Introduction
An opportunistic infection caused by Candida albicans is known as Candida balanitis or penile candidiasis or penile yeast infection.
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is a common member of the human gut flora. It can also survive outside the human body. It is detected in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40–60% of healthy adults. It is usually a commensal organism, but it can become pathogenic in immunocompromised individuals under a variety of conditions. It is one of the few species of the genus Candida that causes the human infection candidiasis, which results from an overgrowth of the fungus.
Candida normally lives on skin and inside the body such as in the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, as a part of normal microbial flora without causing any problems. Candida can cause an infection if conditions changes to encourage its growth.
A moist environment is ideal for candida to spread, according to 2018 research . Having sex with a female who has a vaginal yeast infection ,without using a condom can also cause a penile yeast infection. However, you can also develop an infection without sexual activity.
•The causes a penile yeast infection:
The fungus that causes yeast infections (candida) is normally present on the body and skin. It is a is a everyday resident of even in the healthiest bodies. Therefore yeast infections in men are very common.
Candida loves moist, warm, and dark places, especially the genital area and gastrointestinal tract. The most common species is Candida albicans.Candida normally lives innocently in these loved warm and moist places in your body and your microbiota keeps it from taking over .Lactobacillus bacteria keeps its growth in check. However, if there’s an imbalance in your microbiota (for example you suffer from dysbiosis) or you have had sex with infected partner, candida can start to overgrow. And a moist conditions are perfect for candida to spread.
•The potential risk factors for penile male yeast infections include:
*Antibiotic use, which lower probiotic counts, allowing for the growth of candida
*Weakened immune systems due to illness and chronic health conditions, which allows candida to spread.
*If you have an impaired immune system because of cancer treatment, HIV, or another reason, you may also be at a higher risk of a yeast infection.
*Frequent sexual intercourse
*Poor hygiene
*Being uncircumcised
*Having diabetes, as men with diabetes have higher amount of sugar in their urine, which may promote the growth of yeasts.
*Using soaps and skin products that irritate skin
*Wearing tight-fitting undergarments or wet clothing
*Condoms that contain lubricants
*Using spermicides
*Any exposure to a hot, humid environments
*Being overweight
The signs of Penile Candida in men:
Candida normally lives on the skin and mucous membranes, but if too much grows, it can cause symptoms. Symptoms include an itchy rash, red skin, swelling, irritation, and itching around the head of the penis, lumpy discharge under the foreskin, or pain when urinating and during sex.
Symptoms of yeast infections in men include
*Discomfort and burning (dysuria) during urination.
*Itching or a burning sensation on the penis.
*Moist skin on the penis, possibly with areas of a thick, white substance collecting in skin folds.
*Sores on the foreskin of the penis.
*Irritation, itchiness and pain at the tip of the penis.
*White, lumpy, foul-smelling discharge.
*Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
*Redness and inflammation at the top of the penis.
*Small rash like bumps that may contain pus.
*Areas of white, shiny skin at the top of the penis.
•The treatments for balanitis:
Most mild to moderate cases of candidiasis will clear up in two to three days after you complete treatment. More severe cases of candidiasis may take a couple of weeks to clear up completely after treatment.
If you have a candida diagnosis, you'll want to get rid of this fungal infection as quickly as possible. so you can start feeling better.
Treatment with antifungal Antibiotics:
Penile yeast infection lasts for 7-14 days. your infection is treated early and responds well to antifungal medication, it can clear up within 7 to 14 days. If you are sexually active, your partner should also be treated for a yeast infection to avoid passing the infection on to them, or back to you.
Other measures are as follows:
Thoroughly cleaning your penis more often.
Diabetes management.
Circumcision.
Because Candida and other organisms are normally present under the foreskin, it is possible for men to experience further episodes of balanitis. There is no treatment to permanently 'cure' balanitis or eradicate the organisms that cause it.
In rare cases the mild yeast infections do not need treatment and the medicaments are not necessary unless the man develops symptoms. Even when left untreated, it might go away by itself. However, the yeast infection can sometimes spread to the scrotum, inner thighs and buttocks. Even more, serious penile yeast infection, if not treated, may lead to a wide scale of painful, uncomfortable, and potentially embarrassing symptoms. Also, severe infection can lead to dreadful complications if it spreads into bloodstream.
Fortunately, treatment for men with antifungal medications is simple. These medications come in topical (applied as cream) and oral form (in pill or tablet form).
Usually those medications are on sale as OTC medications (it means you don`t need prescription), and when used twice a day for about one to three weeks is mostly sufficient to cure the yeast infection.
The strongest candida killers are generally recognized to be antifungal drugs, such as fluconazole (brand name Diflucan), nystatin, and clotrimazole.
Forcan 150 Mg Tablet is a Tablet manufactured by Cipla. It is commonly used for the diagnosis or treatment of Fungal infections in mouth, throat, food pipe, genital infections, vaginal candidiasis. It has some side effects such as Dizziness, Diarrhoea, Altered taste, breathlessness.
Fluconazole (Forcan (150 mg)) is an antifungal agent, prescribed for vaginal candidiasis, pneumonia, meningitis and fungal infections of the mouth, throat, liver, kidneys, heart, urinary tract and abdomen.
Antifungal creams: Most male yeast infections are easily treated with over-the-counter antifungal medications.
If a yeast infection is causing balanitis, your provider will prescribe an antifungal cream such as clotrimazole to treat the infection.
For example Candiderma (Glenmark pharma) cream contains Clotrimezole,
Beclomethesone and Neomycin sulphate.
Many of the antifungal creams or oral medications recommended for a yeast infection include:
Miconazole (Lotrimin AF, Cruex, Desenex, Ting Antifungal)
Imidazole (Canesten, Selezen)
Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF, Anti-Fungal, Cruex, Desenex, Lotrimin AF Ringworm)
Oral Fluconazole (Diflucan) and a Hydrocortisone Cream may be advised in serious infections, for example for those who have developed a potentially serious condition called balanitis.
•Other treatment methods recommended for a yeast infection include:
*Along with using the medicated cream, you should also practice good hygiene which can help prevent yeast infections and even treat them. It is a good idea to wash the penis regularly with plain warm water, avoiding shower gels and soaps, and drying well after.
*Men should never use perfumed shower gels or soaps on their genitals.
*Wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear or boxers and keeping genitals dry and cool at all times can also prevent yeast growth.
If you have diabetes, work with your healthcare providers to make sure your blood sugar levels are well uncontrolled diabetes also predisposes to this condition.
*If you have a suppressed immune system, your doctor can recommend ways to help keep your immune system as healthy as possible. But there are also something you can do for the health of your immune system right now. This includes healthy food, enough physical activity, no stress and taking probiotics and vitamins like Vitamin D.
Information compiled by:
Dr. Bhairavsinh Raol
