BALANITIS - INFLAMMATION OF THE BALANUS

What is balanitis? The term "balanitis" refers to inflammation of the glans penis. Sometimes inflammation extends to the foreskin (balanoposthitis), and when it is limited only to the prepuce mucosa, this is called postitis.

Who suffers from balanitis?

Who suffers from balanitis? According to some authors, balanitis is one of the sexually transmitted diseases, while others do not support this theory, since little boys are often sick with balanitis. In adulthood balanitis is often a direct result of poor hygiene, the use of poor quality detergents, and the accumulation of secretions in the immediate vicinity of the foreskin (smegma).

The term balanitis comes from the Greek word “acorn” (pointing to the glans penis), and the suffix “it” is synonymous with inflammation. A literal translation (inflamed acorn) directly speaks of the symptoms of the disease.

In general, circumcised men are suffered from balanitis 5 times more often than those who are circumcised. In some adult circumcised men, balanitis is asymptomatic.

Symptoms of balanitis

The disease is always accompanied by erythema, itching and / or burning in this area. Often patients complain of:

• bleeding;
• edema;
• in some cases, ulcerative lesions with whitish discharge occur, from which an unpleasant odor emanates (the spread of anaerobic bacteria).

Sometimes balanitis is manifested by edema of the inguinal lymph nodes.