Penile candidiasis, which is an infection caused by Candida fungus and is less common than vaginal candidiasis, causes great problems in men. Penile candidiasis, which causes pain, swelling and unbearable itching in the genitals, is mostly seen in uncircumcised men.
WHAT CAUSES CANDIDIASIS IN MEN?
When the Candida fungus affects the penis, it produces an inflammation of the cuticle and glans called balanitis. Therefore, the main symptoms of candidiasis in men are redness of the foreskin and glans penis, the appearance of red and white papules around the penis, itching and burning sensation and a whitish coating of the glans penis.
This infection starts locally, but itching can cause papules and pustules to rupture, causing the infection to spread and irritation to surrounding areas such as the groin and scrotum.
Although candidiasis can be transmitted to a man through sexual contact with a woman with a vaginal yeast infection, candidiasis in men is not considered a sexually transmitted disease.
SUPPRESSION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Candida is part of the skin microbiota in small quantities, whose growth is controlled by the human defense system. The growth of the fungus will increase in the case of concurrent infections, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, steroid or immunosuppressive therapy, or any other condition that may weaken the immune system.
TO BE UNCIRCICULAR
Failure to circumcise the penis causes candidiasis in men because it keeps an enclosed space with a warm, moist temperature that allows the fungus to grow.
CHANGES IN THE BOTTOM FLORA
Imbalances in the intestinal flora facilitate the proliferation of yeasts in the stool. Therefore, any contact of the penis with any tissue or object passing through the anus can cause candidiasis in men. However, these yeasts can also be excreted through the urine, and in this way they have direct access to the glans area.
DOES GENITAL AREA HYGIENE EFFECT CANDIDIASIS IN MEN?
Excessive cleaning of the genital area, especially with irritating substances such as perfumed soaps, damages the bacterial flora of the skin. Thus, the natural barrier weakens, allowing a greater number of other microorganisms, such as candida, to enter.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF CANDIDIASIS IN MEN?
Inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin in candidiasis in men can cause scarring or adhesions on the penis. This leads to pain and difficulty urinating.
In addition, the infection can travel up to the urethra and enter the bloodstream, especially when using a urinary catheter or in patients with a severely weakened immune system. Systemic infection caused by Candida albicans is called candidemia.
DIAGNOSIS
It is diagnosed by observing signs of candidiasis in men. In cases that do not improve with initial treatment, only culture secretions from the affected area are required to confirm the fungal species. Verification can also be accomplished by direct examination with potassium hydroxide.
The advantage of these confirmatory studies is that, in addition to identifying the species, they allow us to know, through an antifungigram, to which antifungal agents the microorganism is susceptible. This improves treatment and outcomes.
TREATMENT OF CANDIDIASIS IN MEN
Infection usually subsides with topical antifungals. Only in some cases is oral medication necessary. Topical antifungals should be applied daily for 7 to 10 days. If they do not improve the condition, oral antifungals are associated with 10 to 14 days, depending on the severity.
The most commonly used drugs are orally administered ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole. Clotrimazole is common as a topical cream. If the condition is recurrent, circumcision is usually considered as it is a factor that limits the infectious processes and protects the area from recurrence. However, treatment does not guarantee that candidiasis in men will not return. Therefore, it is important to combine this with good genital hygiene habits.
CAN CANDIDIASIS IN MEN BE A HIGHLIGHT OF ANOTHER DISEASE?
Risk factors associated with candidiasis in men are a weak immune system and poor hygiene of the intimate area. For definitive eradication of the fungus, you need to carry out joint treatment with the sexual partner, improve hygiene and eliminate processes that can cause immune disorders such as poorly controlled diabetes.
Sometimes candidiasis in men has been described as one of the first signs of undiagnosed diabetes. Therefore, a detailed clinical study is necessary when a man has this infection.