Definition
From balanus, acorn, balanitis is an inflammatory process that affects the terminal part of the penis (glans): when inflammation also involves the foreskin, it is called balanoposthitis.
Causes
Multiple and varied causes of balanitis: drug allergies, immunological deficits (eg diabetes), contact dermatitis, phimosis, infections (bacterial, fungal, parasitic), intertrigo, lichen planus, poor intimate hygiene and syphilis. Some authors include balanitis among sexually transmitted diseases, although these disorders appear in many cases during childhood.
Risk factors: diabetes and autoimmune diseases a gender
Symptoms
In some diabetic patients, balanitis is completely asymptomatic. In other cases, the affected male complains of micturition disorders, edema, localized erythema, inflammation of the glans, swollen inguinal lymph glands, ulcerative lesions, whitish and / or malodorous secretions from the penis, sometimes associated with bleeding.
Information on Balanitis - Drugs for the Treatment of Balanitis is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Balanite - Balanitis Treatment Medicines.
drugs
The pharmacological treatment depends on the cause that triggered the glans inflammation: for example, when the balanitis goes back to a fungal infection, the antifungals are undoubtedly the drugs of choice; if the balanitis was caused by a bacterial infection, a targeted antibiotic cream is recommended, both to be applied locally and to be administered systemically. In some cases, the use of corticosteroids to be applied locally is useful for the treatment of balanitis not deriving from infections.
Balanitis caused by fungal infections : topical application of antimycotic drugs such as:
- Clotrimazole, 1% (eg Canesten, Mycelex): in the form of a cream, powder or solution, apply to the infected area twice a day for 10 days.
- Miconazole, 2% (eg Cruex, Micatin): in the form of cream, powder or spray, apply to the infected area twice a day for 10 days
- Undecylenic acid, 12-25% (eg Anti-Fungal, Elon Dual Defense): in the form of powder, liquid, cream, to be applied to the affected area twice a day for 10 days.
The indicative duration of the treatment is 10 days, but the doctor can modify it according to the severity of the inflammation. When necessary, extend the therapy also to the partner with whom you have had sexual intercourse: in this case, the inflammation could also depend on an infection sexually transmitted by the partner.
In some cases, topical therapy must be accompanied by a parallel systemic therapy: in similar situations, it is possible to take a 200 mg tablet of itraconazole (eg Sporanox), once a day for 7-14 days, according to the indications of the attending physician.
Balanitis caused by bacterial infections
In the case of balanitis caused by bacterial infections, antibiotic creams are widely used in therapy, to be applied always and only after careful cleansing of the affected skin. Sometimes the concomitant oral intake of tablets is also necessary in order to kill the bacteria responsible for the infection.
- Azithromycin (eg Azithromycin, Zitrobiotic, Rezan, Azitrocin): it is recommended to take 2 grams of this drug (pharmacological class: macrolides) in a single dose. Indicated in case of balanitis due to gonococcal infection (gonorrhea) without complications. A single dose is generally sufficient to eliminate the beating: in this regard, it is recommended to take the drug as soon as the first symptoms appear, in addition to sexual abstention until the patient is completely cured. It is also advisable to extend the treatment to the sexual partner in order to avoid the spread of the infection.
- Cefotaxima (eg Cefotaxima, Aximad, Lirgosin, Lexor) this third generation cephalosporin is recommended in case of balanitis due to disseminated gonococcal infection. It is recommended to take the drug intravenously at a dose of 1 gram every 8 hours, for 24-48 hours according to the doctor's prescription.
- Cefuroxime (eg. Cefoprim, Tilexim, Zoref, Zinnat): belongs to the second generation cephalosporin class. Also in this case, the drug is recommended for gonorrhea balanitis: cefuroxime should be taken at a dose of 1 gram per os in a single dose, or 1.5 g by intramuscular (single dose), associated with probiotics.
- Tetracycline (eg Tetrac C, Pensulvit, Ambramycin): it is recommended to administer 500 mg of active per os, 4 times a day for at least 7 days, in the case of uncomplicated chlamydia balanitis.
- Amoxicillin (eg. Amoxicillin, Amoxil and Trimox, Zimox, Augmentin ): take 500 mg of drug orally, 3 times a day for at least 7 days (indicated for chlamydia balanitis).
- Metronidazole (eg. Flagyl, Metronidazole Same, Rozex): the drug is indicated in the case of balanitis with Trichomonas vaginalis (trichomoniasis). In most cases, topical application of metronidazole-based creams or ointments is recommended to humans, as indicated by the doctor.
It is preferable to abstain from unprotected sexual intercourse for the duration of the drug therapy, in order to avoid the spread of the infection
Infection-independent Balanitis
As we have seen, not all balanites depend on bacterial or fungal infections: therefore, some doctors recommend cortisone-based creams or ointments. For example, hydrocortisone (eg Locoidon, Colifoam) is particularly useful for the treatment of this type of balanitis, especially when the cause dates back to contact dermatitis.
NB The correct intimate hygiene is always essential (not only for the prevention of balanitis): it is advisable not to use aggressive detergents, and to prefer the delicate ones, without potentially allergenic agents (eg perfumes), responsible for a possible worsening of the inflammation.
Severe Balanitis
If the pharmacological treatment does not bring any benefit to the patient, circumcision is recommended: it has been observed, in fact, that the practice of circumcision prevents the relapse of balanitis.
