Acute Bacterial Prostatitis
This infection comes on suddenly (acute) and is caused by bacteria. Symptoms include severe chills and fever. There is often blood in the urine. You must go to the doctor's office or emergency room for treatment. It's the least common of the four types, yet it's the easiest to diagnose and treat.
Treatment: Most cases can be cured with a high dose of antibiotics, taken 7 to 14 days, and then lower doses for several weeks. You may also need drugs to help with pain or discomfort.
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
Also caused by bacteria, the condition doesn't come on suddenly, but it can be bothersome. The only symptom you may have is bladder infections that keep coming back. The cause may be a defect in the prostate that lets bacteria collect in the urinary tract.
Treatment: Antibiotic treatment over a longer period of time is best for this type. Treatment lasts from 4 to 12 weeks and clears up about 60 percent of cases. Long-term, low-dose antibiotics may help relieve symptoms in cases that won't clear up.
Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
This disorder is the most common but least understood form of the disease. Found in men of any age from late teens to elderly, its symptoms go away and then return without warning. There can be pain or discomfort in the groin or bladder area.
Treatment: There are several different treatments for this problem, based on your symptoms. These include antibiotics and other medicines, such as alpha-blockers, that relax muscle tissue in the prostate to make passing urine easier.
Asymptomatic Inflammatory Prostatitis
You usually don't have symptoms with this condition. It is often found when your doctor is looking for other conditions like infertility or prostate cancer. Men with this problem often have an increased PSA level. It does not necessarily mean that you have cancer.
Treatment: Men with this condition are usually given antibiotics for 4 to 6 weeks, followed by another PSA test.
