![]() ![]() Immunosuppressive diseases, such as HIV.Sexual partners with multiple episodes of vaginal candidiasis.Use of glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressive drugs.In addition to poor penis hygiene, other factors increase the risk of penile candidiasis, including: Unsurprisingly, the risk of Candida balanitis is lower in circumcised men (Suggested reading: Circumcision: Risks, Benefits and Postoperative Care). When the foreskin is not routinely retracted, and the glans is not properly cleaned, there can be a buildup of sweat, debris, and dead skin, creating an environment highly favorable to fungal proliferation and inflammation. Therefore, the mere presence of Candida in the genitals is insufficient the fungus must have the freedom to multiply.īalanitis has a wide variety of causes, but most cases are related to inadequate hygiene in uncircumcised men. The development of penile candidiasis in colonized patients depends on the immune system’s ability to handle the large population of fungi living on the skin. Moreover, Candida infection frequently correlates with antibiotic use (antibiotics reduce the population of skin bacteria, which are germs that compete for nutrients with fungi). In pediatric patients, acquiring Candida albicans is related to skin cleansing conditions and is often associated with diaper dermatitis. Babies and children can also experience fungal balanitis. ![]() However, not all cases of male urogenital candidiasis originate from sexual activity. If a woman’s vagina has large populations of Candida, during intercourse, a significant amount of the fungus can be transferred to the penis, increasing the risk of balanitis. In adult men, the primary source of yeast colonization is unprotected sexual activity. However, not all of them will develop an infection in fact, nearly two-thirds continue to be asymptomatic carriers throughout their lives. It is estimated that around 20 to 25% of men experience yeast colonization on their penises. The fundamental prerequisite for the development of Candida balanitis is the colonization of the penis by Candida. Despite being the most common cause of penile infection, Candida balanitis is about ten times less common than vaginal infection caused by Candida. In circumcised men, the absence of the foreskin means that only balanitis is possible.įrom this point forward, to simplify the explanation, I will use only the term balanitis, as it encompasses both circumcised and uncircumcised men.Ĭandida balanitis is the most common penile infection, accounting for 25 to 50% of balanitis cases. In uncircumcised men, inflammation of the glans is almost always accompanied by inflammation of the foreskin. When the foreskin, the skin covering the glans, is also inflamed, the condition is known as balanoposthitis. However, there is a slight difference.īalanitis is the name given to any inflammation of the glans, popularly known as the head of the penis. What is Candida Balanitis or Balanoposthitis?īalanitis and balanoposthitis are terms often treated as synonyms. ![]() This article will discuss only thrush in men (yeast infection on the penis), which manifests as an infection of the glans or foreskin, referred to as balanitis or balanoposthitis, respectively. In more extreme instances, typically involving patients who suffer from significant immunosuppression, Candida can invade internal organs like the esophagus, larynx, kidneys, heart, and even the central nervous system. Colonization is not synonymous with infection.Ĭandidiasis has the potential to impact a variety of organs, most commonly affecting the skin, genitals, and mouth. ![]() Having Candida on the skin asymptomatically is different from having the disease candidiasis. The yeast begins to reproduce without limitations, potentially infesting the skin and invading deeper tissues, causing an intense inflammatory reaction.Ĭandidiasis is the term used to describe the infection caused by Candida. These changes make our bodies more prone to Candida proliferation. Problems with the Candida fungus arise when our immune system weakens or when there is a sudden change in the natural flora of bacteria on our skin, such as in cases of prolonged antibiotic use. ![]()
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