Explained | Prostate Disease, Its Frequency, and Types

Introduction

The prostate is a walnut-size gland found at the base of the bladder. The average weight of the prostate gland is 20 grams. The epidemiological surveys depict a whole different story. Look at the graph; the global prostate disease exposure is comparatively low. The highly affected areas include Northern and Western Europe, the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, North America and Southern Africa. But prostatitis is found to be extremely low in Asia and North Africa. 

Let’s know in-depth about prostatitis. 

What is Prostate?

The prostate is a gland with the main function of producing semen or fluid that contains sperms. It is a mechanical-driven system that helps in urination and ejaculation. When this gland comes in contact with the microbial bacteria, the infection leads to prostate disease or prostatitis. 

What is Prostate Disease?

Prostate disease is the inflammation of the prostate gland caused by bacterial infection. In general, prostatitis occurs in children and old age mens’. The frequency of prostatitis in the middle-aged group of men is comparatively less. Briefing about the symptoms may include urgency, stomachache to chronic pelvic pains. 

Epidemiology 

Prostatitis is a heterogeneous disease with the incidence rate varying globally from 6.3 to 83.4 per 100,000 people. The contribution of India is around 1 million men per year diagnosed with the disease. Whereas the prevalence of the disease is five to nine per cent in the US i.e., approximately 2 million men are seeking treatment for prostatitis. 

Risk Factor 

The risk factors associated with the prostate disease are several, including 

• Anatomical Structural Abnormality: The abnormality caused is due to the enlargement of the prostate. It is one of the reasons why prostate disease is one of the most frequently happening diseases in older age. Older men are likely to have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer. 
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): It is another risk factor associated with prostatitis. UTI occurs due to the presence of bacteria in the bladder. The bladder halts the flow of urine. With this suppression, some amount of urine always stops in the bladder. It increases the chances of bacterial growth, and you can be exposed to UTIs.
• Unprotected Sexual Intercourse: There is a statement second in favour and against. Professionals say that unprojected sexual intercourse or ejaculation helps improve your prostate disease condition. But on the other hand, experts find it to stimulate various side effects.  
• Indwelling Catheter: It is a foley catheter that remains inside your bladder for a period. This catheter comes under play when the prostate blocks and one cannot void the urine. But the bladder cannot make way for all the urine to move out. Thereby, the plastic of the catheter the bacteria uses to climb up through the urethra affects inflammation of the prostate gland.    
• Immunocompromise: It is also a risk factor that causes immunosuppression. Thereby, it includes immunological conditions such as AIDS. It can also include diabetes or older age. Stress is categorised here. Prolonged stress can lead to immunosuppression as well.

Types of Prostate Disease

We’ve looked at the epidemiological aspect with its risk factors. The prostrate disease has been categorised into four types. Each type of prostatitis arranged is based on its susceptibility and response to an agent influenced by factors. It includes genetic composition, nutritional and immunologic status, anatomic structure, presence of disease or medications, and psychological makeup. 

Let’s now look at types of prostatitis.

Acute Bacterial Prostatitis (ABP)

It is an acute infection in the prostate gland causing pelvic pains and urinary tract symptoms such as dysuria, urinary frequency, and urinary retention. Its systemic symptoms may expose you to fever, chills, nausea, emesis, and malaise.

Causative Organisms

These organisms involve the following:

• E. Coli
• Klebsiella
• Enterobactor/Enterococci
• Proteus/Pseudomonas
• Serratia

This list of organisms playing a crucial role in causing prostate disease is known as the “KEEPS” organisms.

Other Organisms

Other organisms also can lead you to have prostatitis. It includes:

• N. Gonorrhoea
• C. Trachomatis

Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis (CBP)

prostate disease is caused by bacteria climbing up to the prostate gland using the urethra. The main function of the urethra is to channel urine out of the body. The infection has a higher chance if the contaminated catheter bladder is inserted or if the infection originates in the bladder.

Generally, CBP is caused by bacterial infection, i.e., recurrent UTIs. Often CBP is caused by ABP or Type 1 prostatitis. Thereby if the person is not treated properly for the Type 1 prostate disease increase the chances of getting Type prostatitis which may involve bacterial biofilms. 

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)

One of the main aspects to clear at the beginning is that bacteria do not cause Type 3 prostatitis. Therefore, CPPS is a clinical syndrome defining discomforts and pain in the pelvic region. It often accompanies urologic symptoms or sexual dysfunction.

Asymptomatic Inflammatory Prostatitis 

It is a painless inflammation of the prostate gland where no evidence is available for infection. 

Conclusion

You read about prostate disease with the increase in burden in India. We come across the definition of the prostate gland, its epidemiology and its different types. There is so much controversy around prostatitis because of the confusion and lack of evidence. But prostate treatment is widely available for all four types of prostatitis.