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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