Understanding of the Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Balanitis

Balanitis is inflammation of the tip of the penis head (glans penis) caused by many things. Infection that occurs due to balanitis often also cause inflammation of the skin covering the penis on the penis that is not circumcised penis (the prepuce). Some of the things that can cause the occurrence of balanitis, among others, is a fungal infection, bacterial infection, infectious diseases, skin irritation, and other skin irregularities.

Balanitis can occur in anyone and at any age. Balanitis often occurs in children under the age of 4 years and in adult males who are not circumcised. About one of the 25-30 people who are not circumcised experience balanitis.

Symptoms Of Balanitis

The common symptoms appear on the penis affected by balanitis among other things:

1. Redness on the head of the penis in the form of red patches to blush entirely.
2. Blisters (ulcers) on the penis.
3. Irritation.
4. Feels hard, dry, or rigid.
5. The head of the penis swells.
6. Pain.
7.  Sometimes it comes out thick liquid from under the prepuce that cause odor due to anaerobic bacterial infections or Streptococcus sp.
8. Discomfort when urinating.
9. It is difficult to draw the prepuce (phimosis).
10. In some cases the cause of impotence.
11. Cause limfoadenopati.
12. It is difficult to put the catheter Foley.
13. Itching.
14. Systemic symptoms such as fever or nausea, but rarely happens.

The Cause Of The Balanitis

There are some things that can cause a person affected by balanitis, among others:

•  Do not keep the hygiene of the genitals. If someone who has not been circumcised do not keep the cleanliness of the genitals, then the plus factor is the tightness of the foreskin (prepuce), can cause irritation due to fluid on the genitals (smegma). Smegma is a dirty fluid which is formed under the foreskin on the tip of the genitals that are not circumcised. This factor is the main cause of balanitis.
•  Sexually transmitted infections. Sexually transmitted infections can sometimes cause balanitis, especially if the person is suffering from inflammation of the urinary tract (urethra). A wide variety of diseases sexually transmitted infections (for example genital herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea) can cause balanitis. The symptoms that appear on the balanitis caused by sexually transmitted infections usually in the form of pain when urinating and discharge from the urethra.
•  Transmitted infections nonsexual. A wide variety of microbes that normally live on the skin can cause infectious diseases. The main cause of balanitis due to infection nonsexual is the fungal kind of Candida sp. Candida sp is a fungus that causes infection of the vagina and vaginal discharge in women. Candida sp generally live on the skin surface on the condition of the everyday, but at certain times it can cause infections. Some types of bacteria can also cause balanitis in children or adult males. Infections occur more easily if the person has a condition as follows:

1.  Experience inflammatory on the penis due to allergies or irritation.
2. Suffering from diabetes. The sugar content in the urine can be a food source for the bacteria if the rest of the urine in the penis after urinating is not cleaned properly.
3. Suffering from phimosis. Phimosis is a skin condition that causes the foreskin (prepuce) cannot be retracted so that the head of the penis can not be cleaned. This condition generally occurs in children under five years.

• Allergies and irritation. The skin of the head of the penis is very sensitive and can react to various chemical compounds or other substances. Examples of things that can cause irritation on the head of the penis is:

1. Dead skin cells, sweat, urine and other objects can accumulate under the foreskin.
2. Some kind of soap and disinfectant.
3. Rubbing or washing the penis head is excessive.
4. Condoms, spermicides, lubricants used during sexual intercourse.
5. Chemical compounds that are exposed on the hands can be on the head of the penis if not cleaned prior to the rest room.
6.  Detergent or soap that is not rinsed by the well and left in panties.

In addition to the factors above, certain conditions on the skin can also lead to balanitis or other diseases that look like balanitis, for example psoriasis or skin cancer. Skin cancer on the penis can look like inflammation of the ordinary, therefore it is recommended to conduct the examination to the doctor regarding the condition of inflammation of the penis.

Risk Factors Of Balanitis

Some of the factors that can increase one's risk of developing balanitis, among others, are:

1. Diabetes mellitus.
2.  The use of oral antibiotics.
3. Poor hygiene in men who are not circumcised.
4. The immune system is low.
5. Irritation due to physical or chemical on the head of the penis.

