Symptoms and types of balanitis in men and children

Among the many inflammatory diseases, balanitis occupies a special place. Firstly, this is a disease that affects only the strong half of humanity. Secondly, the inflammation is localized in the head of the penis, which greatly increases the problem in the eyes of men. After all, in this case, we are not talking about simple discomfort or pain in the groin area. The symptoms and types of balanitis are as varied as the causes of this pathology. At the same time, different forms of the disease can replace each other if the patient is inactive, aggravating the situation: leading to purulent inflammation and necrosis of the penis tissue.

If nothing is done, it is quite likely that over time the man will begin to have problems with urination and sexual life due to irritation of the delicate tissues of the penis, which is also the urethra. Therefore, it is very important to learn to recognize the disease in time before all sorts of complications appear and not to delay going to the doctor.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ]

How does the disease manifest itself in adults?

Balanitis is a male disease that can occur in various forms: from mild to extremely severe, requiring amputation of the penis. You can prevent the occurrence of serious consequences if you know the first signs of the disease and, without embarrassment, seek help from a male doctor (urologist or andrologist). It is better to appear alarmist than to be left without male dignity and respect for yourself as a man and continuer of the family.

But let's return to the symptoms of balanitis, which, by the way, differ significantly at the initial and subsequent stages of the disease. In addition, the causes of its occurrence, the form of the disease, and the nature of the pathogen affect the uniqueness of the clinical picture of the disease.

At the first, mildest stage of the disease, which is called simple or catarrhal balanitis, patients do not always pay attention to the symptoms that have appeared, despite the fact that it is during this period that the disease is easiest to cope with. The appearance of hyperemic foci on the head with a characteristic bright red hue and swelling of the penis tissues in the area of hyperemia does not cause much concern in men.

In some cases, small itchy rashes or a whitish coating may appear on the reddened skin, which indicate the nature or character of the pathology. The rash usually appears with an allergic nature of balanitis. But sometimes it can also be a manifestation of a viral infection. Thus, under the influence of the herpes virus, groups of small itchy blisters may appear on the penis, and with a papillomavirus infection, painless small growths on the penis - pointed condylomas - may appear. Herpetic rashes leave behind painful erosions when the blisters open.

A fungal infection on the penis can also cause a small reddish rash. It is also characterized by a white coating on the skin of the genital organ.

Sometimes a rash on the head of the penis appears with gonorrhea, and in some cases the rash may even be a symptom of squamous cell carcinoma or a borderline condition called bowenoid papulosis.

Mild balanitis is often not taken seriously by men. Minor pain when walking or wearing tight underwear in the subacute course of the disease is not considered a serious reason to see a doctor. The patient begins to worry when a noticeable burning and itching sensation appears during urination or sexual intercourse, and exudate (weeping) appears on the surface of the skin, indicating the appearance of microdamage in the tissues of the head of the penis. The pain at the end of the penis intensifies when trying to move the skin of the foreskin away from the head.

But even in this case, many men try to solve the problem on their own. Some begin to pay more attention to the hygiene of the penis, others resort to the help of various creams that relieve skin irritation, and still others prefer to endure, change their underwear and wait for everything to go away on its own. At the same time, few people limit their sex life, not realizing what danger they expose themselves to.

Inflamed areas on the phallus are very attractive to microbes that can be on the patient's skin or get on it from a sexual partner. The addition of an infection is characterized by the appearance of purulent discharge with an unpleasant odor from under the foreskin. If balanitis has become a complication of urethritis, the same discharge will also appear from the opening of the urethra.

If the patient does nothing during this period, the disease will progress to an acute (or erosive-ulcerative) stage with the formation of small erosions (wounds) on the skin, which respond with noticeable pain when touched or when irritants (for example, urine) come into contact with them. The addition of a bacterial infection provokes the development of purulent processes, and small superficial erosions over time transform into deeper ulcers filled with fibrinous contents of a whitish-gray, yellowish or greenish color.

