Glans inflammation is medically called balanitis. It is a disease of the male member, which can also extend to the foreskin. Then the doctor speaks of balanoposthitis, that is, foreskin inflammation.
What is acornitis (foreskin inflammation)?
Glans inflammation is an inflammatory skin condition of the glans on the penis. Often, the foreskin is also affected. Sometimes there is purulent secretion around the swollen glans. The causes can be different, they also depend on the age of the affected person. An inflammation of the glans can become chronic. Then the foreskin hardens and a narrowing of the foreskin occurs, which can also be chronic. Glans inflammation can occur in both young and adult men.
Causes
Depending on age, the causes of glansitis or foreskin inflammation can vary widely. In boys before puberty, glans inflammation occurs in about one in 20 boys. In this case, there is a high incidence of foreskin constriction or adhesions. The inflammation is often infectious. In younger sexually mature males, glans inflammation occurs less frequently than in children; sexual activity is often the cause. Glans inflammation can be infectious or noninfectious. In older men, balanitis is rarely infectious. Their own lack of personal hygiene is often the cause in this case. In very aged men, thinning skin and softening of tissue can lead to glans inflammation. Finally, glans inflammation also occurs as a result of other diseases. Diabetics, for example, have an increased risk of infectious glans inflammation. Finally, contact with women who suffer from vaginal fungus also leads to balanitis in increased numbers.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
An inflammation of the glans is manifested primarily by the noticeable redness of the glans skin. Often, the inner leaf of the foreskin is also reddened. The affected skin areas may ooze and flake off. Usually there is also itching, burning and increased sensitivity to touch. In individual cases, ulcers form in the area of the foreskin, which are associated with severe pain and an increased risk of inflammation. Other symptoms depend on the form of glans inflammation. Balanitis simplex is noticeable by blurred redness with nodules and dry scaling. Usually, the skin changes appear quite suddenly and change within a short time. This form can occur in men of any age group. Balanitis plasmacellularis is different and usually develops after the age of 60. In this form, several sharply defined rednesses appear, which can be recognized by their unusual shape. They are usually weeping, shiny lacquer-like, and in some cases develop into superficial skin defects that are particularly sensitive to pressure and other external stimuli. Fine, punctate hemorrhages may be noted within the patches. Balantatis plasmacellularis typically takes a chronic course and may persist unchanged for months or years.
Diagnosis and course
The physician diagnoses acorn inflammation by microbiologic examination. For this purpose, he examines the patient’s urine and makes a swab of the glans. Of course, the diagnosis also includes questioning the patient. Since acorn inflammation can have various causes, the doctor must first determine these, because only then is an effective therapy possible. Glans inflammation manifests itself in redness and swelling of the glans. The patient has a burning sensation on the glans and complains of itching. Weeping, watery or purulent secretions may occur. Vesicle formation is also possible. If the inflammation continues to progress and is untreated, fever may also occur. Pain during urination is also possible. Acornitis can spread through the urethra to the kidneys and lead to bladder, urinary tract and prostate infections. Eventually, sepsis may occur.
When should you see a doctor?
If there is itching, burning and redness on the glans, there may be an underlying cause of glans inflammation. A visit to the doctor is recommended if the symptoms do not subside on their own after a week at the latest, or if other symptoms are added. In particular, ulcers and weeping skin defects must be clarified immediately. The same applies to discharge and whitish coatings on the glans.If adhesions occur, the skin disease lichen sclerosus may be the underlying cause – an immediate visit to the doctor is advisable to avoid the threat of foreskin constriction. Patients who have been infected with herpes viruses, chlamydia, fungi or parasites in the past are particularly susceptible to glans inflammation. People with a contact allergy, allergies or existing skin autoimmune diseases (e.g. psoriasis, nodules, diabetes mellitus or HIV) are also at risk and should consult a doctor quickly if they experience any of the above symptoms. At the latest, if complications occur and, for example, epididymitis develops, a doctor must be consulted. Otherwise, the inflammation can spread further and, in the worst case, cause blood poisoning.
