Acute and chronic prostatitis

Abstract

Prostatitis is generally characterised as painful inflammation of the prostate, with or without bacterial infection. It is the most frequent urological diagnosis in men under 50 years in age, and the third most common urological diagnosis in men over that age. It tends to occur in young and middle-aged men. Prostatitis-like symptoms have a lifetime prevalence of up to 10%, although the proportion of these confirmed to be true prostatitis is unknown. The presentation of prostatitis can sometimes be vague and multifaceted. Initial therapy with antimicrobials remains the mainstay of treatment, although less than 10% of cases have a proven bacterial infection. The aims of this article are to outline the forms of prostatitis and then review the clinical presentation and management for the commonest forms of prostatitis seen in UK general practice.