Posthitis

Inflammation of the prepuce (the foreskin of the penis). In the uncircumcised male, posthitis and balanitis (inflammation of the glans, the rounded head of the penis) usually occur together as balanoposthitis: inflammation of both the glans and foreskin. Circumcision prevents balanoposthitis. Without a foreskin, there can of course be no posthitis and hence no balanoposthitis. An uncircumcised boy should be taught to clean his penis with care to prevent infection and inflammation of the foreskin. Cleaning of the penis is done by gently, not forcibly, retracting the foreskin. The foreskin should be retracted only to the point where resistance is met. Full retraction of the foreskin may not be possible until the age of 3 or more. The term "posthitis" (pronounced pos-THI-tis) comes from the Greek "posthe" meaning foreskin + "-itis" meaning inflammation = inflammation of the foreskin.

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Inflammation of the prepuce. [G. posthe, prepuce, + -itis, inflammation]

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pos·thi·tis (.)päs-'thīt-əs n, pl pos·thit·i·des -'thit-ə-.dēz inflammation of the prepuce

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n.

inflammation of the foreskin. This usually occurs in association with inflammation of the glans penis (balanitis; see balanoposthitis). Pain, redness, and swelling of the foreskin occurs due to bacterial infection. Treatment is by antibiotic administration, and subsequent circumcision prevents further attacks.

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pos·thi·tis (pos-thiґtis) [posth- + -itis] inflammation of the prepuce.