Balanitis
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Introduction
Balanitis refers to inflammation of the glans penis and is most commonly seen in young, uncircumcised boys. When the foreskin is also affected, the condition is termed balanoposthitis. The most frequent underlying cause is poor genital hygiene, which can lead to the accumulation of physiologic secretions (ie, smegma) beneath the prepuce. This moist environment can irritate the skin and promote secondary infections, particularly with Candida albicans.
Pathogenesis and risk factors
Balanitis most commonly affects uncircumcised males age 2-5 but can also occur in adults; it is much less common in circumcised males. Causes include:
- Poor genital hygiene: The accumulation of smegma—a mixture of shed skin cells and secretions from sebaceous glands—under the foreskin can irritate the glans and interfere with the natural protective barrier normally maintained by the body's physiologic secretions, making the area more vulnerable to inflammation and infection.
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