balanitis

1 9.9

Swelling and redness of the head of the penis often causing pain, itching, or discharge

noun
/ˌbæl.əˈnaɪ.tɪs/

Specialized

: balanitis

The doctor explained that balanitis is often treated with topical medications and improved cleanliness.

Examples

My understanding has been that problems with balanitis, or an infection under the foreskin, among GIs during WWII were at least partially responsible for the spike in circumcisions in the late.

Blog text (22)
Balanitis can occur when poor hygiene leads to inflammation of the head of the penis.
If balanitis is not managed properly, it can lead to discomfort and further complications.

Surface Forms

balanitis singular

balanitises plural

Morphology

balanitis = balan + itis

Although '-itis' signals inflammation, the root 'balan-' (referring to the glans) is an obscure combining form that most learners will not recognize, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived.

Etymology

Balanitis comes from the Greek root balanos, which means 'acorn', because the tip of the penis, called the glans, looks like a small acorn, and the ending -itis means 'inflammation', as in tonsillitis. So, balanitis is inflammation of the head of the penis.