BALANITIS, POSTHITIS AND BALANOPOSTHITIS TREATMENT

Balanitis is inflammation of the glans penis, posthitis is inflammation of the prepuce, and balanoposthitis is inflammation of both.

Inflammation of the head of the penis has both infectious and noninfectious causes.

Balanitis usually leads to posthitis except in circumcised patients.

Balanoposthitis is predisposed to by

• Diabetes mellitus
• Phimosis (tight, non-retractable prepuce)
• Phimosis interferes with adequate hygiene.

Chronic balanoposthitis increases the risk of

• Balanitis xerotica obliterans
• Phimosis
• Paraphimosis
• Cancer

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Pain, irritation, and a subpreputial discharge often occur 2 or 3 days after sexual intercourse.

Phimosis, superficial ulcerations, and inguinal adenopathy may follow

CAUSES:

Infectious                                                    

• Candidiasis
• Chancroid
• Chlamydial urethritis
• Gonococcal urethritis
• Herpes simplex virus infection
• Molluscum contagiosum
• Scabies
• Syphilis, primary or secondary
• Trichomoniasis

Noninfectious

• Balanitis xerotica obliterans
• Contact dermatitis
• Fixed drug eruptions
• Lichen planus
• Lichen simplex chronicus