Such hard-to-heal ulcers can form with syphilitic infection (hard chancre) and chlamydia. In addition, the purulent form of inflammation is also characteristic of staphylococcal infection (Staphylococcus aureus). However, only a doctor can accurately determine the causative agent of balanitis after conducting special tests.

It is especially difficult for patients with diabetes. Ulcers on their body form faster than on others, and heal with difficulty and for a long time. It often happens that healed wounds become inflamed again, causing an exacerbation of the symptoms of the disease. In this case, they speak of a chronic course of the pathology.

Erosive balanitis is also characterized by such a symptom as enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area. This is usually observed after erosions have transformed into deep ulcers, i.e. a purulent process has begun. Enlargement and compaction of the lymph nodes is an alarming signal, since it indicates that the infection is spreading inside the body and circulating through it by lymphogenous and hematogenous (through lymphatic fluid and blood), i.e. the disease is moving from a localized to a generalized form.

This transition is often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, unusual weakness and general malaise. In addition, the soft tissues of purulent foci cannot remain unchanged for a long time. They begin to die off, forming necrotic areas. The dying tissues gradually peel off, the ulcers become deeper and increase in diameter, and not only the head and foreskin are involved in the process, but also the entire body of the penis. Further delay in treatment may result in amputation of the male genital organ.

If the treatment is insufficient, the disease threatens to become chronic (cured), in which periods of remission and the almost complete absence of symptoms of balanitis will be replaced by periods of exacerbation with more or less pronounced symptoms.

Balanitis in men can proceed differently, because the course of the disease largely depends on the characteristics of the body, and in particular the patient's immune system, concomitant diseases, as well as the man's attitude to his problem and the methods used to overcome it. The possibility of returning to a healthy life depends entirely on the patient's desire.

Balanitis in a child

Balanitis is a disease that has no age restrictions, i.e. it can occur even in childhood. It is clear that the causes and symptoms of balanitis in little boys will be somewhat different than in adult men.

In male babies, the head of the penis is normally completely hidden under the foreskin, and its inflammation is usually caused by 2 factors: an incorrect approach to the hygiene of the male organ and uncomfortable conditions (high temperature and humidity in the groin area). In both cases, the responsibility for the child's illness falls on the parents.

If the child's penis is not washed regularly, microbes and urine particles will accumulate under the foreskin, irritating the child's delicate skin, causing it to become red and swollen. At the same time, the baby becomes restless, cries more often, especially during and after urination, often reaches for the penis with his hands and can even accidentally scratch its skin, only aggravating the situation.

But hygiene is also good in moderation. On the surface of our skin live not only opportunistic but also beneficial microorganisms that help maintain local immunity. Excessive hygiene can destroy them and leave the skin of the penis completely defenseless against the pathogenic microbes that surround us.

Moreover, special attention should be paid to baby skin care products and washing powder for baby clothes, which should be hypoallergenic and should not contain harmful additives. Sometimes the cause of balanitis in a child is an unsuitable washing powder or soap. At the same time, allergic balanitis in a child can proceed almost painlessly. Most often, the matter is limited to reddening of the skin on the head of the penis and itching.

Fungal balanitis can be diagnosed in newborn boys whose mothers did not treat vaginal candidiasis in time. Fungi get onto the baby's skin from the vaginal mucosa during passage through the birth canal. And the infection multiplies due to the imperfection of the baby's immune defense.

The situation is identical with viral balanitis, which is most often caused by a herpes infection. The herpes virus is a fairly common problem among adults, so it is not surprising that a child can become infected even before birth if the virus is active in the mother's body. Usually, infection occurs during childbirth, as with candidiasis.

