Balanoposthitis in a child

Balanoposthitis in a child is an inflammatory disease that affects the glans penis and the foreskin.

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Causes of the balanoposthitis in a child

The main cause of inflammation in the child - non-compliance with personal hygiene. Because of the stagnation of the smegma and urine in the sac covering the head of the penis, the development of harmful microorganisms and inflammation begins. Very often, balanoposthitis develops in children with  diabetes. The cause of the disease is an increased level of sugar in the urine. Balanoposthitis can appear due to congenital phimosis and frequent washing of the glans penis with soap. The main pathogens of the disease: yeast fungi and  herpes virus.

[2]

Symptoms of the balanoposthitis in a child

The symptomatology of balanoposthitis in a child practically does not differ from the symptoms of inflammation in an adult. The skin of the head and foreskin turns red, purulent-serous discharge appears. The child suffers severe itching in the groin area, general malaise and an increase in inguinal lymph nodes. With further progression of the inflammatory process, erosion and sloughing of the skin begins.

[3], [4]

Forms

Purulent balanoposthitis in a child

Purulent balanoposthitis in a child develops due to inflammatory lesions of the head and foreskin of the penis. The peculiarity of purulent balanoposthitis in comparison with other forms of inflammation is that the disease affects the inner leaf of the foreskin and can act as a complication of phimosis. Complete narrowing of the prepuce causes stagnation of urine and smegma, which become infected and inflamed.

The first symptom of purulent balanoposthitis is itching, burning, swelling and reddening of the penis head. The child feels pain when trying to urinate, there are purulent discharge with a very unpleasant odor. The main causes of the disease are staphylococcal and streptococcal microorganisms, yeast fungi. The type of treatment depends on the type of pathogen. Therefore, the urologist conducts diagnostics to obtain complete information about the causes and pathogens of purulent balanoposthitis.

Purulent inflammation can trigger a variety of allergic reactions, narrowness of the foreskin, non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. The main method of treatment of purulent balanoposthitis in a child is circular excision of the foreskin, that is, circumcision. In especially severe cases, the child is carried out skin plasty, which is aimed at expanding the ring of foreskin.

[5], [6], [7]

Balanoposthitis in a newborn

Balanoposthitis in a newborn occurs very often. The inflammatory process causes swelling of the head of the penis, causes restless behavior and pain in the baby. The appearance of the disease is associated with harmful microorganisms that are found in the intestine or on the skin of the newborn (Proteus, E. Coli, Staphylococcus, Candida yeast fungi).

The flesh of the newborn is very different from the prepuce in an adult male. This is due to the fact that after birth for some time, the baby's head and foreskin is a single system, that is, the head can not be opened, since it is completely attached to the penis. As the baby grows, this skin fold is removed. All this suggests that newborns are born with phimosis. Therefore, the first reason for balanoposthitis in a baby is the parents' attempts to open the head on their own. This leads to tearing of the skin and penetration of the infection. Balanoposthitis can appear due to the rare change of diapers and bathing of the baby in the baths with foam and other irritating agents.

The main symptom of inflammation is swelling and redness, and in some cases, blueness of the glans penis. Sometimes the baby has rashes. The child from the calm turns into a capricious and fussy. Also, parents may notice that when changing a diaper in the folds of the baby's skin appear diaper rash that does not disappear after using special creams and powders. Another symptom of balanoposthitis in a newborn is a lesion of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It seems that there are small clots of milk left in his mouth. Stomatitis can also cause inflammation of the genital organs in the newborn.

Treatment of balanoposthitis in a newborn is under the supervision of a pediatrician with strict observance of all rules and requirements. As a rule, conservative therapy, the baby is washed with a penis with plant infusions, decoctions and disinfectants. It is mandatory to maintain the hygiene of the genitals in order to prevent recurrence of the disease.

[8], [9], [10]

Balanoposthitis in infants

Balanoposthitis in infants is not uncommon, since boys under five are prone to infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitals. Balanoposthitis can appear due to phimosis, poor hygiene of the prepuce bag and other infectious lesions. The disease causes redness of the foreskin and head of the genital organ, small ulcers and erosion of the epithelium.

Short bridle penis in combination with phimosis, can also provoke the appearance of balanoposthitis. Because of the impossibility of complete exposure of the penis head, inflammatory diseases and even tumors develop. As the child grows, a short bridle will create discomfort, and in adulthood - problems during intercourse and with erection. This kind of deviation in infants, cause balanoposthitis, so they require not only therapeutic therapy to eliminate inflammation, but also surgical intervention.

[11], [12], [13]

Balanoposthitis in boys

Balanoposthitis in boys is a disease of the genital organs, arising from the action of yeast fungi, streptococcal and staphylococcal microorganisms. In medical practice, there are two forms of balanoposthitis: primary and secondary. Primary arises from infection, and secondary, as one of the symptoms of chronic diseases. Inflammation requires immediate treatment, since without appropriate therapy, the disease causes complications and negative consequences, and can also turn into a relapsing or chronic form.

The symptomatology of balanoposthitis in boys is accompanied by swelling and hyperemia of the head and foreskin of the penis, causes severe itching and burning in the groin area. The child becomes restless, feels pain when urinating and tries to open the head of the penis, sometimes the body temperature rises. If you do not start treating balanopostitis on time, the disease will lead to cicatricial phimosis and infection of the genitourinary system, which will negatively affect the functioning of the reproductive system of the future man.

[14], [15]

Acute balanoposthitis in children

Acute balanoposthitis in children, as a rule, begins suddenly, that is, without apparent at first sight for a reason. Previously, a healthy child experiences pain in the penis and when trying to urinate. On the foreskin, there is swelling and hyperemia. The child has purulent discharge of yellow or white. Acute balanoposthitis in children causes fever, anxiety and general weakness.

Despite such a vivid symptomatology, treatment of acute form of balanoposthitis does not present difficulties. Duration of arresting the inflammatory process takes 2-3 days. Typically, the baby is assigned a bath with a decoction of chamomile or furatsilinom. The treatment uses ointments with drying and bactericidal action. It is very important to observe the rules of hygiene, to prevent the appearance of the disease in the future.

Treatment of the balanoposthitis in a child

To treat balanoposthitis in a child is mandatory, as the disease itself will not pass, but will pass into a chronic, relapsing form, entail a number of adverse effects and complications. For the treatment, it is necessary to take the child to a urologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and appoint a series of tests for differential diagnosis of balanoposthitis. Treatment is carried out by conservative methods (baths, ointments, lotions, tablets), in especially severe cases, the child is circumcised.