Candida balanitis

Last Updated: 2021-10-15

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: 1F23.11

Soorbalanitis, Balanitis candidamycetica, Balanoposthitis candidamycetica.

Fungal infection of the glans penis and foreskin caused by Candida spp. 

  • Pathogen: Candida spp. (mostly Candida albicans, C. glabrata also occurs)
  • An infection with Candida occurs, for example, during sexual intercourse - especially women often have Candida colonisation in the vagina
  • Predisposing factors
    • Topical therapy with external steroids or antibiotic ointments.
    • Hygiene (missing or exaggerated)
    • Phimosis
    • Lichen sclerosus et atrophicans
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Immunosuppression

  • Initial itching
  • Erythematous, pruritic, slightly scaly, weeping maculae
  • The erythema then becomes flat and shiny, rich reddish-damp
  • Blisters and erosions can also occur
  • Similar to thrush stomatitis, there may be white spots which form irregular whitish deposits after some time
  • With otherwise adequate hygiene, however, a minimal variant is more likely to be seen, i.e. only redness, but the whitish fungal material is washed or cleaned away

  • Medical history (predisposing factors)
  • Clinical features
  • Myco. smear.
  • Stool test for Candida.

  • Glans penis
  • Foreskin
  • Shank left out

In the course of the disease inflammatory swelling of the inner preputial sheet can occur up to the inflammatory phimos and increased purulent secretion due to secondary bacterial infection.

Good hygiene.

Frequent relapses.

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