It is equally important to maintain an optimal temperature regime when caring for a child, i.e. to understand that children feel heat and cold somewhat differently, because their thermoregulation mechanism is still in the developmental stage. If the child is wrapped up excessively, the skin in the intimate area may become sweaty, i.e. we are talking about diaper rash on the head of the penis. Balanitis of this kind, although it causes some discomfort, is not a dangerous disease. But if nothing is done, microdamages will appear on the irritated skin, through which a bacterial infection can penetrate.

Another cause of balanitis at an early age is phimosis. Congenital pathology of the foreskin, which does not allow the head of the penis to be fully exposed and hygiene procedures to be performed, is one of the main risk factors for inflammation of the head of the penis.

The risk of developing balanitis is also increased in children with diabetes, whose urine contains sugar and acts as a stronger irritant. But wound healing in patients is very difficult and long, which leads to chronicity of the process and frequent infection.

It is very important to pay attention to any suspicious symptoms: redness of the head of the penis, the presence of wounds, whitish plaque, vesicular herpetic eruptions on it, frequent attempts to scratch the intimate area, anxiety during urination, etc. The acute period of the disease does not last long - only 1-2 weeks, and if nothing is done during this time, there is a high risk of the disease becoming chronic, the treatment of which is very difficult.

Care of the genitals of younger boys is the responsibility of the parents for the time being, but from childhood it is necessary to explain to the child how important it is to keep the whole body clean, not just the hands and feet. It is very important to teach older boys how to properly care for their genitals independently and regularly, and in adolescence to pay special attention to the safety of sexual intercourse and the use of a condom as the most reliable means of protection against sexually transmitted infections.

[ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Types of balanitis

Balanitis is a disease whose course depends on many factors. It is not surprising that the classification of this disease is not limited to just dividing it into infectious and non-infectious forms. There are several different criteria by which this pathology can be classified.

So, according to the nature of the course of balanitis, 2 forms of the disease can be distinguished:

• Acute balanitis. It is characterized by highly pronounced symptoms: itching, pain, fever, severe swelling and redness of tissues, deterioration of general well-being. It is very difficult to ignore this form of balanitis, especially considering that walking, having sex and even regular urination cause an increase in symptoms. And this significantly worsens the quality of life of a man.
• Chronic balanitis. This form of the disease usually results from a careless attitude towards acute symptoms. Hiding the problem from relatives and doctors for some time, a man risks getting chronic balanitis, especially if we are talking about its infectious variety. Chronic pathology is a disease prone to relapses with any decrease in general and local immunity. To avoid exacerbations, you will have to take vitamins, adhere to a healthy lifestyle, strictly monitor the hygiene of the genital organ, and refuse to wear synthetic underwear, which creates a "greenhouse effect" that promotes the proliferation of pathogens. If this is not done, frequent relapses of the disease will eventually lead to atrophy of the tissues of the head of the penis, the formation of scar tissue, and erectile dysfunction.

Chronic balanitis often develops against the background of existing diseases, such as HIV, diabetes, psoriasis and some other autoimmune pathologies. And an exacerbation of the pathology can be caused by any disease that affects the immune system. Even common respiratory infections, especially viral ones.

Even non-infectious balanitis can become chronic. For example, allergic inflammation will occur every time there is contact with an allergen. The same applies to traumatic balanitis if irritation of the delicate tissues of the head is repeated repeatedly (when wearing underwear that is not the right size, rough seams on underwear, masturbation, anal sex, etc.). Long-term non-healing or frequently occurring wounds in the intimate area are at high risk of infection, so the non-infectious form is often complicated by the addition of an infection.

Based on the presence of rashes on the skin of the penis, balanitis can be divided into 2 forms:

• Simple or non-nodular, which is characterized by the appearance of fairly large inflamed areas of uniform structure.
• Nodular or follicular. Follicular balanitis and balanoposthitis are characterized by the formation of multiple small and dense nodules at the site of inflammation, which are easily determined by touch or even visible to the naked eye. The appearance of nodules on the skin of the head of the penis is associated with the impact of infectious agents. One of its symptoms is the appearance of mucopurulent secretion covering the inflamed tissues of the organ and accumulating under the foreskin. Most often, such balanitis quickly develops into balanoposthitis, when the foreskin is also included in the inflammatory process.

