Balanitis - treatment at home. Chlamydial balanitis (balanoposthitis) Balanitis symptoms
![Balanitis - treatment at home. Chlamydial balanitis (balanoposthitis) Balanitis symptoms](https://i0.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Smegma-300x213.jpg)
Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans penis that occurs as a result of the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms and exposure to traumatic factors. The incubation period for infection lasts from 10 days to 3 weeks, since the duration of this stage depends on the state of the patient’s immune system. For this reason, men often seek help late, not paying attention to even the first signs of a problem.
Causes of inflammation
The main reason is poor hygiene and the accumulation of smegma under the foreskin, which becomes a favorable environment for the penetration and reproduction of pathogenic microflora. Other factors also increase the likelihood of developing the disease:
![](https://i0.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Smegma-300x213.jpg)
Signs of balanitis
Common symptoms of balanitis include rashes on the surface of the head, malaise and weakness, as well as enlarged lymph nodes that are located in the groin. Photos of the affected areas indicate that, depending on the degree and disease, additional manifestations may occur:
![](https://i2.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Raznovidnosti-balanita-300x220.jpg)
Diagnostic methods
Balanitis in men clearly manifests itself already in the initial stages of development, therefore, if alarming symptoms are detected, you should consult a doctor. For effective treatment, it is necessary to discover the cause of the disease. For this purpose, a set of diagnostic procedures is prescribed, which include the following methods:
- Scraping from the surface of an organ. The resulting material is sent to the laboratory to study and detect pathogenic microflora, and its type is determined.
- Bacteriological culture. Using the technique, the number of microorganisms and their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs are determined.
- Blood sugar level analysis. Diagnostics helps to identify diabetes mellitus, which could be the cause of the disease.
- Polymerase chain reaction. The type of pathogen is identified, including sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency viruses.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the diagnosis is carried out, otherwise the risk of re-infection will be high.
How to treat balanitis
Treatment of the pathology depends on the stage of inflammation and concomitant diseases. It is not recommended to carry out treatment at home without the advice of a doctor, since the wrong choice of medications will lead to increased symptoms and complications.
Local therapy
In most cases, local therapy is prescribed, in the form of treating the skin of the organ with special means. These include drugs with an antiseptic effect:
![](https://i2.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Farmakologicheskie-svojstva-Miramistina-300x177.jpg)
In the process of treatment with these medications, not only do spot treatments of wounds are carried out, but also baths with these antiseptics are used. The procedure is performed 2–3 times a day. Before starting treatment, you must wash the genital organ and dry it thoroughly with a towel.
A necessary component of the treatment of balanitis are ointments and creams. They have anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties, therefore they get rid of pathogenic microorganisms, restore tissue and improve the patient’s well-being. Such means include:
![](https://i0.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Primenenie-i-protivopokazanija-1-300x222.jpg)
Medicines are applied to the affected areas 1-3 times a day. You need to consult a doctor before starting therapy.
Use of antibiotics
If the disease is caused by an infection, then broad-spectrum antibiotics will be required. Antibacterial drugs are:
![](https://i1.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Instrukcija-po-primeneniju-Cefiksima-300x212.jpg)
If the surface of the head is inflamed, then the products are used 1-2 times a day. Drugs with antibacterial effects are used only according to the indications of a specialist, since it is necessary to carry out diagnostics and establish the type of pathogen.
Traditional medicine
To eliminate balanitis, you can use folk remedies. Consultation with a doctor before starting treatment is also necessary, since it is necessary to exclude the presence of allergies.
St. John's wort infusion reduces swelling and itching, so it is used when the disease manifests itself. The product is prepared in the following way:
- Grind the dried flowers of the plant.
- Take 1 tsp. ingredient.
- Pour 250 ml of boiling water over the component.
- Leave for 20 minutes, then strain.
