What is acute prostatitis?

Symptoms of acute prostatitis usually start suddenly and are severe. They may include:

• A fever and chills.
• Blood in your urine or semen.
• Problems with urination, which may include:
  • An urge to urinate often. But you may pass only small amounts of urine.
  • Waking up at night to urinate often.
  • A feeling of not completely emptying your bladder.
  • Trouble starting the urine stream, urinating in waves rather than in a steady stream, having a urine flow that is weaker than normal, and dribbling after urinating.
• Pain, which may include:
  • A burning pain when you urinate.
  • Pain in your lower back, in the area between the testicles and anus, in the lower belly or upper thighs, or above the pubic area. Pain may be worse during a bowel movement.
  • Some pain during or after ejaculation.
  • Pain in the tip of your penis.

Acute prostatitis is treated with antibiotics, pain and fever medicine, stool softeners, fluids, and rest.

Treatment usually starts with taking an antibiotic. If you don't get better while taking antibiotics, more tests may be done.

If you continue to have a fever, can't urinate, or you need intravenous (I.V.) antibiotics, you may need to go to a hospital for a short time for treatment.

Most people get better quickly. Treatment is usually done at home. This includes drinking plenty of fluids and taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

A doctor can often tell if you have prostatitis by asking about your symptoms. The doctor will do a physical exam, including a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate. You may need blood and urine tests to check which type of prostatitis you have or to look for another cause of your problems.

If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Drink plenty of water. Avoid constipation. Take warm baths to help soothe pain. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy or acidic foods, especially if they make your symptoms worse.

Prostatitis is swelling or infection of the prostate. The prostate is a small organ that produces most of the fluid in semen. Acute prostatitis means that your symptoms occur suddenly and severely. It's often painful.

Sometimes acute prostatitis is caused by bacteria. But often the cause isn't known. When bacteria are the cause, they most likely enter the prostate by traveling through the urethra. Or they may be introduced through the use of a urinary catheter.