Balanitis:
Balanitis is simply inflammation of the glans (the head) of the penis; often the foreskin is involved too, in which case clinicians call it balanoposthitis.There is redness, soreness, swelling or irritation of the glans. There can be pain, itching, discharge or trouble urinating. It can happen to males of any age.
Common causes:
- Poor hygiene — trapped secretions under the foreskin can irritate the skin and invite overgrowth of microbes.
- Fungal infection — a very common cause, especially when the area is moist.
- Bacterial infection — a variety of skin bacteria can cause inflammation, sometimes secondary to trauma or irritation.
- Irritants / contact dermatitis — harsh soaps, perfumed products, condoms, topical creams or other chemicals can cause an inflammatory reaction.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — chlamydia, gonorrhoea and others can present with balanitis-type symptoms; these require testing and specific treatment.
- Dermatologic conditions — eczema, psoriasis or lichen sclerosus (balanitis xerotica obliterans) may cause chronic or recurrent inflammation.
Seek urgent help for severe pain, high fever, bleeding, urinary retention, or rapidly spreading infection.
Remedies:
- Silicea– indicated for slow-healing inflammation, tendency to chronic fistulae or deep-seated suppuration, and for people who are generally chilly, weak, or used when healing is sluggish.
- Sulphur– used where there is burning, itching, offensive discharge, or recurrent, long-standing irritation especially worse from warmth and washing.
- Apis mellifica-for oedematous, shiny swelling with stinging, burning or stinging pains, better from cold applications, worse from heat and touch. Useful when the glans is swollen, tense and stinging.
- Belladonna– acute, congestive inflammation, bright red, hot, throbbing glans with sudden onset and marked heat, the person may be restless and have a feverish feel.
- Calendula officinalis-use calendula topically or as supportive care for surface wounds and to aid local healing.
- Caladium- Itching, burning, rawness, and irritation of the prepuce and glans. Smarting or soreness.
- Cantharis-Intense burning, scalding pains in urethra and genitalia; frequent ineffectual urge to pass urine, tenesmus, possible blood or purulent urine, severe cutting or burning pains. When there is violent burning/stinging pain accompanying genital inflammation.
- Hepar sulph-indicated in extremely sensitive, suppurative conditions. Painful, raw, very tender glans or prepuce, tendency to pus formation, sensitivity to touch, skin splits easily and there is marked sensitivity.
- Mercurius sol- used when there is copious, offensive discharge, marked moisture, ulceration or bleeding. Inner surface of prepuce inflamed.
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