Candidal Balanoposthitis – Complete Information

Candidal balanoposthitis is the inflammation of both the glans penis and the foreskin. It is caused by the fungi Candida albicans. It is also called candidal balanitis or thrush in men. Different species of Candida are responsible for causing most types of yeast infections.

The most common cause is a fungal infection with Candida albicans. Candida is normally found on the surface of the skin and mucous membrane. But in individuals with weak immune systems and poor hygiene, this fungus can grow too much and causes symptoms.

It does not cause any symptoms in the starting stages, but the following signs and symptoms are seen if inflammation occurs:

• Itching
• Soreness
• The skin on the head of the penis appears dull red and glazed
• Small papules or white patches on the head of the penis
• Swelling
• Irritation
• Foul-smelling, white, and lumpy discharge is seen under the foreskin and skin folds
• Phimosis (inability to pull the foreskin back)
• burning or pain during urination
• Pain during sex

Some of the risk factors are:

• Uncircumcised penis
• Immunocompromised conditions like HIV
• Uncontrolled blood sugar levels
• Indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics
• Using corticosteroids and chemotherapy, which suppress the immune system
• Poor diet and hygiene
• Obesity
• Dehydration
• Dry skin
• Eczema
• Using moisturizers, scented soap, and lubricants can irritate the skin
• Not drying the private areas after washing them

If the infection is mild, your doctor might prescribe a single dose of oral Fluconazole 150 mg.

Topical creams that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, or nystatin, take a longer time to show effect. They are generally prescribed for 7 to 14 days.

If the inflammation is severe, then topical antifungal cream and topical corticosteroids are also prescribed.

Oral antifungal medicine is recommended for people with diabetes or immune system problems or if the symptoms are severe.

Maintaining a good diet and personal hygiene will help prevent and treat this condition. A few tips that you can follow are:

• Avoid using hard soap or scented on the genitals.
• The penis head should be washed carefully with warm water after retracting the foreskin.
• Pat dry the penis and glans penis with a soft towel after retracting the foreskin.
• Wearing loose underpants will help to keep your genitals dry and cool.

In people with a weak immune system, a candidal infection can cause the blood to get infected with the fungal infection, which infects other organs like the heart, brain, and liver. It is a serious medical condition.

This condition is usually diagnosed from the appearance of the head of the penis and the whitish lesions. The doctor will say there is a possibility of sexually transmitted infections. To confirm this diagnosis, the doctor might conduct the KOH test or potassium hydroxide preparation. KOH prep is done by lightly scraping the infected area, and viewing the sample under the microscope to look for Candida colonies and spores.

Candidal balanoposthitis is challenging to treat in diabetic patients, and the infection recurs if the blood sugar level is not controlled. This is because high blood sugar levels increase the sugar levels in the urine also. When this urine containing sugar dribbles and stays on the glans penis and foreskin, it becomes a friendly place for yeast and bacteria to feed and grow, which results in an infection.

No, Neosporin will not help in the treatment of candidal balanoposthitis as it is a topical antibiotic.

There is not much evidence suggesting the effectiveness of probiotics in treating candidal infections.

It is very rare but inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin due to infection does increase the risk of skin cancer.

No, it cannot be transmitted through sexual activity. But it is advisable to refrain from unprotected sex until the infection is treated.

No, antibiotics cannot be used to treat candidal balanoposthitis as this is a fungal infection.