The area may feel sore and swollen 4. A discharge under the foreskin 6. Often the area weeps producing clear or yellow discharge around the foreskin Some men find the symptoms are more noticeable after sexual intercourse. The diagnosis of balanitis can usually be made by visual examination of the skin of the penis by a trained medical practitioner. Finding the specific cause for a specific episode of balanitis can, however prove to be a lot more difficult.
Diagnosis is based on physical examination, clinical history and laboratory evaluation.
Often, however, no specific cause can be found for balanitis. If the balanitis is caused by a fungal, viral or bacterial infection, various laboratory tests, such as culture of the organism involved will aid in the diagnosis. A glucose test may be done to rule out diabetes mellitus as a predisposing cause for balanitis. Treatment of balanitis very much depends on the underlying cause for the inflammation. In all cases of balanitis, regardless of cause, appropriate hygiene measures should be implemented.