In most cases of diagnosed balanitis, infection is its primary or secondary cause, so infectious balanitis is much more common. But the course of this type of pathology may differ depending on what infection provoked the development of the disease.

Doctors distinguish bacterial, fungal or viral forms of the disease. Herpes or papillomavirus infections can cause viral balanitis. But the most common is herpetic balanitis (genital herpes), caused by the herpes virus. This inflammation is chronic, because it is impossible to completely get rid of the herpes virus (like HPV). An exacerbation occurs every time the immune system weakens.

Herpetic balanitis is characterized by a small vesicular rash on the skin of the head of the penis, which appears after a few days on reddened and swollen areas of the organ. In this case, the elements of the rash usually appear in small groups and itch strongly. When the blisters open, small erosions form in their place. The pain syndrome in herpetic balanitis is moderate or weak, after the blisters open, it can intensify.

Men usually owe the development of fungal balanitis to Candida fungi. Like the viral form of the pathology, candidal balanitis develops only against the background of reduced immunity. At the same time, the fungal variety of male disease is considered one of the most popular, because it is easily transmitted from partner to partner. And yeast fungi of the genus Candida are considered to be representatives of the normal microflora of the female vagina, oral cavity and large intestine. Getting on the penis under the foreskin during traditional and anal sex or blowjob, the fungal microflora gets the opportunity to actively multiply, unless the man's immunity becomes an obstacle to this.

Symptoms of fungal balanitis include: swelling and redness of the head of the penis, the appearance of a specific white coating on its skin with small lumps resembling cottage cheese (the coating also has a sour smell), excruciating itching similar to herpes, burning and pain during urination.

Candidal balanitis is chronic. It is prone to relapses associated with weakened immunity. During remission, the disease may not manifest itself in any way, but this is not a reason to relax. Synthetic underwear and poor hygiene of the genitals are considered especially dangerous in this regard, creating conditions for the reproduction of fungal infection. It is equally important to monitor the general immunity, supporting it with adaptogens and vitamins. After all, only the immune system can keep fungi inactive for a long time, given that the use of antifungal agents used to combat the disease for a long time cannot be due to their high toxicity.

If the provocateur of the inflammatory reaction in the tissues of the head of the penis is a bacterial infection, they speak of bacterial balanitis. This is a special form of the disease, the course and symptoms of which directly depend on the type of pathogen, and treatment involves the mandatory use of antibiotics.

Primary bacterial balanitis develops when an infection gets on the skin of the penis from the outside. Weak immunity and poor hygiene of the genital organ allow the infection to multiply and cause inflammation of the tissues of the head of the penis. In the secondary form of pathology, the infectious agent acts from the inside. Most often, this is possible with venereal diseases, when an STI is first diagnosed, the pathogen gets into the blood, and then inflammation of the tissues of the head occurs. A common cause of infectious balanitis is also urethritis, provoked or complicated by a bacterial infection.

Secondary balanitis is also spoken of in cases where a non-infectious pathology changes its nature after an infection occurs, i.e. when bacteria capable of causing an inflammatory reaction penetrate an open wound on the skin.

Bacterial balanitis can be caused by both bacteria that cause STDs and by representatives of the usual microflora – opportunistic microorganisms, such as streptococci, staphylococci, intestinal and pseudomonas aeruginosa. Streptococcal balanitis caused by streptococcus pyogenes is characterized by the appearance of small erosions on the skin of the penis, while under the influence of staphylococcus aureus (golden staphylococcus), purulent foci appear on the skin of the organ, i.e. ulcers filled with purulent contents.