The liquid is used for baths or compresses. In the first case, the penis is washed with the infusion, performing this procedure 2 times a day for 5–10 minutes. If a compress is used, a cotton swab is soaked in the liquid and applied to the affected areas. The event is carried out 2 times a day for 10–15 minutes.
A decoction of sage is used in a similar way, which has a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory effect. To prepare the product:
- Take 2-3 tbsp. l. crushed component.
- Pour 0.5 boiling water over the plant.
- Place on low heat and cook for 10 minutes.
- Strain the product through cheesecloth and cool.
Used for rinsing and compresses.
Plantain effectively eliminates inflammation. To use the plant you will need:
![](https://i0.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Lechebnye-svojstva-podorozhnika-300x225.jpg)
The dressings are changed every 3–4 hours.
To eliminate erosions and ulcers, a remedy consisting of olive oil and calendula flowers is suitable. Recipe:
- Mix 1 tbsp. l. crushed flowers and 100 ml of oil.
- Cover the container with a lid and leave in the sun for 3 weeks.
- Strain the product through cheesecloth.
The medicinal mixture is used to treat affected areas. The procedure is performed 2–3 times a day.
Compresses soaked in chamomile decoction have an antiseptic effect. The medicine is prepared in the following way:
![](https://i1.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Kompress-s-romashkoj-300x194.jpg)
Cotton swabs are soaked in liquid and then applied to the inflamed tissue. The compress is used 3-4 times a day.
Possible complications
If you do not follow the doctor’s instructions, there is a high probability of developing an inflammatory process and the appearance of other pathologies. The patient may experience the following complications:
![](https://i1.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Oslozhneniya-zabolevaniya-300x189.jpg)
Disease prevention
To avoid the appearance of balanitis, you must follow the following rules:
![](https://i1.wp.com/venerologia03.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Soblyudenie-gigieny-1-300x227.jpg)
Prevention methods are aimed at preventing the development of the disease and reducing the likelihood of provoking factors.
Balanitis is one of the most common diseases of the male genital area. This disease can affect both adults and children. The disease requires timely diagnosis and an integrated approach to treatment. This is the only way to prevent consequences that negatively affect a man’s health.
What is balanitis
Balanitis is an inflammatory process affecting the glans penis. The disease brings a lot of discomfort and quite often occurs with severe symptoms. If the inflammation also affects the foreskin, then this pathology is called balanoposthitis.
Depending on the cause of the disease, one or another clinical picture is present. Typically, the glans penis with balanitis looks swollen and reddened due to the organ being overfilled with blood (hyperemia).
Balanitis covers only the head of the penis, in contrast to balanoposthitis, in which the head and the foreskin covering it become inflamed
According to experts, after circumcision the risk of developing balanitis is reduced several times.
Video: balanitis and balanoposthitis
Types of diseases and their features
Today, the following types of balanitis are distinguished:
- According to the nature of the flow:
- acute - occurs suddenly, occurs with vivid symptoms, and, if not treated in a timely manner, quickly becomes chronic;
- chronic - can accompany a man throughout his life, periods of remission are replaced by relapses.
- Depending on the pathogen:
- chlamydial - is a consequence of the introduction of pathogenic microflora (the structure of chlamydia is similar to a virus and a bacterium at the same time), is difficult and has many dangerous consequences;
- bacterial - develops during the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms (staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli), is one of the most common types;
- viral - most often provoked by a herpes infection, occurs with the formation of blisters on the head of the penis;
- anaerobic - it is caused by gram-negative microorganisms, most often gardnerella;
- trichomonas - the most common type of balanitis, which occurs as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse, is accompanied by itching and burning.
- Depending on the clinical picture:
- gangrenous - leads to necrosis of the tissues of the head of the penis;
- Zuna - manifests itself in the formation of pink plaques; at present, this species is not fully studied;
- ring-shaped - a wet plaque appears on the head of the penis with uneven edges;
- atrophic - normal epithelium begins to be replaced by necrotic;
- erosive - the head of the penis is covered with small wounds;
- ulcerative - unlike the previous type, the size and depth of the wounds are more extensive;
- circinar - provoked by pathogenic microflora (usually chlamydia) and is accompanied by the formation of red spots on the surface of the head of the penis;
- xerotic - a type of infection of the head, which is accompanied by dryness and itching.
