Balanitis

Balanitis is the inflammation of the glans penis (head of the penis), often accompanied by inflammation of the foreskin (balanoposthitis). It affects approximately 3–11% of males, particularly uncircumcised men and young boys.

Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, pain during urination, foul-smelling discharge, bleeding around the foreskin, and difficulty retracting the foreskin (phimosis). On darker skin, redness may be less visible.

Causes vary widely. The most common underlying condition in adults is diabetes mellitus, which predisposes individuals to candidal (yeast) infections. Other causes include poor personal hygiene, chemical irritants (soap, petroleum jelly), bacterial or viral infections (including sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis), fungal infections, skin disorders, and drug allergies.

Treatment depends on the cause. Mild cases respond to improved hygiene: washing daily with warm water (avoiding soap), gentle drying, and using soap-free cleansers. Antifungal creams (clotrimazole) treat yeast infections; antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics address bacterial causes. Severe or recurrent cases may require circumcision, especially with phimosis.

Prevention involves proper genital care, avoiding irritants, controlling blood sugar in diabetics, and washing after sex. While seldom serious, balanitis requires medical evaluation to identify the cause and rule out penile cancer.