Balanoposthitis is an inflammatory disease diagnosed mainly in boys. Pathology affects the head of the genital organ and the inner part of the foreskin. The process is accompanied by severe symptoms, which significantly worsens the patient's life.
Diagnose balanoposthitis in children with an external examination. Based on the results obtained, therapy is prescribed, which involves the use of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ointments, baths, and washing. If the child has a chronic stage, surgery is performed.
Provocative factors
Very often balanoposthitis occurs in infants, which is provoked by the improper use of diapers. This inflammatory process also occurs in boys as a result of the development of pathogens. Certain conditions contribute to the progress of pathology:
- Improper child care, use of soap when washing.
- Poor quality products designed for personal hygiene and washing children's things.
- Incorrectly sized diapers, their rare change.
- Tight panties that are able to rub the head of the penis, which causes injury to the skin and their infection.
- An allergic reaction to the used powder or baby cream.
- The damaged structure of the external genitalia, which can provoke various inflammatory processes.
- Exposing the head of the penis unnecessarily.
- Diabetes.
- Overweight problems.
- Improper child nutrition.
Also, conventional hypothermia can provoke this inflammatory process in boys.
General symptoms
The first symptoms of balanopastitis in a child include pain and itching in the area of the glans penis. Also, a small patient will complain of a burning sensation in this area. Difficult urine output may be noted. During the examination, the specialist notes redness and swelling of the head, if you pull the foreskin, you can see the accumulated smegma, which has an unpleasant odor.
If a purulent form of the disease is diagnosed, then there will be a discharge of pus from under the foreskin. The child is very concerned about this condition. In addition to local signs, other reactions of the body to the inflammatory process may occur.
Additional symptoms of balanoposthitis in a child (a photo of this pathology can be seen on specialized sites):
- Elevated body temperature.
- General weakness.
- The child constantly wants to sleep, is a lot naughty.
The irritability of the child is associated with itching, which constantly interferes with it.
Symptoms in infants
Very often, this inflammatory process is diagnosed in infants. This is due to the fact that even with good hygiene, microorganisms from the intestine after emptying fall on the foreskin, as well as the head, which leads to an inflammatory process. Phimosis, which is observed in every boy in the first year of life, can complicate the hygiene process.
Symptoms of balanoposthitis in children of this age category are always distinct, therefore, at the first manifestations of the disease, you should immediately contact a urologist. We list the signs of this inflammatory process:
- Swelling of the head and foreskin, it has a bright red tint.
- On the genitals during examination, you can see red dots.
- The baby is restless, does not sleep, refuses to eat.
- There are pain during urination, the baby is crying.
If you ignore this pathology and do not turn to a specialist for timely help, this will lead to irreversible serious consequences.
Balanoposthitis in preschoolers and schoolchildren
Even at this age, balanoposthitis is also common. It arises as a result of the same provoking factors:
- Phimosis. At this age, it acquires a pathological form.
- Poor hygiene.
- Joining candida microflora.
Also, do not use tight-fitting underwear, as it negatively affects the condition of the penis and foreskin. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor not only the hygiene of the child, teach him how to wash, but also carefully choose underwear.
Balanoposthitis in adolescents
Very often balanoposthitis in children of this age is accompanied by staphylococcal infection, as well as streptococci and candida. This is because the teenager does not properly follow personal hygiene, wears tight underwear.
Balanoposthitis in adolescents very often develops in parallel with existing pathologies:
- gonorrhea;
- trichomoniasis;
- candidiasis;
- herpes.
In adolescence, phimosis is quite rare, but if this happens, surgery should be performed. In a similar situation, a full examination is carried out to exclude existing diseases and prescribe a full treatment for balanoposthitis in a child. Symptoms of the pathology are the same as at an early age.
Kinds
In modern medicine, several types of balanoposthitis in children are distinguished. These include:
- Plain. It is characterized by redness throughout the site, swelling and maceration of the skin of the head, as well as the inner part of the foreskin. Then there is the formation of erosions of various types, which differ in their size and shape. Of these, pus with particles of the epithelium can stand out. Itching and burning are present. After the treatment, the skin does not remain traces of the inflammatory process.