- Depending on the provoking factor:
- traumatic - occurs as a result of a blow to the groin area;
- sticky - most often affects children and is a consequence of poor hygiene;
- obliterans - is one of the forms of lichen and can occur at any age.
- Additionally there are:
- specific - a confirmed type of disease with an identified cause;
- nonspecific - an unrefined form of balanitis, the provoking factor of which is unknown.
Causes and provoking factors
The causes of balanitis can be:
- proliferation of pathogenic microflora in the absence of timely hygiene;
- decreased immunity;
- autoimmune diseases;
- diabetes;
- sexually transmitted infections;
- narrowing of the foreskin.
Balanitis can occur as a result of a severe allergic reaction, with a characteristic small rash appearing on the head of the penis.
Symptoms of the disease
In any form of balanitis, a distinctive feature in the clinical picture is traces of an inflammatory process that affects only the head and does not spread to the entire organ. Balanitis may also be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- increased body temperature;
- pain in the groin area;
- the occurrence of ulcers and erosions on the head of the penis;
- pain when urinating;
- curdled or purulent discharge;
- the formation of red spots that periodically become wet;
- burning and itching in the penis area;
- small rash.
Diagnostics
The main methods for diagnosing balanitis are a medical examination and a survey of the patient. A urologist can make a preliminary diagnosis based on an analysis of the patient’s complaints and the appearance of the genital organ.
However, to identify the causes of balanitis and distinguish it from other diseases, additional methods are used:
- Tests for infections and sexually transmitted viruses. This method allows you to exclude diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, etc. The form of the study depends on what disease the doctor suspects; it can be bacteriological culture, microscopy, etc.
- A scraping and subsequent examination to determine whether the cause of the disease is a candida infection.
- Urethral swab to detect chlamydial infections.
- PCR examination of urethral contents. An important method to determine whether streptococci are the cause of balanitis.
- Blood test for glucose. This type of study allows us to exclude the presence of diabetes mellitus, which is often a provocateur of the development of the disease in older age.
![](https://i1.wp.com/medsovet.guru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/pcr.jpg)
It is important to differentiate balanitis from penile cancer, the initial symptoms of which are similar to the clinical picture of the inflammatory process.
Treatment of balanitis
The inflammatory process can only be eliminated comprehensively. The most effective method of treatment is the use of medications that act on the pathogenic microflora that provoked balanitis. Additionally, physiotherapy, traditional methods and dietary nutrition are used. If balanitis occurs in a gangrenous form, then surgical intervention is prescribed.
Drug therapy
Depending on the causative agent of the inflammatory process, the following groups of medications are used:
- Antibiotics: Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Sumamed, etc. Used when bacteria are detected: staphylococci, streptococci, etc. These agents suppress the proliferation of pathogenic microflora.
- Antiprotozoal: Metronidazole, Trichopolum, etc. Active against protozoa, which often become provocateurs of the inflammatory process.
- Antifungals: Pimafucin, Clotrimazole, Triderm, etc. If the cause of the inflammatory process is a candidiasis infection, then these drugs are prescribed in the form of ointments and creams for external use. You need to treat the head of the penis several times a day.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs with an antiseptic effect: Miramistin, Fukortsin, Levomekol, etc. These topical medications are used to treat the glans penis. They have a detrimental effect on a wide range of microbes and reduce the severity of symptoms.
Only a doctor can prescribe medications for balanitis, since there are a large number of forms of the disease that cannot be differentiated independently.
