Patient's question:
I've been feeling unwell lately, with redness, itching, and burning on my glans. There's also discharge and cracked skin inside my foreskin. It's been hurting for quite some time. I went to the hospital for a thorough check-up and was told I have balanitis. What are the symptoms of balanitis?Doctor's answer:
① Acute superficial balanitis, characterized by edema, erythema, exudation, and desquamation, may lead to secondary infection with purulent discharge, easily forming ulcers, accompanied by pain;② Circumferential erosive balanitis, presenting in a ring pattern, or with cheesy smegma in the ring, may break down over time into superficial ulcers;
③ Plasma cell balanitis, presenting as plaques, with smooth or scaling or moist surfaces, showing significant infiltration;
④ Mica-like and keratotic pseudopapillomatous balanitis, where the affected glans shows thickened inflammation, hyperkeratosis with mica-like crusts, and loss of normal elasticity, which may swell over time.