Prostatitis Explained

Prostatitis
Synonyms:Prostatosis
Field:Urology

Prostatitis is an umbrella term for a variety of medical conditions that incorporate bacterial and non-bacterial origin illnesses in the pelvic region. In contrast with the plain meaning of the word (which means "inflammation of the prostate"), the diagnosis may not always include inflammation. Prostatitis is classified into acute, chronic, asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

In the United States, prostatitis is diagnosed in 8% of all male urologist visits and 1% of all primary care physician visits for male genitourinary symptoms.[1]

Classification

The term prostatitis refers to inflammation of the tissue of the prostate gland. It may occur as an appropriate physiological response to an infection, or it may occur in the absence of infection.[2]

In 1999, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) devised a new classification system.[3] [4] For more specifics about each type of prostatitis, including information on symptoms, treatment, and prognosis, follow the links to the relevant full articles.

CategoryCurrent nameOld namePainBacteriaWBCsDescription
IAcute prostatitisAcute bacterial prostatitisYesYesYesBacterial infection of the prostate gland that requires urgent medical treatment.
IIChronic bacterial prostatitisChronic bacterial prostatitis±YesYesA relatively rare condition that usually presents as intermittent urinary tract infections.
IIIaInflammatory CP/CPPSNonbacterial prostatitisYesNoYesAccounts for 90–95% of prostatitis diagnoses,[5] formerly known as chronic nonbacterial prostatitis'.
IIIbNoninflammatory CP/CPPSProstatodyniaYesNoNo
IVAsymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis(none)NoNoYesNo history of genitourinary pain complaints, but leukocytosis is noted, usually during evaluation for other conditions. Between 6 and 19% of men have pus cells in their semen but no symptoms.[6]

In 1968, Meares and Stamey determined a classification technique based upon the culturing of bacteria.[7] This classification is no longer used.

The conditions are distinguished by the different presentation of pain, white blood cells (WBCs) in the urine, duration of symptoms and bacteria cultured from the urine. To help express prostatic secretions that may contain WBCs and bacteria, prostate massage is sometimes used.[8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Collins MM, Stafford RS, O'Leary MP, Barry MJ . How common is prostatitis? A national survey of physician visits . J. Urol. . 159 . 4 . 1224–8 . 1998 . 9507840. 10.1016/S0022-5347(01)63564-X.
  2. Roger Kirby. Kirby. Roger. Culley C. Carson III. Carson. Culley C.. January–February 2015. Editor's Comment on Diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Trends in Urology and Men's Health. 6. 1. 17. 10.1002/tre.434. free.
  3. Krieger JN, Nyberg L, Nickel JC . NIH consensus definition and classification of prostatitis . JAMA . 282 . 3 . 236–7 . July 1999 . 10422990 . 10.1001/jama.282.3.236.
  4. Book: J. Curtis Nickel. Textbook of prostatitis. 18 April 2010. 1999. Taylor & Francis. 978-1-901865-04-2. 27–.
  5. Habermacher GM, Chason JT, Schaeffer AJ . Prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome . Annu. Rev. Med. . 57 . 195–206 . 2006 . 16409145 . 10.1146/annurev.med.57.011205.135654.
  6. Korrovits P, Ausmees K, Mändar R, Punab M . Prevalence of asymptomatic inflammatory (National Institutes of Health Category IV) prostatitis in young men according to semen analysis . Urology . 71 . 6 . 1010–5 . June 2008 . 18455767 . 10.1016/j.urology.2007.12.082 .
  7. Meares EM, Stamey TA . Bacteriologic localization patterns in bacterial prostatitis and urethritis . Invest Urol . 5 . 5 . 492–518 . March 1968 . 4870505 .
  8. Web site: Prostatitis: Benign Prostate Disease: Merck Manual Professional . 2011-07-11 . 2011-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110925051318/http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary_disorders/benign_prostate_disease/prostatitis.html . live .