BALANITIS

 Basic information

description

Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans (head) of the penis and sometimes the foreskin as well. It is a common condition in males. It occurs more often in males who have a foreskin (have not been circumcised).

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Tenderness, redness, itching, and swelling of the head of the penis.
• Inflammation of the foreskin.
• Unable to retract foreskin (phimosis).
• Impotence.
• Discharge from the penis.
• Burning during urination (rare).

causes

The inflammation is a reaction to infection (most common cause), injury, or irritation of the penis. Sometimes the cause is unknown.

risk increases with

• Diabetes.
• Poor hygiene.
• Allergy to chemicals in clothing, contraceptive cream, or condom latex.
• Reaction to certain drugs.
• Trauma or minor injury to the foreskin and penis.
• Presence of foreskin.
• Sexual partner affected by vaginitis (rare).
• Being very obese.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Wash daily with soap and water and wash after sexual intercourse. Clean carefully under the foreskin.
• Control diabetes or other medical conditions.
• Weight loss for obese males.
• Using a latex condom during intercourse may help to prevent some infections.

expected outcomes

Usually curable in 1 to 2 weeks with treatment.

possible complications

• Chronic inflammation can cause:
  • Scarring and narrowing of the opening of the penis (urethral stricture).
  • Phimosis (difficult to retract the foreskin).
  • Paraphimosis (unable to replace the foreskin to cover the head of the penis).
  • Urinary tract infection.

 diagnosis & treatment

general measures

• Your health care provider can usually diagnose the disorder by an exam of the penis. A culture of the discharge from the penis and tests for other medical disorders (such as diabetes) may be done. If balanitis persists, a biopsy (tissue sample is removed for an exam) may be done to rule out cancer.
• Treatment usually involves drugs applied to the penis and practicing good hygiene.
• Use warm-water soaks to relieve pain or discomfort.
• A foreskin that cannot be retracted may be treated with topical steroid drugs, stretching techniques (done 2 to 3 weeks), or by a special slit made in the foreskin.
• Surgery may be recommended to circumcise the penis if balanitis recurs often or scar tissue develops.

medications

• Antibiotics to be applied to the penis are usually prescribed. Rarely, antibiotics to be taken by mouth may be prescribed.
• Steroid skin creams may be prescribed.
• Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve minor pain.

activity

• Avoid sexual intercourse during treatment.
• Resume your normal activities when the infection is cured.

diet

No special diet.

 notify our office if

• You or a family member has symptoms of balanitis.
• Symptoms don't improve in 3 days, despite treatment.

Special Notes: