Brief Answer:
Candidal (fungal) infection of the glans penis are

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

I can understand your concern for the present situation.

After reading your complete query with diligence I can make out that your husband is suffering from candidal (fungal) infection of the glans penis area.

Before I proceed to his condition, let you understand some medical facts- Fungal infections are common type of infections which can affect anybody at any site. But more commonly it affects the areas which are moist areas (as in your husband’s case).

More specifically this is related to the hygiene especially in uncircumcised males. It is more common to find moist area at glans penis and frenulum (skin covering the glans penis) area which favors the growth of fungus. The fungus can be grown directly in an individual because of diabetes. Raised blood sugar always causes fungal growth and resultant skin peeling, cracking of skin which hurts during urination and sex.

So in case of unprotected sexual intercourse if the area is not washed properly or later on if the hygiene is not maintained properly anybody can get the infection again. So the same thing is in his case too.

For the management of the same kindly provide the below suggestions to your husband:

- Wash penile area for two times in a day. he can use a mild soap to wash the area. Wash it very gently but properly. As he is uncircumcised so it is quite important to retract his skin fully backwards and then wash the area.

- After every sexual intercourse too, wash the area properly. I personally suggest you to use protection in form of condoms during every intercourse.

- It is quite very important to check for infection in yourself too. If you have white discharge then it is the most common cause of recurrent infection. In all the cases of candidal infection we always treat the partner. So get your partner treated for the same.

- Wear cotton undergarments. Change these two times a day. Do not wear any synthetic or tight garments.

- In my pateitns I suggest them to apply anti-fungal creams such as "Sertaconazole" or "clotrimazole" and take anti-fungal tablets such as fluconazole according to medical advice.

-Meet a family physician to just check his blood sugar level and accordingly if required medication could be given to have adequate control.

Overall it is nothing to be worried about. It is a common condition which we see quite often in our day to day practice. With complete treatment of self and partner and with good hygiene maintenance it can be controlled very easily.

The most important of all the parts and management is control of sugar. If his sugar is not controlled then none of the measures can help on its best. So just ask him to maintain normal and controlled sugar level.

I hope this clears all your doubts. Tell me if you have any further quires.

Wish you good health
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

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