Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland that results in urinary frequency and urgency, burning or painful urination and pain in the lower back and genital area, among other symptoms. There are two forms of prostatitis, acute and chronic.

Screening And Diagnosis

Acute prostatitis causes severe, sudden symptoms:

A burning sensation while urinating
Frequent, strong urges to urinate
Difficulty getting urine to pass

Chronic prostatitis symptoms develop more slowly than acute prostatitis. They include:

Frequent and strong urges to urinate
Some slowing of the urinary stream
An ache or pain in the genitals, rectum, lower abdomen or lower back

Treatments

Acute prostatitis can usually be cured with treatment that includes:

Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Bed rest
Plenty of fluids

A single episode of acute prostatitis is no worse than a case of the flu but, if not treated properly, may become much more serious and, eventually, chronic. Treatment of chronic prostatitis includes long-term antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. It may help to avoid smoking, caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. For more information, visit http://www.cua.org/en/patient-information