what is prostatitis

Prostatitis is a condition that involves inflammation of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is a small gland located just below the bladder in men, and it surrounds the top portion of the tube that drains urine from the bladder (urethra) . There are generally four types of prostatitis: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. Acute bacterial prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the prostate that usually comes on suddenly and causes severe symptoms such as high fever, chills, and trouble urinating. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is an ongoing or recurring bacterial infection that usually causes less severe symptoms. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is ongoing or recurring pelvic pain and urinary tract symptoms with no evidence of infection. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis is a type of prostatitis where there are signs of an inflamed prostate with no symptoms. The exact cause of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is unknown, but researchers believe a microorganism, though not a bacterial infection, may cause the condition. Acute prostatitis is usually caused when bacteria in the urinary tract enter the prostate. Treatment for prostatitis depends on the type of disorder and may include painkillers, antibiotics, alpha-blockers, and laxatives.