Chronic
Bacterial Prostatitis: One of Four Types of Prostatitis
Prostatitis
is a general term for inflammation or infection of the prostate
gland. There are four main types of prostatitis: chronic bacterial
prostatitis, acute bacterial prostatitis, nonbacterial prostatitis,
and prostatodynia. A chronic bacterial infection of the prostate
gland can result in painful urination and ejaculation. If not treated,
chronic bacterial prostatitis may lead to a more serious condition.
Chronic
bacterial prostatitis is a recurring bacterial infection of the
prostate gland, a walnut-sized organ situated in front of the rectum
and below the bladder of males. The main function of the prostate
gland is to secrete seminal fluid, the fluid that forms semen. Chronic
bacterial prostatitis affects a man’s urinary tract because
the prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube carrying urine.
Chronic
bacterial prostatitis may affect men of any age, but it primarily
strikes men between the ages of 40 and 70. An inflamed, infected
prostate gland will result in several symptoms, including:
- Urgent and frequent need to urinate
- Excessive nighttime urination
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Pain in the groin, lower back, and genital
area
- Difficulty urinating or reduced urine flow
- Low-grade fever
- Frequent bladder infections
The
symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis may develop slowly and
may fluctuate in their severity. No one has discovered a clear reason
why chronic bacterial prostatitis happens. Since the prostate gland
is made up of tiny ducts and glands, there are many chances for
bacteria to reside in the prostate and cause an infection. Chronic
bacterial prostatitis may be more likely in men who have had trauma
to the urinary tract such as having a catheter tube inserted, getting
a urinary tract infection, operating heavy equipment, or jogging
and bicycling on a regular basis.
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