Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Initially, there were small red spots on the glans, followed by secretions after a couple of days. The glans became itchy. Is this a sexually transmitted disease?Duration and onset of the current illness: 5 days
Doctor's answer:
Red spots on the glans are a typical symptom of balanitis, which refers to inflammation of the inner foreskin and glans. A lipid substance normally secreted in the foreskin cavity can accumulate as smegma under conditions of phimosis or excessive foreskin, irritating the foreskin and glans to cause balanitis. The basic principle of Western medicine treatment is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It usually involves both topical and systemic treatment. For acute superficial balanitis and annular erosive balanitis, erythromycin and tetracycline are the first-line treatments, typically taken at 0.5g per dose, four times daily. For trichomoniasis-induced balanitis, metronidazole is the preferred treatment, taken at 0.2g per dose, three times daily, for a total of 10 days. For Candida-induced balanitis, itraconazole or griseofulvin is commonly used. Griseofulvin is administered at 100,000 to 200,000 units per dose, twice daily, while itraconazole is taken at 100mg per dose, twice daily, for a total of 7 days.