Balanoposthitis

Balanoposthitis refers to inflammation of the glans penis and prepuce. It is a descriptive term and not a diagnosis.

There are numerous causes; these can be broadly divided into inflammatory, infective, and pre-cancerous.

The aim of diagnosis and management should be to exclude STI, minimise problems with sexual and urinary function, and reduce the risk of cancer of the penis.

A specific causative condition should be identified and treated aggressively. Non-specific balanoposthitis is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Patients will typically present in a primary care setting. Input from specialists, particularly dermatologists and urologists, may be very helpful in the management of poorly responsive or complex cases.

Balanoposthitis refers to inflammation of the glans penis and prepuce. It is a descriptive term rather than a diagnosis. It can be regarded as a special sort of dermatosis that occurs within a skin fold (i.e., an intertrigo). By definition, balanoposthitis cannot occur in a circumcised male, although balanitis (inflammation of the glans penis) might. There are many possible causes of balanoposthitis, and these can be broadly divided into inflammatory, infective, and pre-cancerous.[1]Bunker CB. Dermatoses of male genitalia. In: Burns T, Breathnach S, Bleiker T, et al, eds. Rook’s textbook of dermatology. 9th ed. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell; 2014.[2]Bunker CB. Male genital skin disease. 2nd ed. London. Bruce Shrink. 2019.