Photo gallery: medications that are used to eliminate inflammation
Sumamed destroys a wide range of microorganisms Metronidazole is an antiprotozoal drug
Pimafucin has an antifungal effect Miramistin relieves inflammation Levosin accelerates tissue healing
Folk remedies
Folk remedies used to treat balanitis:
- Anti-inflammatory infusion. You will need 1 tbsp. l. dried chamomile flowers, which should be poured with 200 ml of boiling water. Then let it brew for an hour. After that, filter. Use the infusion to treat the penis 4 times a day, duration of use is at least 10 days.
- Antiseptic decoction. 2 tbsp. l. sage herbs must be poured into 400 ml of boiling water and simmered over low heat for 10 minutes. Then let it brew for another hour. After this, filter and use for a compress. Thoroughly moisten the bandage and wrap it around the head of the penis, leaving it for 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure 2 times a day for two weeks.
- Regenerating infusion. You will need 1 tbsp. l. St. John's wort herb, which must be poured with a glass of boiling water and allowed to brew for two hours. After this, strain. The infusion should be used to wipe the penis 3 times a day for a week.
Folk remedies can be used in combination with medications after prior consultation with a doctor.
During treatment, you should wear loose underwear made from natural fabrics.
Photo gallery: ingredients for traditional medicine recipes
Chamomile has an anti-inflammatory effect in balanitis Sage prevents the proliferation of pathogenic microflora, providing an antiseptic effect St. John's wort has a regenerating effect
Physiotherapeutic procedures
Basic methods of physiotherapy that complement drug treatment:
- Electrophoresis. High-frequency current allows you to quickly get rid of the inflammatory process, creating a depot through which medicinal substances quickly penetrate to the affected area.
- Ozone therapy. This technique has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Ozone in combination with saline is injected into the blood.
- UHF. A high-frequency magnetic field accelerates blood flow in the affected area, eliminating inflammation and accelerating healing processes.
Physiotherapy methods are not used as the main treatment, since they cannot eliminate the main cause of balanitis.
Photo gallery: physiotherapeutic procedures
Electrophoresis allows you to create a medicinal depot, enhancing the effect of UHF drugs - a technique based on a powerful electromagnetic field Ozone therapy has a beneficial effect on the immune system
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention for balanitis is practically not used, since drug therapy gives a good result. Surgery is necessary in the gangrenous form, when the disease is advanced. In this case, the affected tissue is excised in order to stop the pathological process.
Standard intervention with a scalpel is used, as well as laser vaporization and cryodestruction. Vaporization minimizes damage to healthy tissue. The laser affects only the affected areas, leading to their heating and further detachment. In place of the evaporated area, a new layer of epithelium is formed. Cryodestruction gives the same result as a laser, but the effect on tissue is carried out using liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of -200 C o.
Surgery is performed under local anesthesia.
Diet food
A diet for balanitis helps to recover faster and is aimed at strengthening the body's defenses. You should eat at least 4 times a day at regular intervals. First of all, it is recommended to give up fatty and fried foods, alcohol, soda, caffeine, chocolate and fast food. The diet must include:
- vegetables and fruits;
- whole wheat bread;
- dairy products;
- olive oil;
- cereals;
- dried fruits;
- nuts;
- fish.
It is necessary to observe the drinking regime. You should drink up to 1.5–2 liters of clean water per day. Freshly squeezed juices will also be useful.
Photo gallery: products that should be included in the menu
Vegetables and fruits contain a large amount of plant fiber Whole grain bread contains healthy grains Fermented milk products contain natural protein Olive oil can be used to dress salads Cereals help cleanse the intestines of toxins Dried fruits are better consumed instead of chocolate Nuts contain healthy fats Steamed fish can be combined with vegetables
Features of treatment in children
Treatment in children is carried out by washing the head of the penis with antiseptic solutions. For these purposes, a solution of potassium permanganate, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, etc. is used. Decoctions of chamomile and sage are also used to treat children. Sitz baths are helpful. It is important to maintain genital hygiene. It is necessary to wash the penis with soapy water at least 3 times a day.
