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Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Prostate infections can be classified as acute or chronic; the following describes their symptoms.

Acute bacterial prostatitis: Because acute prostate infection often is associated with infections in other parts of the urinary tract, symptoms may include the following:

• Increased urinary frequency
• Urgency to pass urine
• Pain with urination
• Difficulty producing a normal stream
• Pain in the genital area
• Pain with ejaculation
• Generalized symptoms that may occur and should be investigated by a caregiver immediately include the following:
  • High fever and chills
  • Generalized malaise and fatigue

Examination usually reveals an enlarged, tender, warm, firm, and irregular prostate. (The doctor should not perform a vigorous digital exam of the prostate to prevent possible spread of the infection to the bloodstream.)

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is defined by NIH as recurrent infection of the prostate. This disease is a common cause of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in men. Typically, the same strain of bacteria in prostatic fluid or urine will cause the same infection to persist or recur.

Symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis may be similar to acute bacterial prostatitis, but are usually less intense. They include the following:

• Increased urinary frequency along with pain and difficulty urinating
• Pain in the lower back, testes, epididymis, or penis
• Sexual dysfunction
• Low-grade fever, joint pains, and muscle aches
• Examination may reveal urethral discharge and tender testes, or epididymis.

Stress and depression are common in men with chronic infectious prostatitis.

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