Microbial Causes Of Balanitis

Here are the types of microbes that can infect the penis and cause balanitis, including:

1. The fungus Candida sp
2. The bacteria Staphylococcus sp
3. The bacteria Streptococcus sp
4. The bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis
5. The fungus Trichomonas sp
6. Bacteria Borrelia vincentii
7. Bacteria Treponema pallidum
8. The bacteria Entamoeba histolytica
9. Various types of anaerobic bacteria
10. Herpesvirus
11. Human Papilloma Virus

The prognosis of Balanitis

The doctor be able to diagnose balanitis by looking at the signs of redness and inflammation on the head of the penis. With the presence of signs of inflammation on the head of the penis, the doctor can immediately provide recommendations and standard treatment to the patient to cope with the inflammation. Methods of analysis other that can be done is:

1. Take a sample using a cotton swab to determine the presence of microbes that cause infectious and inflammatory diseases.
2. Perform examination of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
3.  Provide referral to specialist genital skin if suspected infection balanitis caused by sexually transmitted diseases. Couples who engage in sexual activity should also be examined because it is affected by the disease.
4. Give you a referral to a dermatologist if suspected infection balanitis caused by abnormalities in the skin.
5. If the inflammation persists, biopsy of the head of the penis can be done to check the structure of the skin through a microscope.
6. Do microbial cultures derived from fluid infection balanitis to determine the cause of infectious balanitis.
7.  Do serology for syphilis.
8. Checking the titer of the virus the Human Papilloma Virus and HIV.
9. Perform examination of potassium hydroxide to determine the existence of the presence of Candida sp.

The Treatment Of Balanitis

The treatment of balanitis is made dependent upon the cause. Some of the methods of the treatment of balanitis is as follows:

1. The cream and pill anti-fungal for the treatment of balanitis caused by Candida infection. Examples of drugs that can be used is nystatin, klotriazol, fluconazol, mikonazol, and imadiazol.
2.  Antibiotics for the treatment of balanitis caused by a bacterial infection. Some types of antibiotics that can be used is penicillin, fluksoksasilin, and erythromycin. For infection batkeri anaerobic can be used metronidazole, koamiksoklaf, and clindamycin.
3.  Mild steroid creams to treat the balanitis which is caused by inflammation or allergies. Sometimes a steroid cream is used as an additional treatment of balanitis caused by infection to reduce inflammation. But keep in mind that steroids should not be used alone because it will aggravate the infection occurs.
4. The Khitan. If balanitis often occurs repeatedly and the sufferer has the condition phimosis, the best treatment is with circumcision.

Simple things that can be done to relieve the symptoms of balanitis is as follows:

1.  Avoid the use soap on the genitals when occurring inflammatory.
2. Use a moisturizing cream (moisturizer) as a substitute for soap to clean the genitals.
3. Use warm water to clean the genitals, and then dried slowly.
4. Bath using salt water.

While undergoing treatment balanitis that is not caused by sexually transmitted infections, patients may engage in sexual activity with a partner. However sexual activity is avoided because it is feared could cause pain in the penis.

If balanitis is caused by a contagious infection, then sufferers are not allowed to engage in sexual activity, before treatment is completed and symptoms disappear, because it is feared will transmit the disease to a partner.

Prevention Of Balanitis

Balanitis can be prevented with the following things:

• Clean the penis regularly every day using a soap. For people who have not been circumcised, be sure to clean the head of the penis and rinsed using water. After cleaning, dry the head and body of the penis before using the panties.
•  If the symptoms of balanitis are associated with the use of a condom, use a condom specifically made for sensitive skin.
• If it works using dangerous chemical compounds, be sure to wash hands first before urination.
• Use a condom when doing sexual activity with a new partner.
• Control the condition of diabetes and other chronic diseases that may have an impact on balanitis.
• Reduce weight if obese.

Complications Of Balanitis

If not addressed more, balanitis can cause other health issues, such as:

1.  Joint pain.
2. A rash on the skin.
3. Dry mouth.
4. Swelling of the glands.
5. Fever.
6. Nausea.
7. Jaded.

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