Balanitis - treatment, causes, symptoms.

Balanitis - a disease that is characterized, in the first place, by the inflammation of the glans penis. In the event that the inflammation is transmitted also to the foreskin, this disease is already called "balanoposthitis".

Types of balanitis

• Traumatic

This type of disease manifests itself exclusively in the formation of swelling, redness and cracks after a member's injury. Trauma of the penis can occur in any way.

• Hygienic

Appears due to the accumulation of smegma or urine in the area of the foreskin. This form is manifested by redness and swelling.

• Infectious

This type of disease can manifest itself with completely different symptoms, which will depend only on the nature of the pathogen.

• Obliterating xerotic balanitis

A much more complicated form of the disease, the causes of which are still not fully understood.

Causes of the disease

• Various skin diseases, for example, psoriasis or seboremny dermatitis.
• Injury of the glans penis or its irritation. Trauma can be coital or even caused by excessive masturbation.
• Concomitant infectious diseases - often balanitis can be a consequence of venereal diseases, for example, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia or syphilis.
• Urethritis
• Diabetes mellitus, because due to the development of this disease there is a constant irritation of the glans penis with urine.
• Lack of normal hygiene and, as a consequence, congestion of smegma, urine or any other irritating factors.
• Phimosis

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of the disease directly depend on the pathogen, but it is quite possible to characterize some local symptoms.

• Erythema of prepuce
• Reddening of the head
• Puffiness
• Dryness
• Irritation
• Burning
• Itching
• Cracks
• Cork
• Nodular rash
• The appearance of erosions and ulcers on the genitals
• Painful sensations when the head is opened
• Premature ejaculation.

To more extensive symptoms include general weakness of the body, rashes in the mucous membrane of the mouth, an increase in lymph nodes, especially in the groin. If all the symptoms indicate that the patient has balanitis, treatment in this case can not be postponed until later, because any disease is easier to treat in the initial stage of its development.

Diagnosis of the disease

If the patient has general symptoms, the doctor will give him an examination for the STD group. Determine the presence of balanitis can only bacterial study, but, for example, a blood test helps to judge the indirect presence of this disease.

Balanitis - treatment

If the patient has balanitis, the treatment is primarily composed of daily hygiene procedures - it is necessary to wash the penis with warm water and soap, and in order to avoid excessive irritation with alkali, moisturizers can be used.

Medicamentous treatment consists of baths for a member with potassium permanganate and furatsilinom, which must be done at least 20 minutes several times a day. After this bath, the head of the penis should be lubricated with syntholicylic, zinc or tetracycline ointment. In case the patient has anaerobic balanitis, the treatment is performed with the help of such antibiotics, so tetracycline or metronidazole.

Operative treatment of the disease is necessary only if it is caused by phimosis of the prepuce, which is cut off during the operation.

Treatment of balanitis in children in general terms is similar to treatment in adults, but there are many small nuances that need to be clarified in advance by the pediatrician who is watching the baby.

For successful treatment of the disease, most patients undergo physiotherapy. In particular, electrophoresis, ozonotherapy, heliotherapy and others.