The following symptoms and complaints may indicate balanitis (acorn inflammation):
Pathognomonic (indicative of a disease).
- Glans penis (glans) with
- Erythema (red; redness of the skin)
- Punctate or extensive erosions/superficial substance defects confined to the epidermis, without scarring (possibly also weeping)
- Purpura (small red dots: small, fecky capillary hemorrhages in the skin, subcutis (subcutaneous tissue) or mucous membranes occurring in the following forms:
- Petechiae (flea-like hemorrhages).
- Vibex (streak-like) [less common.]
- Ecchymosis (small area) [less common].
- Sugillation (areal) [rarer]
- Leukoplakia [white; a white area of the mucosa of the genital area that cannot be wiped off; due to keratinization disorder].
- Ulceration (ulceration) [rare.]
- Edema (swelling)
- Scaling of the skin; possibly also sclerosis (hardening due to proliferation of connective tissue).
- Exudates (inflammation-related liquid secretions; due toweeping eczema).
- Crusting, cracking
Associated symptoms
- Itching or burning
- Feeling of dryness
- Inflammation of the preputial leaf (posthitis/preputial inflammation).
Warning signs (red flags)
- Uncharacteristic, painless skin changes (red or white spot; nodular changes; possibly also contact bleeding or bleeding tendency) that progressively increase in size and also show hardening with increase in enlargement → think of: Penile carcinoma (penile cancer).
- Bloody purulent discharge from the preputial sac (= cavity between the prepuce (foreskin) and glans penis (glans)). → think of: Penile carcinoma