Treatment of children is carried out only after preliminary consultation with a pediatrician.
Treatment prognosis and consequences
The prognosis for treatment for balanitis is favorable in most cases. With a timely approach to therapy, you can get rid of the inflammatory process within 10 days. However, if the disease is neglected, you may encounter a number of consequences, the main of which are:
- transition from erosive to ulcerative form;
- development of cystitis;
- atrophy of penile tissue.
Prevention
Prevention of balanitis consists of observing the following rules:
- Timely treatment of chronic foci of infection.
- Use of barrier methods of contraception.
- Maintain personal hygiene and change underwear daily.
- Proper nutrition.
- Strengthening the immune system: hardening, taking vitamins.
- Monitoring blood sugar levels in diabetes.
Modern treatment methods allow you to quickly and effectively get rid of balanitis. The disease responds well to therapy. It is important to consult a doctor in time and not to start the pathological process. Preventive measures will help prevent the problem from recurring.
(inflammation of the foreskin develops according to statistics in 2 out of 30 children).
Doctors consider the following categories of citizens to be at risk::
- Young active men, lovers of promiscuity.
- People who do not observe basic hygiene rules (homeless people, tramps).
- Persons suffering from autoimmune diseases and immune system disorders.
How balanitis is treated in men is further in the article.
Causes
The culprits of balanitis are various factors.
Depending on the causes of the disease, doctors develop an individual treatment plan.
The causes of balanitis include:
- development of vitamin deficiency or hypervitaminosis;
- a sharp drop in immunity, diseases of the immune system;
- activation of pathogenic microflora (fungi, viruses, bacteria);
- diseases associated with impaired lymph flow, blood supply and metabolism;
- ailments (chronic and acute) of the genitourinary system;
- irregular hygiene (accumulation of dead particles of epidermis, smegma, urine in the foreskin);
- skin diseases (eczema, dermatitis, lichen, psoriasis) during their complications;
- allergic manifestations to latex (when using a condom), synthetics (underwear) or household chemicals (aromatic gels, soap, chemical components of powders or fabric softeners);
- (congenital pathology of the structure of the foreskin);
- severe trauma to the external genitalia (aggressive sex, burns, bruises, compression);
- as a side effect of radiation therapy used in the treatment of oncology.
Before we consider how balanitis is treated, let's talk about the classification of the disease.
Classification
Balanitis can be complicated and uncomplicated (occurs without consequences), primary (appears as an independent disease) and secondary (becomes a consequence of existing diseases).
Doctors classify the disease into several types.
Depending on the stage:
- Simple (with minor manifestations of inflammation).
- (with the appearance of small erosive ulcers).
- Gangrenous (the last, most severe stage, which occurs with the death of the affected tissues).
Depending on the reason:
- thermal (as a result of thermal burns);
- radiation (due to the use of radiation therapy);
- allergic (develops due to allergies);
- mechanical (consequences of injuries, rough mechanical influences);
- (appears due to the action of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria);
- herpetic (if the disease becomes a consequence of a herpetic infection);
- chlamydial (the impetus for the development of infection is the activity of chlamydia);
- (as a result of the activity of the candida fungus, male thrush).
In the following sections, symptoms and how to treat balanitis.
Photo
We present to your attention treatment for balanitis in men, ointments and medications, photos
Symptoms
It is difficult to miss or not notice the development of the disease - this disease is painful and causes a lot of inconvenience to a person.
Here are just a few symptoms characteristic of balanitis::
- unbearable itching, burning;
- pain during urination, sexual intercourse;
- erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation;
- the appearance of a small nodular vesicular rash;
- an increase in the size of the organ, the appearance of severe swelling;
- purulent discharge from the affected area with an unpleasant odor;
- fever, weakness, deterioration of health;
- pain that increases with the opening of the foreskin and erection;
- the development of small bleeding ulcers; in the absence of therapy, the ulcers become crusted, after some time they die, which leads to the development of necrosis and gangrene;
- change in skin color in the foreskin area (redness, spots).
