BALANITIS

General Information

DEFINITION--Inflammation of the penis and sometimes the foreskin as well. It is usually associated with an unretractable foreskin of an uncircumcised male.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Penis and foreskin.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED--Males of all ages.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Pain, redness and swelling of the head of the penis.
• Inflammation of the foreskin.
• Ulceration of the penis.
• Enlarged lymph glands in the groin.
• Chills and fever (rare).
• Discharge from the penis (rare).
• Burning on urination (rare).

CAUSES

• Infection from bacteria (Borrelia vincentii, streptococci) or fungus (Candida albicans).
• Allergy to chemicals in clothing, contraceptive cream, condom latex.
• Reaction to certain medications.
• Tight foreskin.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Poor hygiene.
• Trauma or minor injury to the foreskin and penis.
• Presence of foreskin.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Sexual partner affected by candidal vaginitis.

HOW TO PREVENT

• Have male infants circumcised.
• Wash daily with soap and water, especially after sexual intercourse. Cleanse under the foreskin.
• Avoid any allergens.
• Use a condom during intercourse.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
• Laboratory culture of the discharge from the infected area.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Doctor's treatment.
• Surgery to circumcise the penis, if balanitis recurs frequently. See Circumcision (in Surgery section).

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

• Ulceration of the penis.
• Spread of infection to deeper skin layers of the penis shaft.
• Blood poisoning.
• Urinary tract infection.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--Usually curable in 1 to 2 weeks with medical treatment.

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES----Use warm-water soaks to relieve pain (see Soaks in Appendix section).

MEDICATION--Your doctor may prescribe:

• Steroid creams to control swelling.
• Topical or oral antibiotics or antifungals to fight infection.
• Aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve minor pain and fever.

ACTIVITY--Rest in bed if you have fever. Avoid sexual intercourse during treatment. Resume your normal activities when the infection is cured.

DIET--No special diet.

Call Your Doctor If

• You have symptoms of balanitis.
• Symptoms don't improve in 3 days, despite treatment.
• Balanitis recurs. You may want to consider circumcision.