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Balanitis
Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans or head of the penis. ON occasions, it can compromise the foreskin and this problem is called Balanoposthitis. This condition is the reason for frequent consultations in the specialty of Urology and is usually very common in uncircumcised men.
The most common cause is Candida albicans, with 35% of cases, chich leads to candidiasis balanitis, the second common cause of infectious balanitis, caused by bacteria such as streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus.
Balanitis is more common in men, so the medical treatment terms refer primarily to inflammation of the glans.
However, the clitoris of women can also be affected, although this occurs less frequently, which is the same with children.
Balanitis can be acute, chronic, which is when it last more than a few weeks, or is recurrent. When describing a disease, the terms acute and chronic refer to the duration of the disease, not the severity of the condition.
Although it is not a serious condition, it is very important to determinate its cause in order to prevent future problems. On the other hand, balanitis can sometimes indicate that you have diabetes.
That is why, if the balanitis is recurrent, it is possible that your GP will ask you to have a blood test to check or rule out that you have diabetes and in addition to this, he may also request to detect infections of sexual transmission.
Balanitis may or may not be contagious depending on the causative factor.
This condition, as we have seen before, is generally caused by an excessive growth of bacteria or yeasts because the foreskin of the penis is an ideal place for the growth of these organisms and among the other most triggering factors are:
-Poor genital hygiene, for example not completely rinsing soap from the penis after a shower.
-Redundant foreskin
-Preputial adhesions
-Postcoital hypersensivity
-Bacterial or fungical growth in humid area
-Allergic reactions to irritating cleaning products, such as perfumed soaps or those that dry the skin
-Use of perfume lotions or sprays on the penis
-In diabetic patients, significant inflammation occurs due to change in glucose levels
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The symptoms of balanitis could be the following:
- Red rash on the tip of the penis (May be scaly or ulcerated) pain in the penis.
- Tenderness and swelling at the tip of the penis
- Itching and discomfort
- Discharge or pus under the foreskin that may have an unpleasant odor
- Inability to retract the foreskin