We smoothly move on to the question: “Balanitis, how to treat it?”
Prevention
It is easier to prevent any problem than to deal with long painful treatment and suffer from painful symptoms.
Before treating balanitis in men, remember that it is most successfully treated in the mild stage, at the beginning of its development.
Sometimes just regular hygiene procedures are enough to get rid of the scourge or treat with balanitis ointment, which is simple and accessible to everyone.
Uncomplicated forms. With a mild course of the disease, regular hygiene procedures are sufficient. In addition to the bath products already listed, Burov liquid and Rivanol (0.1-0.2%) are used.
After each procedure, the treated area is powdered with one of the following preparations::
- Tannin;
- Xeroform;
- Boric acid (1-2%);
- silver nitrate solution (0.25%).
As soon as the inflammatory process begins to subside and improvement occurs, the affected tissue should be treated with ointments: Zinc containing silver (Silverol), Dexamethasone or Corticosteroid.
The preparations are applied 3-4 times daily, alternating the product.
Candida. If yeast-like fungi are the culprits of the disease, ordinary laundry soap will provide effective help - in an alkaline environment, pathogenic fungi cannot reproduce.
In the next part of the article - balanitis, treatment at home.
At home
How to treat balanitis in men at home?
To alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease and help the drug course of treatment proceed faster and more successfully, include traditional medicine in your therapy:
Calendula. Steam the crushed flowers of the plant (tbsp) with a glass of hot olive oil. Leave the container with the broth in a warm place for 2.5-3 weeks. Then filter the mixture and lubricate the affected areas.
Aloe. Wash the leaf of the medicinal plant and remove thorns. Cut off a thin part of the leaf and apply to diseased areas 2-3 times daily for 15-20 minutes.
Sage. Brew dry sage leaves (2 tbsp) with boiling water (½ l). After infusing for half an hour, strain the broth and apply as compresses to the affected skin for 20-25 minutes.
Plantain. Compresses can also be made from plantain, which has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Apply clean leaves of the plant to the sore spot, securing with a bandage. Change the leaves every half hour. Apply a compress every 3-4 hours.
Oak bark. Steam crushed oak bark (tbsp) with a glass of boiling water.
Cook the mixture for 20-25 minutes over low heat. Then leave for 20-30 minutes and filter.
Take healing baths three times a day. The course of treatment is a week.
Ashes of dill roots. Burn the dill rhizomes. Sprinkle the plant's ashes into fenced areas 9-10 times a day.
Dill tincture. Pour a glass of boiling water over the roots of the plant (20 g) and cook for 10-15 minutes. Strain the broth, cool and treat with poultices.
These are the main ways to treat balanitis at home. Treatment of balanitis with the help of traditional medicine is successful if the disease is not complicated by purulent inflammation.
Remember! This disease does not go away on its own! Without proper therapy, the disease only progresses to another, more severe stage and can result in gangrene and general sepsis.
It is better to spend 2-3 weeks of your precious time (this is the period during which the average course of treatment fits) and forget about an unpleasant illness forever, than to suffer from constant pain.
We hope that our material was useful to you and you now know how to treat balanitis at home in men and how to cure balanitis completely and irrevocably. Good health!
Balanitis can be called a purely male disease, because... With this disease, the penis suffers. To be more precise, this is inflammation of the head. Before figuring out how to treat balanitis, it is worth finding out the nature of its occurrence.
Inflammation of the head of the male reproductive organ occurs in men of all ages, even little boys are no exception.
Balanitis manifests itself as a feeling of acute pain and severe itching in the head area, possibly painful urination.
