Symptoms of an inflammation of the groin

The classic symptoms of an inflammation are actually always the same in every part of the body, because the mechanism of an inflammation is always the same. Inflammation always results in redness, swelling, overheating and, of course, pain. If the skin is mainly affected by the inflammation, there can be several causes.

A weeping inflammation of the skin indicates an intertrigo. This occurs mainly in body folds, such as in the groin area, the gluteal fold or the armpits. Here, the skin layers rub and lie on top of each other so that a moist chamber can develop, which makes it easier for pathogens to overcome the skin barrier.

Intertrigo manifests itself through reddening of the skin, weeping, minor skin injuries, itching and burning. The shape of the changes is relatively similar on both sides of the wrinkle. At the beginning of the disease, an inguinal fungus is mainly accompanied by reddening of the inner side of the thigh in the area of the groin and genitals.The redness, which may be relatively small and slight at the beginning, can increase significantly over time.

At the edge the skin is increasingly reddened and inflamed. In addition, there may be scaling of the skin at the edge of the redness. The center of the spots is clearly paler and sometimes also has a rather brownish color.

The inguinal fungus is often accompanied by a burning sensation, itching is rather rare. The so-called erythrasma is very similar in appearance to the inguinal fungus. However, this is accompanied by an infection with the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimus.

Symptoms are sharply defined brownish spots, the color of which reminds of coffee with milk. The affected skin areas are not raised and show the smallest wrinkles. The affected skin is covered with small scales.

Itching can, but does not have to be present. Erythrasma occurs mainly in areas of increased sweat production and temperature, i.e. mainly in the area of wrinkles (armpits, under the breast, in the groin area). A possible further diagnosis of the inflammation of the groin can be the so-called psoriasis inversa.

It does not occur in the usual places of common psoriasis, but mainly reappears in the area of the body folds, such as in the armpit, anal fold, groin area or even the navel. It does not come, as is typical for the usual psoriasis, to the big silvery scales, but rather to a spotted, sharply limited redness without scaling. An inflammation of single hair follicles or even several follicles in the groin area is accompanied by swelling, redness, warmth and pain.

This often leads to an infection with bacteria. If the inflammation spreads to several hair follicles, a so-called carbuncle (boil) can also develop. A swollen and painful groin in combination with fever is often a sign of an infection that has activated the body’s defense system.

For example, an abscess (encapsulated accumulation of pus) located near the groin – for example caused by intestinal or anal infections – can cause inflammation of the groin lymph nodes and fever. However, injuries to the leg and foot can also lead to painful swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes and fever. In this case, bacteria enter the open wound and cause an infection.

The venereal disease syphilis (lues), which is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, can also cause fever and lymphadenitis in the groin in the early stages. In addition, the so-called “hard chancre” (Ulcus durum) – a painless, hard ulcer in the groin, genitals or buttocks – also occurs in the early stages. In rare cases, cancers – sometimes skin cancer of the leg – can also cause lymph node swelling and fever. However, the lymph nodes are usually not painful.