Prostatitis may be the symptom-producing disease of the genitourinary tract for which men most often seek medical help. About 40% of visits to a specialist in urinary problems (urologist) are for prostatitis.

Prostatitis is often classified and is treatable.

Forms of prostate inflammation include acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis and inflammation not caused by bacterial infection. A painful condition called prostatodynia, which may be caused by abnormal nerves or muscles in the region, is also thought to be a form of prostatitis. The chronic bacterial form is sometimes experienced by men whose sex partners have a bacterial infection of the vagina, making this a sexually transmitted disease.

Other cases occur when small stones form within the prostate and become infected. Sometimes infection is caused by poor hygiene, surgical procedures, or even swimming in polluted water.

The sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea may sometimes cause prostatitis, and tuberculosis may spread to the prostate. Parasites and fungi may infect the prostate gland. Some men whose prostatitis is not caused by any microorganism have microscopic collections of cells called granulomas in their prostate tissue.

Medical professionals debate whether or not a virus can cause prostatitis.

However the inflammation begins the prostate swells. In acute cases, this swelling can occur very suddenly and can cause considerable pain. When prostatitis develops gradually, trouble with the flow of urine may be the first symptom.

Most often the symptoms and physical findings are enough to form a diagnosis of prostatitis. When the examiner inserts a finger in the rectum, the swollen prostate can be felt; it may be extremely tender when probed. Squeezing the gland slightly will produce a few drops of fluid that may be cultured to learn whether bacteria are present. Many patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis also have recurring urinary tract infections.

Prostatitis is treated first with oral antibiotics.  Broad-spectrum antibiotics that work against most bacteria are used first.  If the bacteria causing the prostatitis have been identified then the doctor can prescribe more specific drugs to treat the prostatitis.  In chronic cases, the best results are obtained with a combination of antibiotics treatment.  Oral antibiotics should be given for 1-3 months; longer, if necessary. If a fungus or some other organism is causing infection, special drugs are available.

The sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea may sometimes cause prostatitis, and tuberculosis may spread to the prostate. Parasites and fungi may infect the prostate gland.

A person with acute prostatitis may suddenly develop fever and chills, along with rapidly developing urinary symptoms and pain in the perineum or low back. This state is a medical emergency that demands immediate medical help.

A trained healthcare professional should be seen to diagnose prostatitis and rule out the causes and to treat it.