Opportunistic pathogens capable of causing balanitis are called non-specific pathogens, because their presence on the skin is provided by nature and is not always the cause of an inflammatory reaction. But there is another type of bacteria: gonococci, chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma, trichomonas, etc., which are considered specific pathogens and contribute to the development of inflammation in the vast majority of cases.

Such infections are usually transmitted sexually. For example, chlamydial balanitis is caused by a microbe called chlamydia, which actively reproduces in the female vagina, from where it can migrate to the male organ during sexual intercourse.

The causative agent of various urogenital infections is Chlamydia trachomatis. This intracellular parasite, acting similarly to viruses, has toxic and hemagglutinating (promotes the gluing of red blood cells) properties, so its reproduction causes severe tissue inflammation with pronounced symptoms of the disease.

Trichomonas balanitis, the causative agent of which is considered to be another intracellular parasite - trichomonas, is the first most common type of specific bacterial balanitis. Trichomonas themselves are frequent inhabitants of the human body, and in particular the female vagina. The inflammation caused by them occurs in a mild form, and since it is not so easy to detect the parasite in smears, we are talking about a chronic form of balanitis, which is a complication of trichomoniasis, diagnosed in 10% of the world's population.

But trichomonads are considered predators due to their ability to attract and absorb other microorganisms without killing them. Trichomonas is both a vehicle for other pathogens, delivering them to the intercellular space, and a protective shell from drugs. And together, microorganisms can cause very severe inflammation that is difficult to treat. The fact is that for effective treatment and selection of appropriate antibiotics, it is necessary to identify the pathogens of the disease, and trichomonas hides them.

Anaerobic balanitis is an inflammation of the head of the penis caused by anaerobic bacteria, the most popular of which is gardnerella. This microbe is partial to the conditions of the female vagina, where it can actively multiply with any decrease in immune protection. They do not need oxygen for life and division, so they feel great without access to air. When a man is infected, the bacteria settle in the space between the head of the penis and the foreskin, where inflammation subsequently appears.

Sexually transmitted infections do not cause simple inflammation. Most often, we are talking about the appearance of erosions and ulcers on the penis, characteristic of the erosive form of balanitis. Such damage to the tissues of the genital organ is accompanied by itching, pain, discharge of blood and purulent exudate (often with an unpleasant odor), and enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes. The disease most often occurs in an acute form, and in a chronic form it is accompanied by frequent relapses.

Trichomonas, gonococci, chlamydia, gardnerella and some other STD pathogens are transmitted from person to person during sexual contact. Moreover, the guilty party is most often the woman, because the bacteria begin to actively multiply in her body, while the man is usually either the injured party or the carrier of the infection. Therefore, specific bacterial balanitis is considered a less common pathology.

Moreover, specific balanitis can hardly be called a separate health pathology, it is rather a complication of existing venereal diseases. In men, such a complication is called balanitis or balanoposthitis, and in women - bacterial vaginitis.

Unusual types and forms of balanitis

So far we have talked about the most common types and forms of the disease. But in some cases, doctors have to deal with specific manifestations of the inflammatory process and difficulties in establishing its cause. But even simple unspecified balanitis, i.e. a disease with an uncertain etiology and mild course, in the absence of appropriate treatment, can eventually develop into erosive-ulcerative or, even worse, gangrenous. And it is no secret that treating diseases whose cause is unknown is much more difficult than those for which the cause is obvious.

For example, gangrenous balanitis, considered a rare form of the disease, is in most cases caused by an anaerobic microbial infection. Its pathogens are spindle-shaped bacilli and spirochetes, whose favorite habitats are the genitals. It is not surprising that the disease is transmitted sexually, and in most cases the first symptoms are observed within 1.5-2 days after sexual contact. But sometimes it happens that signs of the disease appear unexpectedly without previous sexual intercourse.

