exudates and Prostatitis

Little is known about how primary care physicians (PCPs) in Asia diagnose and manage prostatitis-like symptoms. This study investigated the clinical diagnosis of and care provided for prostatitis-like symptoms by PCPs in a Malaysian population, and compared these findings to reports from other areas.. All members of the Penang Private Medical Practitioners' Society were asked to complete a self-administered survey. Nonresponders were contacted after 3 weeks and received a telephone request after 6 weeks.. Of the 786 practitioners contacted, 669 considered themselves to be PCPs, including 279 (42%) who responded to the survey. Adult males with prostatitis-like symptoms typically constitute <1% of the patients seen by PCPs. Most PCPs (72%) believe that prostatitis-like symptoms are caused by bacterial infection. 61% of PCPs base their diagnosis of prostatitis-like symptoms on clinical history, a physical examination and dipstick urinalysis. Standard management was to prescribe 1 or 2 courses of antimicrobials.. Despite the 8.7% prevalence found in a previous survey in this population, prostatitis remains underdiagnosed in Malaysia. In contrast to many other clinical settings, urologists in Malaysia see a large proportion of newly diagnosed and treatment-naive prostatitis patients, providing an opportunity for clinical diagnostic and treatment studies.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Infective Agents; Attitude of Health Personnel; Bacteriological Techniques; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Physical Examination; Physical Therapy Modalities; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prevalence; Primary Health Care; Prostatitis; Reagent Strips; Referral and Consultation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urinalysis; Urine; Urodynamics; Urology

We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of the University of Sciences Malaysia Chronic Prostatitis Cohort to the United States National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort.. Participants met the same definition of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Each participant had extensive demographic, medical history, previous treatment, clinical and laboratory evaluations.. The University of Sciences Malaysia and National Institutes of Health cohorts proved similar in most respects. National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index total scores, pain and urinary subscores were similar for the 332 University of Sciences Malaysia Chronic Prostatitis Cohort and 488 National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort participants. Differences included worse quality of life subscore for the University of Sciences Malaysia Chronic Prostatitis Cohort, differences in the location, number of sites, and types of pain/discomfort between the 2 populations, and that the University of Sciences Malaysia participants had received less previous treatment.. The demographic characteristics and clinical presentation of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome proved remarkably similar in these diverse populations. Both cohorts experienced major reduction in their quality of life from chronic pelvic pain and urinary symptoms. Comparison of diverse populations using standard clinical, laboratory and assessment instruments is feasible, and may provide important insights into chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and the factors that determine clinical outcome.

Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Prostatitis; United States

To determine the prevalence of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (National Institutes of Health Category III prostatitis) in Penang, Malaysia and estimate the proportion of cases ascertained by population survey that met consensus clinical criteria for "chronic prostatitis.". One percent of 20 to 50-year-old men in Penang, Malaysia were surveyed using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. A clinical evaluation that included lower urinary tract localization studies was recommended for symptomatic subjects who met the survey definition to identify bacterial prostatitis and other diagnoses that would exclude them from the consensus clinical definition for chronic prostatitis (Category III).. Of 3147 subjects surveyed, 275 (8.7%) met the survey criteria for chronic prostatitis. The prevalence of chronic prostatitis was 8.0% among Malays, 8.9% among non-Malays, and 16% among noncitizens (P = 0.025). The prevalence increased with age: 6.3% in 20 to 30-year-old men, 8.9% in 31 to 40-year-old men, and 12.6% in 41 to 50-year-old men (P <0.001). Of 87 subjects evaluated clinically, 65 (75%) met the consensus clinical criteria for chronic prostatitis.. Chronic prostatitis represents an important, international healthcare problem. A thorough clinical evaluation is necessary to verify that chronic prostatitis is indeed responsible for a patient's pelvic pain and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Topics: Adult; Age Distribution; Chronic Disease; Follow-Up Studies; Health Surveys; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Pelvic Pain; Prevalence; Prostatitis