enlarged and inflamed prostate

dr3am · Newbie Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 9

Is their a difference between the 2? My doc after a rectal exam said i had an inflamed prostate but not an enlarged one arnt they the same thing? and is it possible to tell from just that?

Kruko · Silver Member Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 210

As far as I know, these are two different conditions. When the prostate is inflamed, it means that there’s some kind of infection, usually bacterial. In acute infections, antibiotics usually help clear the symptoms. In case of infections, the prostate is usually not swollen, but it is red and warm. There is also a non bacterial prostate inflammation, which is much harder to treat.
When the prostate is enlarged, it is not due to infection but due to aging. Prostate enlargement occurs as men age and then it squeezes the bladder and pressures it. This is called benign prostate hyperplasia. Many disturbing problems may occur if the bladder becomes “squeezed” by the prostate.
As for having a rectal exam……this one is always done first. By feeling the prostate from the rectum, a doctor may tell what us going on!

enlarged and inflamed prostate

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