Balanitis
Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans (AKA balanus), but is not necessarily an infection. Balanitis may occur together with posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin, AKA posthe), when it is known as balanoposthitis.[1] Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) is a separate and distinct condition. For more information on BXO, see Balanitis xerotica obliterans. Balanitis can occur in both circumcised and intact (non-circumcised) males.
It has many causes, including fungal, yeast, virus, or bacterial infection, environmental irritants, excess sugar in urine, and others. The treatment of balanoposthitis requires accurate diagnosis of the cause of the balanoposthitis because different treatments are required for different causes. Abdennader et al. (1996) observe that such dermatological conditions as psoriasis, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus, fixed drug eruptions, and bullous diseases are not balanitis.[2]
Contents
Childhood
The foreskin is protective of the glans penis in childhood.[3] Van Howe (1997) reported data collected in his pediatric practice on 468 boys up to 18 years of age. Among boys less than three years of age, circumcised boys were significantly more likely to have a reddened meatus or balanitis.[4] Infant boys who have been circumcised are likely to experience balanitis caused by exposure to ammoniacal diapers (nappies).[5] Hsieh et al. (2006), working in Taiwan, where boys are not circumcised, examined 2,149 elementary pre-adolescent schoolboys. Hsieh et al. found only one case of balanitis in the 2,149 intact boys,[6] which suggests a protective effect for the foreskin.
A boy's foreskin should not be retracted until the boy does it for himself.[7]
Excessive washing and non-specific dermatitis
Birley et al. (1993) report excessive washing, especially with the use of soap, will dry the oils out of tissues and cause a balanitis like inflammation. The use of soap (including body wash, shower gel, and shampoo) should be avoided.[8] Although it is commonly believed that the human foreskin is the source of infection so must be constantly washed to prevent infection, that is not true. Fleiss, Hodges & Van Howe (1998) reported the foreskin has both protective and immunological functions that help to prevent disease.[9] Washing removes the protective substances and leaves the penis prone to infection, so washing should be limited and soap should not be used.
Balanoposthitis is not usually an indication for circumcision.
Yeast infections and diabetic males
Diabetic males who have high sugar in their urine may have recurrent yeast infections. Verma & Molina (2011) report that balanoposthitis caused by yeast infection is prevalent in India where circumcised men are rare and the rate of diabetes is high.[10] Better control of sugar levels is indicated. Recurrent yeast infections that are not responsive to better management of diabetes may be relieved by circumcision.
Yeast infections may cause adult-onset phimosis. Yeast infections may usually be successfully treated by application of topical clotrimazole.[11]
Diagnosis and treatment
Balanitis has many possible instigators. Diagnosis requires an accurate history, and such tests as biopsy and a swab with a culture.[1] In the absence of a diagnosis, any prescription for treatment is a guess and is likely to fail.
One can’t properly treat balanoposthitis until one knows what is causing it. Different causes require different treatments. When one knows the cause, then an appropriate treatment can be selected.[1]
See also
- Immunological and protective function of the foreskin
- Issues with American urologists and the practice of male circumcision
- Penis
- Preputial sac
- Regret men
- Smegma
External links
(14 February 2008). Balanitis
, CIRP. Retrieved 7 October 2019.- Clinical Effectiveness Group (2001).
2001 National Guideline on the Management of Balanitis
(archive URL), Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 October 2019. - (31 May 2017).
Balanitis
, National Health Service. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- (2019).
Phimosis and Balanitis
, Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.o.C.). Retrieved 7 October 2019.
References
- ↑ a b c
Edwards S. Balanitis and balanoposthitis: a review . Genitourin Med. 1996; 72: 155-9. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ↑ Abdennader S, Casin I, Janier M, Morel P. Balanitis and balanoposthitis: a review. Genitourin Med. 1996; 72: 434-5. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ↑ Gairdner DMT. The fate of the foreskin: a study of circumcision. British Medical Journal. 1949; 2(4642): 1433-7. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ↑ Van Howe RS. Variability in penile appearance and penile findings: a prospective study. Brit J Urol. 1 November 1997; 80(6): 776-81. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ↑ Simpson E, Baraclough P. The management of the paediatric foreskin. Australian Family Physician. 1 May 1998; 27(5): 381-3. PMID. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ↑ Hsieh TF, Chang CH, Chang SS. Foreskin development before adolescence in 2149 schoolboys. Int J Urol. 2006; 13(7): 968-70. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ↑ Wright JE. Further to the "Further Fate of the Foreskin". Med J Aust. 7 February 1994; 160: 134-135. PMID. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ↑ Birley HDL, Wasker MM, Luzzi GA, et al. Clinical Features and management of recurrent balanitis; association with atopy and genital washing. Genitourin Med. 1 October 1993; 69(5): 400-3. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ↑ Fleiss P, Hodges F, Van Howe RS. Immunological functions of the human prepuce. Sex Trans Infect. October 1998; 74(5): 364-67. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ↑ Verma SB, Molina U. Looking through the cracks of diabetic candidal balanoposthitis!. Int J Gen Med. 7 July 2011; 4: 511-3. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ↑ Crowley PD, Galagher, HC. Clotrimazole as a pharmaceutical: past, present and future. J Appl Microbiol. September 2014; 117(3): 611-7. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