The clinical picture of gangrenous balanitis is characterized by the intensive development of the inflammatory process. At the beginning of the disease, numerous ulcers with a bright bulging border appear on the reddened and swollen skin of the head of the penis. Painful ulcers begin to fester with the formation of foci of tissue necrosis, which is accompanied by general intoxication of the body. It is with this that doctors associate the appearance of nausea, weakness, and a strong increase in the patient's body temperature.

Gangrenous inflammation usually affects not only the head of the penis, but also the foreskin, which, due to severe inflammation and swelling, changes its properties: it becomes scarred and thickened. In other words, we are talking about a narrowing of the foreskin (phimosis), which only aggravates the purulent process observed in the preputial sac.

Scar tissue not only reduces the size of the foreskin, but also makes it less elastic. Attempts to expose the head of the penis can end with cracks in the tissues of the foreskin, which again fester and heal with difficulty. Necrotic perforations of the foreskin, bleeding and intoxication of the body make this form of the disease extremely severe. But it definitely cannot be called incurable.

If whitish spots appear on the head of the penis instead of ulcers and erosions, the suspicion may fall on a fungal form of the disease. But with candidal balanitis, a white cheesy coating is found, which is easily removed from the reddened inflamed tissue. If the coating is not removed, it is most likely a different form of pathology called atrophic balanitis, and the whitish areas are foci of atrophied tissue of the head.

An infection is also considered to be the cause of atrophic balanitis. However, we are not talking about specific bacteria, because atrophy usually occurs in advanced cases of any infectious balanitis that lasts for more than one year. This is exactly the case when a man does not want to seek help from doctors, but ignores the problem or self-medicates, turning the inflammatory process into a chronic form with its inherent relapses.

One of the rare forms of atrophic balanitis that develops in middle-aged and older men is Zoon's balanitis. Doctors have not yet determined the exact causes of this pathology, so its treatment is somewhat complicated (it is difficult to treat a disease without knowing its cause).

With Zuna's balanitis, multiple benign plaques appear on the skin of the penis, which have a pink or brown tint and are not prone to merging. The surface of the plaques is smooth, dry or wet, similar to spots in some autoimmune diseases, which leads doctors to think about the autoimmune nature of the inflammation, regardless of what caused the development of the disease (infection, injury, etc.).

The course of the disease can be called chronic. Symptoms can appear and disappear over a long period of time. At the same time, spontaneous disappearance of plaques does not mean complete recovery. This is possible during periods of remission.

The appearance of whitish foci of atrophic tissues in combination with a vesicular rash filled with bloody contents is also characteristic of xerotic balanitis. The inflammatory process in this case is weakly expressed, and atrophy of the skin of the penis and proliferation of fibrous tissue come to the fore. The latter can lead to the fact that the head of the penis cannot be released from under the foreskin, therefore the advanced form of the disease is also called obliterating.

Obliterating xerotic balanitis is a serious disease, the treatment of which also involves surgical methods, since problems with releasing the head of the penis are fraught with difficulties in carrying out hygiene procedures and increase the risk of developing an infection in the folds of the fibrously altered foreskin.

At the same time, the cause of the development of the fibrous-sclerotic process in the tissues of the urethra in men remains unclear. Doctors have encountered cases of family hereditary pathology in their practice and have even identified several genes responsible for the development and transmission of pathology within the family. The similarity with the signs of autoimmune pathologies leads scientists to the idea of a connection between xerotic balanitis and other diseases with characteristic disorders of the immune system (psoriasis, vitiligo, some forms of rheumatism, myxedema and even diabetes mellitus).

Examination of patients revealed viral infections (herpes and HPV) in many of them, so doctors do not exclude the role of viruses in the development of this form of balanitis. On the other hand, there is an assumption that all sorts of injuries (mechanical, thermal, chemical) and surgical interventions (for example, circumcision due to phimosis) can affect the tissues of the penis in a similar way.

The disease can be detected at any age, but it is more common in patients over 50. The development of pathology in older age is associated with a decrease in testosterone production or a decrease in the sensitivity of penile tissue to androgens.

