Prostatitis: Four Different but Related Conditions
Prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system, helps in the transport of semen. It is situated close to the rectum and bladder, around the urethra that also conveys semen.
In most cases, the prostate becomes infected by the bacteria that may get into the prostate from the urethra by backward flow of infected urine into the prostate or the rectum. Also, certain conditions and medical procedures increase the risk of developing prostatitis, including an autoimmune disease (an abnormal reaction of the body to the prostate tissue) and engagement in rectal intercourse.
There are four different types of prostatitis, each type having different set of symptoms.Category
1-Acute Bacterial Prostatitis (ABP)
The most common cause of this type of prostate infection are bacteria usually found in the large intestine. However, often a urethral or bladder infection can cause an infection to the prostate gland as bacteria in urine may leak into the prostate.
Category 2-
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis (CBP)When bacteria are not completely eliminated from the prostate gland, prostatitis might recur or be difficult to treat (chronic bacterial prostatitis).
Another cause may be an injury to the urinary tract due to such activities, as bicycle riding or horseback riding, catheterization or a chronic urinary tract infection (UTI).
Category 3-
Nonbacterial ProstatitisIn this type of prostatitis, no definite infection can be identified. Men with nonbacterial prostatitis often have signs of inflammation, but no bacteria can be found in standard lab tests. Sometimes this condition can be due lifting heavy objects while the bladder is full. The urine, then, may back up into the prostate gland causing inflammation.
Category 4-
ProstatodyniaThis type of prostatitis is sometimes called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS); however, without inflammation or bacterial infection. The symptoms - including chills, fever, pain in the lower back and genital area, body aches, burning or painful urination, and the frequent and urgent need to urinate - characteristically go away and, then, come back without warning. Unfortunately, standard medical treatments - therapy with antibiotics and with medicine that only help to relax the muscles of the prostate gland - is often ineffective and fails.
Prostate infection (prostatitis) has become increasingly hard to treat because of emerging resistance to current antibiotics. The problem is linked with their longer duration and multiple courses - as long as 6 months to 2 years. It is also spawned by the worldwide overuse of antibiotics in the farming industry which enter the food chain.Although having prostatitis does not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer or any other prostate or kidney disease, you should continue to have regular examinations to detect prostate cancer.