When examining the penis, swelling and severe redness of the glans penis are clearly visible. In some cases, an unpleasant odor and pus may be released from the head, which indicates an inflammatory-purulent process. As a result, small erosions and ulcers may appear on the mucous membrane of the head, enlarged lymph nodes, and a rise in body temperature. When balanitis is advanced, tissue swelling occurs, which leads to phimosis (the head stops opening). In this case, treatment is necessary urgently to prevent complete tissue death.
Types and symptoms of balanitis
The clinical picture of the occurrence and course of this disease reveals several of its manifestations. So, balanitis happens:
- Simple.
- Erosive.
- Ulcerative.
In a simple type of disease, the symptoms are as follows: there is local redness of the glans penis, which itself is swollen and softened. There may be a slight discharge of pus. In erosive balanitis there are red erosions with softened borders, the appearance of white in color and swollen dying areas of the upper layer of skin (epithelium).
Ulcerative (gangrenous) balanitis is characterized by purulent ulcers on the genital organ, high temperature, feverish condition, weakness and malaise of the whole body. Ulcers are very painful, heal slowly, and occur due to redness and swelling of the head and foreskin. If left untreated, ulcerative balanitis leads to phimosis.
Based on its origin, the disease is divided into primary and secondary. Secondary balanitis can only act as one of the symptoms of any general disease of the body. According to the degree of progression, the disease is divided into chronic and acute balanitis. There are frequent cases of its detection in elderly men with diabetes. In infectious diseases, the disease can be provoked by fungi of the genus Candida albicans. These are the same fungi that cause thrush in women and candidal balanitis in men. It is worth noting that when diagnosing any type of this disease, it is necessary to exclude gonorrhea and syphilis.
Causes of balanitis
The possibilities of inflammation of the foreskin and, as a result, the occurrence of balanitis are quite simple. Failure to comply with basic hygiene rules provokes the creation of favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. There may also be reduced immunity, as well as mechanical injury to the head of the penis, for example, a man wearing underwear that is too tight.
In young boys, due to the fact that the foreskin has not yet opened, residual urine and smegma accumulate in the preputial sac of the penis. They act as an irritating and provoking factor. The head of the penis becomes inflamed along with the inner portion of the foreskin; this inflammation is called balanoposthitis.
The symptoms of such a disease are always obvious, so it is not difficult for a doctor to accurately diagnose balanitis during an external examination of the genital organs. Additional research may be needed if it is necessary to determine the cause of inflammation of the head of the penis. To do this, a smear is taken from the urethral canal and its bacteriological examination is carried out. More extensive testing may also be needed if traditional therapy does not work. In this case, they are tested for STIs, PCR, and a blood sugar test.
How to cure balanitis
Taking into account the clinical picture of the disease, appropriate treatment is prescribed. If the inflammatory process is without complications, balanitis will not require long and tedious treatment. First of all, it is worth remembering about regular hygiene procedures for the penis. It is recommended to rinse the penis thoroughly, carefully exposing the head, after each urination with a soap solution mixed with medicines: furatsilin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After washing, the penis should be carefully blotted with a napkin or towel (do not rub!).
Erosive balanitis with pus discharge is treated in addition to the remedies described above using antiseptic ointments or creams, for example levomekol or syntomycin ointment. The affected area is lubricated immediately after washing the head 3-4 times a day. It is worth remembering that all medications must be prescribed only by the attending physician!
In diseases with complications that have developed into ulcerative or gangrenous balanitis with inflammation of the lymph nodes, treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics is used. Antifungal and antibacterial tablets also have a good effect in the treatment of balanitis. The course of treatment depends on the severity of the inflammation and can last up to 2 weeks. In parallel with taking antibiotic drugs, local application of the same ointments to the affected area will be effective.
Any form of balanitis requires treatment and prescription of medications only under the strict guidance of the attending physician. The disease can be treated at home, on an outpatient basis or in hospitals. During therapy for balanitis, patients are not recommended to have sexual activity.
If the acute form of the disease has turned into a chronic inflammatory form, balanitis is treated with surgical intervention by circumcision of the foreskin.
