Q: I was diagnosed with chronic prostatitis / CPPS 2 years ago. My urologist told me that this couldn't be treated. I have been living in great pain since then and have not been able to work. Is it true that there is no treatment or cure for this? I have taken a 12-week long course of ofloxacin but it did not help much. Why is it that there is no talk about this debilitating condition in the public sphere? Everybody seems to be worried about hypertension and diabetes only.

A:Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a diagnosis of exclusion. Other diseases like lower ureteric calculi, genitourinary tuberculosis, carcinoma in situ, urethral stricture and some other rare diseases like interstitial cystitis may have the same symptoms, and have to be excluded. Herpes of the genitourinary system, urinary infections, peri-rectal inflammatory disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, sexually transmitted diseases, neurological diseases also need to be excluded. There is very little known about the aetiology. It is commoner than you think, and approximately 15% young man may suffer from it to varying degrees. While some kinds of prostatitis, like acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis may have a targeted therapy, rest have to be treated symptomatically. Prostatitis does not grow into any serious disease and requires symptomatic therapy and some behavioural modifications.