Circinar balanitis is another rare form of the disease of infectious origin. Its characteristic sign is considered to be bright red spots on the penis. This is an erosive form of the disease, which is characterized by the presence of superficial erosions with clearly defined boundaries, which often merge together, forming quite extensive foci of inflammation.

Usually, circinate balanitis is not accompanied by severe pain, severe burning or itching. Itching may occur if the causative agent of the disease is a fungal infection (Candida fungi). Other common causative agents of circinate balanitis are streptococci and chlamydia.

Doctors often encounter this type of balanitis against the background of Reiter's disease, which is a consequence of a previous urogenital or intestinal infection, as a result of which the immune system began to react inadequately to the body's own tissues. Reiter's disease is considered an autoimmune disease of a rheumatic nature with combined inflammation of the urogenital organs, joints and organs of vision, and circinate balanitis is usually one of its first signs.

In Reiter's syndrome, most men are diagnosed with circinate annular balanitis or balanoposthitis with bright red, moist, irregularly shaped lesions that form a geographic pattern on the organ. These may be erosions or red, flaky lesions (like lichen), or, in advanced cases, shallow ulcers with sharply defined edges.

Consequences and complications

Men often do not pay due attention to a disease such as balanitis, believing that simple inflammation cannot cause serious problems and complications. It is not surprising that many patients seek help only when they discover purulent discharge, indicating the infectious nature of the disease, which is not treated by simple hygiene and wound-healing ointments.

But an infection is not always the cause of inflammation. It is much more common for it to join in later, when microdamages caused by trauma or irritation of soft tissues have already appeared on the skin of the penis. And in this case, the purulent process can be considered a serious complication of a simple disease of a non-infectious nature.

Moreover, microbes do not always adhere to clear boundaries of localization. The focus of infectious inflammation on the penis is a risk of developing infections of the internal organs of the urinary system. Hence the development of concomitant diseases: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, etc.

But even regardless of whether the infection was the provoking factor or appeared on the horizon later, against its background the inflammation will proceed more severely and longer, acquiring a chronic form. And the longer the inflammatory process, the greater the likelihood of disruption of the structure and functions of the tissue. One of the consequences of long-term inflammation can be called a violation of the sensitivity of the tissues of the genital organ, affecting the erectile function and sexual viability of a man.

Another serious complication can be considered fibrous transformations of the skin of the foreskin, leading to its narrowing and requiring surgical intervention. If nothing is done, it will be impossible to cope with the inflammation, because this process will be supported by bacteria, fungi, urine particles and other irritants accumulating in the preputial sac.

The purulent process is especially dangerous, as it contributes to the deepening of ulcers on the penis and necrosis of organ tissue. In fact, we are talking about gangrene of the organ. If small areas of the skin are subject to necrosis and decay, treatment of the disease and restoration of tissue will be difficult, but possible. But when large areas of the organ are subject to necrosis and the body is exposed to the strongest toxic effects, it is extremely difficult to stop the process and often doctors have to resort to removing the penis, instead of which a tube is inserted for urination.

Obliterating xerotic balanitis should not be taken lightly either. The sclerotic process with the formation of a narrow fibrous ring that prevents the release of the head of the penis is also dangerous because it is considered a predisposing factor to the development of penile oncology.

Less serious, but no less unpleasant consequences include pain during urination and sexual intercourse, excruciating itching and other symptoms that negatively affect a person's quality of life. Sexual health problems also entail psychological problems. A man becomes irritable, insecure and therefore overly jealous, which leads to scandals in the family, quarrels and even assault.

It is possible to avoid unpleasant and dangerous complications of balanitis only if a man takes an adequate attitude to his problem and seeks help from a specialist, rather than self-medicating or practicing a wait-and-see attitude. Balanitis itself is unlikely to pass without consequences, especially if it is caused by an infection.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ]