Candidiasis balanitis, as well as balanoposthitis, are more rare than common diseases. The reason for their low prevalence is that the Candida fungus, which causes these diseases, practically does not survive on the healthy surface of the skin of the male genital organs.
Symptoms of balanitis
Balanitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues of the head or penis of a man. Balanitis in women is characterized by inflammation of the clitoris and labia majora. When infected with balanitis, for several days you can observe in men such symptoms as:
- phimosis;
- the appearance of itching and unpleasant odor in the genital area;
painful urination
- inflammation of the glans penis, manifested by redness, the presence of painful sensations and the appearance under the foreskin of small, rough to the touch seals.
In women, signs of balanitis are swelling and inflammation of the clitoris.
In almost the vast majority of cases, candida balanitis in men also combines with inflammation of the glans penis. Such inflammation is called balanoposthitis and has both a chronic and an acute course.
Varieties of balanitis
Candidiasis balanitis differs not only in origin (primary or secondary), but also in its clinical manifestation. The disease has five main forms of course:
- erosive;
- obliterating;
- simple or irritative;
- ulcerative;
- chronic hypertrophic.
Causes of balanitis
Basically, candida balanitis appears due to non-observance of personal hygiene rules. However, this is not the only reason provoking the occurrence of this ailment. Sometimes balanitis is the result of more serious diseases, such as diabetes. Very often, candidiasis balanitis becomes the first harbinger of latent diabetes. Sometimes this disease is a reaction to autoimmune diseases occurring in the body : psoriasis, lupus, scleroderma.
A decrease in general or local immunity, as well as previous sexually transmitted infections, can provoke a disease such as candida balanitis.
Balanitis in children is most often the result of phimosis. Particles of smegma and urine residues accumulated in the preputial sac can provoke not only the development of balanitis, but also balanoposthitis.
Diagnosis and treatment of balanitis
Diagnosis of candida balanitis does not cause any difficulties. This disease is easily determined by external examination of the genitals and is confirmed by clinical tests that are carried out to identify the pathogen that caused the inflammation.
In the treatment of balanitis, not burdened by the presence of purulent inflammation, the use of local anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents is usually sufficient. In addition to the use of medications, the patient is prescribed enhanced personal hygiene, including rinsing the glans penis every 3-4 hours. Washing can be done either using soap or a weak solution of an antiseptic.
Treatment of obliterans balanitis, as well as balanitis in erosive form, requires a longer and more thorough approach. Therefore, it is best to diagnose and conduct a course of treatment in the early stages of the disease. Untimely treated balanitis can not only go into the chronic stage, but also lead to a narrowing of the urethra, and then you can not do without surgery.
If you are concerned about itching or inflammation in the genital area, painful urination and the appearance of white plaque on the genitals, you should consult a doctor. Do not self-medicate or hope that the above symptoms disappear on their own. The sooner the specialist diagnoses and prescribes treatment with the necessary drugs, the more successful and quick the healing process will be.