Candidal balanitis is treated with antibiotic-based antifungal ointments and a diet with minimal carbohydrate content is mandatory.
You can treat balanitis in little boys at home using antiseptic ointments. It is recommended to carefully expose the head of the penis and wash it in baths of decoctions of medicinal herbs that have antiseptic properties.
How to cure balanitis at home
In addition to regular hygiene procedures, this disease is treated at home using folk remedies:
- Rinsing the head of the penis with an infusion of chamomile, sage or oak bark.
- You can apply the pulp of an aloe leaf to the inflamed area twice a day.
- Bandages made from pure plantain leaves, applied for several hours, will draw out all the accumulated pus, relieve swelling and inflammation.
- During therapy, it is recommended to carry out hardening and feasible physical activity.
- Follow a diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.
If balanitis is not treated, then not only the genital lymph nodes, but also the inguinal ones can become inflamed. And this is already a blow to the body’s lymphatic system, the formation of gangrene and even death. At the slightest sign of inflammation on the penis, it is recommended to consult a urologist or surgeon. Only a qualified specialist will be able to prescribe the correct treatment without depressing consequences.
A disease such as chlamydial balanitis is characterized by inflammation of the head of the male genital organ. it is also called an aggravated case when inflammation occurs in the inner lobe of the foreskin too. This disease can appear for various reasons, but most often it occurs as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner. As a rule, chlamydial balanoposthitis has several forms of development, which are complicated by diabetes mellitus and urethritis.
If inflammation of the male genital organ occurs as a result of infection during unprotected sex, then the symptoms can be detected immediately. Most often, the disease begins with swelling of the head and its redness. In addition, it may be felt. If the form of the disease is advanced, then the indicated symptoms will also appear at rest.
It is worth noting that chlamydial balanoposthitis is observed much less frequently than chlamydial balanitis, since the infection mostly affects only the head of the penis and does not spread to the foreskin. In such situations, lesions can be easily noticed, so there are no particular difficulties in determining the diagnosis. Often, such balanitis is accompanied by swelling and redness of the head of the penis; itching and burning may also be felt during sexual intercourse and urination.
Chlamydial balanoposthitis is often observed in men who suffer from Reiter's disease, only in such cases the infection does not have a destructive effect on the areas of the skin of the head or the organ as a whole. Of course, this does not affect those cases where such a disease appears a second time.
The precipitating factor for this type of disease is a congenital anomaly, namely the narrowness of the foreskin. In addition, the cause may be failure to comply with basic rules of personal hygiene or, on the contrary, excessive use of aggressive detergents.
When treating this type of balanoposthitis, it is important to strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions; this directly concerns the course of therapy and lifestyle in general. Since such inflammation of the genital organ is an STI, the patient’s sexual partner should also undergo appropriate treatment.
Treatment of chlamydial balanitis
Self-treatment of chlamydial balanitis is unacceptable, since only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and draw up a treatment regimen based on the results of appropriate smear tests. This smear is taken from the preputial sac. In each specific case, certain topical drugs, immunomodulators and oral medications are prescribed.
During treatment, it is important not to skip daily washing of the penis with warm water and soap. You can also use special creams during sexual intercourse to reduce irritation. Most often, treatment of balanitis includes 20 minutes. cool baths with Furacilin solution or saline solution. They are carried out 2-3 times a day. After this procedure, the head of the penis and foreskin are lubricated with tetracycline, syntomycin or zinc ointment. In addition, you can use Garamycin, as well as preparations containing fish oil.
If the patient has and, then it is advisable to treat him with Metronidazole. Mycoplasma balanoposthitis is treated with large doses of Tetracycline. When creating a treatment regimen, corticosteroid ointments are used. In this case, the doctor prescribes a simultaneous course of antifungal or antibacterial drugs.
In addition, physical procedures are often used to treat balanitis. These include ozone therapy, electrophoresis or infrared laser therapy.