Treatment and therapy
If acornitis is treated consistently, it has a positive course and usually heals without complications. The goal is to treat the symptoms and the inflammation. Treatment is first of all a local therapy. As soon as the pathogen is determined by the swab and/or the urine examination, treatment is carried out with appropriate ointment containing antibiotics or with a cream that kills fungi. If no infection is the cause of balanitis, then the inflammation can be treated with ointment containing cortisone. To relieve the itching, chamomile baths may be useful. If the acorn inflammation becomes chronic, the patient should consider circumcision. However, circumcision is contraindicated in boys under three years of age, because up to that age circumcision appears to significantly increase the risk of inflammation. Treatment of adult patients absolutely includes having the patient’s sex partner also examined. Finally, if the findings are unclear, the physician should also take tissue samples for differential diagnosis and submit them for histologic examination to detect a possible precancerous lesion at an early stage.
Outlook and prognosis
Acornitis has a very good prognosis if treated. The duration and severity of the disease depend on the cause of the inflammation and the immune system of the affected person. If bacteria or fungi are the decisive factor, appropriate medication can provide relief within days and weeks. The affected tissue of the glans and foreskin can be treated well with anti-inflammatory ointments and soothing baths. In the rarest cases, permanent tissue damage is to be feared. Occasionally, more insensitive areas develop and acquired phimosis occurs due to infection of the foreskin and glans. If the inflammation has another cause, for example insufficient hygiene or an injury to the glans or foreskin, good results can also be achieved with sparing and ointments. On the other hand, an untreated glans inflammation with a bacterial trigger harbors the risk of the infection spreading further. It can reach the bladder, prostate and kidneys and, in the worst case, lead to sepsis. Such sepsis can be fatal if left untreated. However, this can only occur if a bacterial infection on the penis is left untreated for a long time. Fungal infections carry a similar risk of spread. In very rare cases, ulcers and precancerous lesions form due to balanitis. If medical intervention is not sought here, there is a risk of cancer outbreak and permanent loss of tissue on the limb. Overall, circumcision lowers the risk for the occurrence of further balanitis.
Prevention
First of all, proper personal hygiene is important for preventing acornitis. However, proper genital hygiene does not mean that cleaning the foreskin should be overdone. Normal but regular washing of the glans without soap and shampoo with retraction of the foreskin and removal of the smegma should be part of a man’s normal personal hygiene. Chamomile baths and rinses with saline solutions are also part of preventing glans infection. Condoms during sexual intercourse also reduce the risk of acornitis. Especially if the disease has occurred, a condom should be an absolute must during sexual intercourse to avoid infecting your intimate partner.
This is what you can do yourself
Balanitis should be treated by a specialist. After determining the pathogen, a targeted treatment can be carried out with an antibiotic or antifungal ointment.If a narrowing of the foreskin is the cause of recurrent inflammation, those affected or the parents of affected children should inform themselves about surgical intervention. Chamomile baths or brine baths are recommended. Afterwards, the penis can be dabbed with olive oil. This cares for the inflamed foreskin. After each urination, the penis should also be cleaned with water so that no urine remains on the foreskin. Furthermore, those affected can check whether an allergy to certain substances – such as latex in condoms – is responsible for the inflammation and should avoid them in the future. Naturopathy recommends alkaline baths to balance the acid-base balance as well as supporting the intestinal flora with probiotics, since inflammation is always associated with a weakened immune system. Furthermore, the remedies: Arnica (decongestant), Calcium floratum (has a strengthening effect), Hepar sulfuris (draining) and Tuja (skin diseases) can have a supporting effect. Thorough intimate hygiene is important even after the symptoms have subsided. Regular cleaning of the penis with water – soap and shampoo should be avoided – is sufficient. In the case of recurring infections, the sexual partner should also have an examination performed to rule out the possibility that pathogens are repeatedly transmitted via sexual intercourse. Preventively, the use of condoms is recommended, especially when changing intimate partners.