[Prostatitis--a frequently unrecognized disease].

The term "prostatitis" includes several entities ranging from the acute bacterial inflammation of the prostate gland to the chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Since both acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis are clearly defined by the documented detection of microbial agents, a standardised antimicrobial treatment eventually leads to a predictable rate of cure. However, the most common type is the chronic abacterial prostatitis, called "chronic pelvic pain syndrome" (CPPS) which is subdivided into an inflammatory and a noninflammatory form. CPPS affects men of all ages and is the most common urological diagnosis in men younger than 50 years. Chronic prostatitis/CPPS shares features with other chronic pain syndromes, including a poorly understood etiology, low correspondance of symptoms and objective findings, application of various treatments and frequent failure to be alleviated by medical treatment. Due to the intricacy of the syndrome a thorough clinical evaluation is required to define the causes, consequences and optimal management of this important health problem.