Background

Balenoposthitis is defined as the inflammation of the foreskin and glans in uncircumcised males. Balanoposthitis occurs over a wide age range and may have any of multiple bacterial or fungal origins or be caused by contact dermatitis. In the uncircumcised male, balanitis (inflammation of the glans, the rounded head of the penis) and posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin) usually occur together as balanoposthitis: inflammation of both the glans and foreskin. Complex infections have been well documented, often from a poorly retractile foreskin and poor hygiene that leads to colonization and overgrowth. Treatment focuses on clearing the acute infection and preventing recurrent inflammation/infection through improved hygiene. Although not as necessary as in the past, circumcision may be considered for refractory or recurrent balanoposthitis. Chronic balanoposthitis increases the risk of balanitis xerotica obliterans, phimosis

Phimosis

Phimosis , from the Greek phimos ), is a condition where, in men, the foreskin cannot be fully retracted over the glans penis...

, paraphimosis

Paraphimosis

Paraphimosis is an uncommon medical condition where the foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans penis, and cannot be reduced...

, and cancer

Cancer

Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

.Balanoposthitis should not be confused with Balanitis

Balanitis

Balanitis is inflammation of the glans penis . When the foreskin is also affected, it is termed balanoposthitis....

, which is inflammation of the glans penis or the clitoris.

Causes

In almost every instance balanitis results from the presence of a foreskin, which may be redundant and Phimotic, thereby predisposing to infections. This preputial cloak harbors beneath it normally desquamating epithelial cells, glandular secretions, and Mycobacterium smegmatis, and provides a warm, moist culture medium for any incidental organisms that may be present. It is obvious, therefore, that personal daily hygiene will prevent most instances of simple balanitis and balanoposthitis.

Symptoms and Signs

• Soreness
• Irritation,
• Subpreputial discharge
• Phimosis,
• Superficial ulcerations,
• Inguinal adenopathy
• Anxiety
• Lower back pain
• Fatigue
• Redness of penis
• Painful penis and foreskin
• Rashes on the penis and foul smell discharge

Treatment of Balanoposthitis

• Topical antibiotics like metronidazole cream and antifungals clotrimazole cream or low-potency steroid creams are suggested beneficial for this disease.
• Proper hygiene and regular washing of prepuce is useful for the prevention of balanoposthitis.
• Circumcision may be promoted in recurrent and recalcitrant cases.

Since anaerobic conditions are necessary for growth of the offending organisms, simple exposure to air and local cleansing is most often effective. Formerly, this treatment, used with peroxide powder and arsphenamine and, in severe cases, a dorsal slit, was the extent of therapy. With the advent of penicillin and other systemic and local antibiotics, the treatment is specific and effective; however, even now a dorsal slit procedure is sometimes necessary.

In other animals

In dog

Dog

The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

s, balanoposthitis is caused by a disruption in the integumentary system

Integumentary system

The integumentary system is the organ system that protects the body from damage, comprising the skin and its appendages...

, such as a wound

Wound

A wound is a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.-Open:...

 or intrusion of a foreign body

Foreign body

A foreign body is any object originating outside the body. In machinery, it can mean any unwanted intruding object.Most references to foreign bodies involve propulsion through natural orifices into hollow organs....

. A dog with this condition behaves

Behavior

Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...

 normally, with the exception of excessive licking at the prepuce, and a yellow green, pus

Pus

Pus is a viscous exudate, typically whitish-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammatory during infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collection of pus within or beneath the epidermis is known as a pustule or...

-like discharge

Mucopurulent discharge

Mucopurulent discharge is the emission or secretion of fluid containing mucus and pus from the eye, nose, cervix, vagina or other part of the body due to infection and inflammation....

 is usually present.
In sheep (rams/wethers), ulcerative enzootic balanoposthitis is caused by the Corynebacterium renale

Corynebacterium renale

Corynebacterium renale is a pathogenic veterinary bacterium that causes cystitis and pyelonephritis in cattle.C. renale is a facultatively anaerobic Gram positive organism, characterized by non-encapsulated, non-sporulated, immobile, straight or curved rods with a length of 1 to 8 µm and width of...

group (C. renale, C. pilosum & C. cystidis). It is also known as "pizzle rot".
For the condition in bull

Bull

Bull usually refers to an uncastrated adult male bovine.Bull may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Bull , an original show on the TNT Network* "Bull" , an episode of television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation...

s, caused by a virus

Virus

A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...

 see Bovine herpesvirus 1

Bovine herpesvirus 1

-Introduction:Bovine herpesvirus 1 is a virus of the family Herpesviridae and the subfamily Alphaherpesviridae, known to cause several diseases worldwide in cattle, including rhinotracheitis, vaginitis, balanoposthitis, abortion, conjunctivitis, and enteritis...

.