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Acute balanoposthitis

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
 
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Acute balanoposthitis often occurs due to improper or untimely treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases affecting the genitals.

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Symptoms of the acute balanoposthitis

The main symptomatology of acute balanoposthitis: severe pain localized on the glans penis, burning sensation, swollen head and foreskin, itching, redness. Inflammation can affect both the entire head and its individual areas.

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Forms

The main forms of acute balanoposthitis due to the severity of the lesion:

  • Simple balanoposthitis - causes redness, swelling, burning and itching of the glans penis and foreskin. In some cases, patients have a purulent or grayish coating with an unpleasant odor and erosion on the head of the penis.
  • Erosive balanoposthitis - in contrast to simple balanoposthitis, this form is characterized by deep inflammation. The patient has swollen, inflamed white growths that lead to ruptured skin. On the head of the sexual organ there are multiple erosions, which can be covered with pus. Because of the inflammatory process, it is impossible to open the head of the penis. In the inflammatory process, inguinal lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels of the penis may be involved.
  • Gangrenous balanoposthitis is the most serious and most dangerous form of inflammation. The patient has a fever of 39 degrees, symptoms of intoxication, excessive sweating, lack of appetite, low blood pressure and high heart rate. Due to severe swelling and redness, deep bleeding wounds with purulent discharge appear on the genital area.

Despite this painful and pathological symptomatology, acute balanoposthitis can be treated normally. There is no single regimen for treating the disease, so treatment depends on the stage of balanoposthitis and the characteristics of the patient's body. As a rule, the acute form has an infectious character and appears due to  streptococcal  or  staphylococcal microorganisms. The danger of this form of balanoposthitis is that in case of neglected cases, surgical intervention, that is, circumcision, is possible.

Simple balanoposthitis

Simple balanoposthitis is the primary form of an infectious-inflammatory disease. Primary balanoposthitis appears due to the action on the skin of the foreskin and the head of the penis decomposing smegma. The main symptoms of this form of balanoposthitis - itching, burning, reddening of the head of the penis, swelling of the foreskin, bloody wounds and small sores, it is possible to increase the amount of secretions and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. With neglected cases, simple balanoposthitis passes into more serious stages, causing fever, purulent discharge and other painful symptoms.

At the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to seek medical help. The urologist  diagnoses a simple balanoposthitis and prescribes a treatment regimen. As a rule, the treatment is not complex and consists of washing the sexual organ with special solutions and lubrication with medicinal anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Erosive balanoposthitis

Erosive balanoposthitis is an inflammatory process that occurs on the glans penis.

In the erosive form of balanoposthitis, the patient on the penis has areas of dead epithelium with white protuberances, which peel and turn into erosive areas. Without timely treatment, this form of the disease can lead to phimosis and affection of inguinal lymph nodes. In addition, without treatment, the erosive form can pass into the gangrenous form of balanoposthitis.

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Gangrenous balanoposthitis

Gangrenous balanoposthitis, as a rule, develops against a background of a febrile state and general weakness of the body. The patient has deep purulent ulcers and necrotic epithelium, swelling and redness of the foreskin and head of the penis, as well as painful sensations. Gangrenous balanoposthitis causes phimosis and the formation of through sores of the foreskin, which heal very slowly.

Diagnosis of balanoposthitis causes pain and discomfort, but is a complex of methods. The urologist identifies the cause of the disease and possible co-morbidities. Diagnostic tests can determine the causative agent of the disease and conduct a survey of urogenital organs.

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Treatment of the acute balanoposthitis

Treatment of erosive balanoposthitis

Treatment of erosive balanoposthitis depends on at what stage of the disease the patient asked for medical help. So, at the initial stages, the whole process of treatment can consist of lotions and medical baths. But if there are erosive spots, the patient is prescribed antibiotics. With a pathological narrowing of the prepuce, the urologist performs a surgical excision. If the disease is detected in a timely manner, then the treatment does not take much time, and the balanoposthitis does not leave any consequences.

Treatment of erosive balanoposthitis is recommended to be carried out by washing with solutions of potassium permanganate. After the treatment bath, a thin layer of cotton wool or gauze moistened in Liapis solution is applied to the affected organ. You can use powder from antibacterial drying powders - Dermatol, Xeroform. If the erosive form is complicated by phimosis, then solutions of potassium permanganate and silver nitrate are used to rinse the cavity of the preputial sac, 2-3 times a day.

Uncomplicated form of erosive balanoposthitis, treated with washing and baths with potassium permanganate. It is mandatory to use disinfectant drying ointments. If the erosive balanoposthitis has a complex shape, the urologist appoints the patient antibiotics and washing the penis with hydrogen peroxide. In extreme cases, the urologist directs the patient to excise the prepuce. Timely treatment of erosive balanoposthitis does not leave consequences and does not cause complications.

Treatment of gangrenous balanoposthitis

Treatment of gangrenous balanoposthitis depends on the cause that caused it, the stage of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient's body. Modern methods allow you to quickly and effectively cure balanoposthitis. Treatment of gangrenous form is mandatory, since balanoposthitis can lead to narrowing of the foreskin, inguinal lymphadenitis, penis gangrene and scar complications. Patients are prescribed antimicrobials, cream and ointments. If the disease was diagnosed at an early stage, then the treatment consists of using medicinal trays and flushing the glans penis.

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