Balanitis in the child: causes, symptoms and treatment
When a married couple has a son, she is forced to face a number of specific diseases. One of them is balanitis in a child. In most cases, the pathology is fungal in nature. Its main symptom is an inflammation of the skin on the head of the penis. Such an unpleasant problem requires a serious approach to therapy and does not do without the use of special drugs. About how to treat balanitis in children, it will be discussed in today's article.
Features of the disease
Balanitis belongs to the category of inflammatory diseases. Its development is always accompanied by itching, unpleasant sensations and soreness in the area of the glans penis. At the heart of the pathological process is the action of alien organisms, much less often it is a consequence of mechanical damage. 
Balanitis can occur in a child of any age. In infants, its appearance is due to the prolonged wearing of diapers. First it causes diaper rash, and then - an inflammatory process.
There are several forms of the disease in general: simple, candidal, obliterating, erosive. Each of them has a characteristic symptomatology and requires a certain treatment option. For example, with candida balanitis, a small rash appears on the skin, and in the case of erosive - multiple ulcers. Obliterating form is accompanied by atrophy of individual sections of the dermis.
Any of the presented forms of ailment can become aggravated. In this case, the child's condition deteriorates sharply, it becomes whiny and irritable. Therefore, if you suspect a balanitis, the symptoms of which will be described below, you should immediately seek medical help. The sooner the doctor prescribes treatment, the sooner the recovery will come.
Why does the disease occur?
The main cause of development of balanitis is considered to be infection. It penetrates between the head of the penis and the foreskin. Usually, Candidae fungus or other pathogenic flora acts in its role. Their appearance can contribute to the following factors:
- Physiological phimosis. This is a fairly common violation, in which the head can not completely bare. As a result, there is a closed space, inaccessible to quality hygiene procedures. Between the foreskin and the head creates a favorable environment for the life of pathogens. With age, physiological phimosis passes by itself. That is why children under 5 years old are more vulnerable to balanitis.
- Non-observance of basic rules of personal hygiene. Many babies simply do not know and do not know how to properly care for the body. In the absence of regular water procedures, an inflammation of the glans penis in the child occurs.
Sometimes the development of the pathological process is accompanied by serious health problems. In this case, balanitis is secondary. The risk group includes children with diabetes, helminthic invasions and venereal diseases. 
The first manifestations of balanitis
Often the development of the disease is preceded by the excellent state of health of the child. He can complain of itching and redness in the area of the head of the penis. Parents themselves begin to notice his restless state. Among the main symptoms indicating the active reproduction of pathogenic microflora, it should be noted:
- slight swelling of the skin in the infection area;
- reddish rash;
- appearance of scales on the genitals;
- secretion of purulent secret from under the foreskin with an unpleasant odor.
Young children can not clearly talk about their problem. They begin to be capricious at the next attempt to examine the sexual organ. In the acute stage, the kids deliberately restrain the urge to urinate, which ends with an enuresis at night. 
Candidosal balanitis in a child, in addition to the symptoms listed above, is accompanied by an increase in temperature. Sometimes in the groin area, lymph nodes increase. Children with this disorder look sluggish and constantly sleepy.
Medical examination
For successful treatment it is necessary to determine the form of the disease. First, the doctor should examine the small patient, conduct an analysis of complaints and study his anamnesis. After that, studies are appointed to determine the causative agent of the disease. For this purpose, a smear from the urethra is taken.
In case of a complicated course of the pathological process or its chronicization, additional diagnosis is performed. A small patient is assigned a comprehensive examination:
- A blood test for sugar.
- Analyzes for STIs( taken only in adolescents).
- PCR.
If it was possible in time to identify balanitis in children, treatment can cope with its manifestations within 3-4 days. During this period, inflammation, as a rule, can be suppressed.
How to help your child at home?
Sometimes it is possible and at home to defeat balanitis in children. Treatment will be effective only at the initial stage of the disease. However, this requires a consultation with the pediatrician.
The basis of home therapy are trays with medicinal herbs. To this end, you can use St. John's wort, chamomile and calendula flowers. After the procedure, the inflamed skin should be gently wiped using a soft towel. Folk healers also recommend the use of these herbs to make lotions and infusions. 
To reduce itching in the genital area, it can be wiped with a slightly saline aqueous solution. To make it, you need to mix a teaspoon of salt with 500 ml of warm water, stir well. Moistened in a solution with a cotton swab, it is necessary to wipe the surface of the genitals.
After the course of therapy at home, the pediatrician should be seen. If her results are unsatisfactory, the doctor will prescribe medications.
Medical treatment
Depending on the cause of the disease, the pediatrician can prescribe: an antifungal cream, an antibacterial agent or a steroid ointment. Let's consider each of the options in more detail.
Antifungal drugs are prescribed for candidal balanitis. The most effective is Clotrimazole. Ointment instructions for use recommend using twice daily until the symptoms disappear completely. The course of treatment lasts no more than a week. 
In the case of ulcerative balanitis caused by pathogenic flora, a cream with an antibiotic helps. Children are most often prescribed "Chloramphenicol".Some doctors prescribe antibiotics in tablets, for example, "Erythromycin".The dosage of the drug is selected individually and depends on the age of the small patient.
A mild steroid cream is recommended to reduce the inflammatory process. The choice of a specific remedy remains with the attending physician. Most often, they resort to the help of Hydrocortisone. Like Clotrimazole, the ointment instructions for use advise to use twice a day. In this case, the adoption of warming trays should be avoided.
Manifestations of the disease usually go away within 3-5 days after the start of the course of therapy. If the balanitis does not respond to treatment, the symptoms continue to appear, it is advisable to discuss other options with the doctor.
The need for surgical intervention
How can balanitis be treated if it has passed into a chronic form and does not lend itself to medical therapy? In this case, doctors often decide to conduct an operation. It involves excision of the foreskin. This is a fairly radical, but at the same time effective method of combating the inflammatory process.
Prevention of
Many parents had to face a pathology such as balanitis in a child. This is a serious illness, neglect of which treatment is not permissible. Otherwise, the disease can go into a chronic form. His therapy is no longer limited to taking medications.
Is it possible to prevent balanitis in a child? The main precaution is the high-quality and timely hygiene of the genitals. First, parents should follow her, and then they can teach her the basics of the baby. It is necessary to change daily underwear and try to choose diapers reasonably. 
Another measure of prevention is considered to increase immunity. To this end, the child needs to provide adequate nutrition, walking outdoors. Any catarrhal diseases should be treated in a timely manner. And with the slightest suspicion of balanitis, you should immediately seek medical help.