Common Misdiagnoses of Balanitis

Balanitis describes inflammation of the head of the penis and is most often seen in uncircumcised men. The symptoms include redness and pain on the head of the penis as well as malodorous discharge. If this condition is not treated correctly, the result could be the inability to retract the foreskin without pain, in addition to scarring.

Proper Diagnosis Procedure

In most cases, a physical examination is necessary to diagnose balanitis. The redness and discharge of the penis may indicate that balanitis is one of the possibilities. However, since other conditions present the same symptoms, the doctor may test the skin to detect fungi, bacteria or viruses. Some doctors also perform a skin biopsy to get a closer look at the cause of the redness.

Misread Diagnosis

Many doctors diagnose balanitis based mainly on the physical examination. They are particularly likely to diagnose this in uncircumcised men. However, some doctors may be quick to consider other STD's that have similar symptoms, especially if they do not run any official tests.  

One of the first conditions that may come to mind upon observation of redness of the penis is genital herpes, as this is a common STD. The symptoms include painful blisters on the penis, which may sometimes look similar to the red rash caused by balanitis. However, other herpes symptoms include fever, loss of appetite and muscle aches. It may be painful to urinate, and the lymph nodes sometimes become swollen. Most doctors complete a culture of fluid from the blisters to test for the herpes virus. This test may be misread, though, causing a doctor to diagnose herpes in someone who actually has balanitis. 

Hepatitis is a viral infection in the liver, but the symptoms can affect the whole body. For example, patients often itch, lose their appetite and feel fatigued. Many patients also suffer from abdominal pain, vomiting and weight loss. While these symptoms do not seem similar to those of balanitis, many people with either condition never get any symptoms. Therefore, some doctors may improperly diagnose patients with hepatitis merely because they have had unprotected intercourse and have no symptoms. Therefore, doctors are advised to test the tissue before diagnosing certain STDs.

Get a Lawyer

If you are suffering from complications due to delayed diagnosis of balanitis, contact a lawyer. Together, you can determine whether your doctor was negligent in his treatment and diagnosis.