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Balanitis - Management
How should I diagnose balanitis in adults?
- Diagnose balanitis in an adult on the basis of clinical findings:
- Penile soreness, itch, and odour are common symptoms.
- Redness on the glans penis (and often the foreskin) with exudate are usual. Swelling of the glans penis and foreskin may be seen.
- Dysuria and dyspareunia may occur.
- Balanitis is mostly seen in uncircumcised men and an inability to retract the foreskin is common.
- Swabs (for example, a sub-preputial swab) are not necessary for diagnosis, but can be useful for identifying the underlying cause if symptoms are severe, recurrent, or persistent.
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