of age have reported complaints that are similar to signs of chronic prostatitis. Fortunately, you can reduce your chances of getting sick if you avoid risk factors. Always consult a doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of prostatitis?

The symptoms you feel can vary depending on the type. However, in general, patients will feel a burning sensation and a burning sensation in the area around the bladder. Here are the symptoms that can be caused in each type of disease.

Symptoms of nonbacterial prostatitis

The main symptom that signals this condition is pelvic pain which can last for three months or more. Other symptoms include:

• Pain in the area between the anus and scrotum, penis, and lower back
• Pain in the urethra during or after urinating
• Frequent urination
• Inability to resist urination
• Weak urine flow

Symptoms of acute prostatitis

As previously explained, the symptoms of this disease can occur suddenly and are usually painful. Look for the following symptoms.

• Urinate more frequently.
• Flu-like symptoms include fever and chills.
• Burning feeling when urinating.
• Pain in the penis, lower abdomen, and groin.
• Nocturia, increased urge to urinate at night.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Dizzy.
• The presence of blood in the urine or semen.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

Symptoms are similar to those of acute prostatitis, only milder. Symptoms can develop over time and can last up to three months, such as:

• frequent urination,
• an ongoing urgency to urinate,
• urinary retention, when the patient has difficulty passing urine,
• a burning feeling when urinating,
• pain in the lower abdomen and surroundings, and
• pain during ejaculation.

Other symptoms can include pain that comes and goes in the lower abdomen around the anus and in the groin. There are also those who experience symptoms in the form of swelling of the prostate.

In some cases, pain in the groin or infection of the epididymis, the area around the testes where sperm is stored, can be caused by bacteria entering the area. vas deferesns, that is, the tube that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience the above symptoms or have questions about other information. Everyone can show different symptoms, so consulting a doctor is the best thing you can do.

Cause

What causes prostatitis?

Depending on the type, the things that cause the appearance of the disease are also of course different.

In fact, there is no definite cause that can cause nonbacterial prostatitis. However, the researchers believe that there is an influence from microorganisms outside of bacterial infection. Illness can arise due to the presence of chemicals in the urine or the immune system's response to a previous illness such as a UTI.

In addition, this disease can also occur after the patient has an injury in the prostate area. For example, a patient has an injury after a biopsy procedure that results in inflammation.

Whereas in bacterial prostatitis, the disease often occurs due to infection with E. coli bacteria, but it can also be caused by other types of bacteria.

When bacteria cannot be eliminated with antibiotics because they have entered the prostate gland, prostatitis can come back and be difficult to treat. This condition is called chronic bacterial prostatitis.

Apart from that, other things that could also be the cause are:

• stress,
• nervous system disorders,
• injury to the prostate or around the prostate, and
• various sexually transmitted diseases that can cause this condition, including chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for prostatitis?

Some of the triggering factors that can increase your chances of developing prostatitis are:

• Young man or middle aged man
• Having previous experience of prostatitis
• Have an infection of the bladder or urethra (the tube that carries semen and urine to the penis)
• Have pelvic trauma, such as an injury from cycling or riding a horse
• Not consuming enough fluids (dehydration)
• Doing sexual activity without contraception
• Suffering from HIV / AIDS
• You are stressed

The absence of risk factors does not mean that you are free from possible exposure to disease. The features and symptoms listed are for reference only. You need to consult a doctor for more information.

Diagnosis

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

When the symptoms start to be felt, the first thing to do is do a physical examination. During this examination, the doctor will usually check for fluid that is draining from the urethra. The doctor will also check for swollen glands in the groin or scrotum.

Next, the doctor did digital rectal exam (DRE) or also called a digital rectal exam. Later, the doctor will insert the lubricated finger into the anus to check for any abnormal lumps in the rectum.

In addition, there are also various follow-up examinations, including:

• Urine test. The urine sample will be observed under a microscope to see if the bacteria is contained.
• Blood test. A blood sample is drawn to check for possible disease.
• Urodynamic test. Tests are done to find out how well your uterus is functioning.
• Cystoscopy. The procedure uses an instrument called a cystoscope that is inserted through the urethra to see the condition of the prostate and bladder.
• Transrectal ultrasound. Use ultrasound with a named tool transducer which will issue sound waves to see any abnormalities in the prostate.
• Biopsy. A surgical procedure that involves removing a small piece of prostate tissue for examination.
• Semen examination. This test is done to measure the quality and how much semen is excreted.

Drugs & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for prostatitis?

Prostatitis treatment will be tailored to the cause of the case itself, including the type of antibiotic to be selected. This treatment is the most widely prescribed for prostatitis.

In acute prostatitis, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics which must be taken for 6-8 weeks. But if the symptoms are severe and require hospitalization, you will also be given antibiotics by injection later. After completion, treatment is continued by taking antibiotics for 2-4 weeks.

In contrast to chronic prostatitis, patients usually have to take antibiotics for six months but with smaller doses.

Whereas in nonbacterial prostatitis, because the disease is not caused by bacteria, the drugs given are usually not in the form of antibiotics. The medication prescribed will focus on managing pain and inflammation. Some of them are:

• Giving alpha adrenergic blockers to relax the prostate muscles.
• Prescription non-steroidal anti-pain or anti-inflammatory drugs, in addition to reducing pain, these drugs can also reduce swelling.
• Glycosaminogly
• Silodo
• Sin (rapaflo)

The drugs above are not limited to pelvic syndrome pain, but can also be used to treat symptoms of other types of prostatitis.

Sometimes, there are some patients who experience symptoms of painful bowel movements. Therefore, your doctor may prescribe a laxative to treat it.

Home remedies

What lifestyle changes and home remedies are there for prostatitis?

Here are forms of a healthy lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with prostatitis.

• Soak in warm water.
• Perform acupuncture treatment.
• Relaxation exercises.
• Get regular exercise.
• Drinking extracts from cranberries, this fruit is known for its properties that can overcome problems around the bladder.
• Taking herbs or herbal supplements, one of which is the bioflavonoid antioxidant quercetin to reduce swelling.
• Use a pillow when sitting for a long time.
• Avoid spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

If you have questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your prostatitis problem.