- Erosive balanoposthitis in a child. Photos of this type of pathology demonstrate the presence of white areas with dead epithelium, which then turn into large erosions of bright red color. The process may be complicated by phimosis. Pain is present. After treatment, there are no signs of the disease.
- Gangrenous. This form of the disease is accompanied by fever, fever, general malaise. Diagnosed with deep purulent necrotic ulcers of different sizes. Pain, swelling, redness of the head and foreskin are noted. Phimosis develops. The recovery process takes a lot of time.
Only a specialist can determine the type of pathology after a thorough examination.
Purulent balanoposthitis
The purulent form of the disease is characterized by an inflammatory process in the described area, which disrupts the process of emitting urine and smegma. As a result, purulent masses are noted, most often with a specific smell. The main symptom is redness, swelling of the head. Any form of the disease is always accompanied by discomfort, itching and burning, especially when urinating.
Purulent balanoposthitis can provoke yeast, staphylococcus, streptococcus. If there is a strong inflammatory process, which is accompanied by the release of pus, then circumcision of the foreskin is performed.
Acute balanoposthitis
The acute form of the inflammatory process very often occurs as a complication of infectious diseases. Balanoposthitis is observed as a result of the previously provoking factors. It is accompanied by redness of the head, problems with the emission of urine, secretions, swelling and increased body temperature. It occurs unexpectedly and proceeds quickly. Treatment in this situation should be prescribed during the day. Therefore, do not engage in self-treatment, but immediately seek qualified help.
Diagnostics
A pediatric surgeon or a urologist will help to solve the problems. Diagnosis does not imply instrumental research. It is enough to prescribe the treatment of balanoposthitis in a child to get acquainted with the symptoms, conduct an examination and laboratory tests.
The following types of examinations are recommended:
- Analysis of urine. White blood cells and bacteria will be noted.
- Bacteriological examination of urine. Helps identify the pathogen.
- PCR and ELISA. These studies help to accurately determine the type of pathogen.
To exclude concomitant pathologies, you need to undergo an additional examination with other narrowly specialized specialists, as well as donate blood for sugar, and conduct an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder.
Treatment
Therapy depends on the degree of disease progression. A mild degree of balanostitis is treated at home. Severe form is eliminated under the supervision of a specialist. If the situation is severely neglected, then Komarovsky, for example, recommends treating balanoposthitis in a child by surgery.
A mild degree of the disease involves the following activities at home:
- Thorough hygiene procedures after bowel movements and diaper changes (in infants).
- Every couple of hours - baths with chamomile.
- Use moisturizer.
If you adhere to the above recommendations, then the treatment of balanoposthitis in a child at home will last no more than three days. But this applies only to the initial stage.
If a severe form of pathology is diagnosed, then it is worthwhile to undergo an examination. Treatment is prescribed by a specialist. To achieve a positive result from therapy, you need:
- Carry out all the same hygiene measures as with a mild form.
- Every couple of hours, make baths with chamomile or a solution of furatsilina.
- Before going to bed, use applications with antimicrobials (most often prescribed "Levomekol"). The course of treatment lasts no more than 4 days. If a child is diagnosed with a fungal form of pathology, then you need to use "Clotrimozole" or "Candide". The course of treatment lasts about 3 weeks.
To make it easier for a child to go to the toilet, you can also put him in warm water.
Therapy with a purulent form of the disease is significantly different. Treatment of balanoposthitis in a child at home of this type is not carried out. In most cases, a circular excision of the foreskin of the penis is prescribed.
Complications: preventive measures
If the therapy of the described disease is absent, then this can lead to negative consequences:
- The process becomes chronic.
- Infection and bacteria spread.
- An acute urinary retention occurs.
- Phimosis progresses.
- Gangrene develops.
- The head is deformed.
- Malignant neoplasms occur.
Preventive measures should include:
- Hygienic procedures every night, especially after bowel movements.
- The baby is promptly replaced with a diaper, and its correct size is selected.
- Older boys during washing need to expose and wash the head of the penis.
It is worth remembering that the child should have a personal towel for intimate hygiene. It is also necessary to use underwear, which will eliminate rubbing the head.