Posthitis

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Posthitis (pronounced pos-THI-tis) is inflammation of the foreskin of the human penis (the prepuce). The term "posthitis" comes from the Greek "posthe" meaning foreskin + "-itis" meaning inflammation = inflammation of the foreskin.

Circumcision

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.

Prevention in uncircumcised men

Hygiene, in particular cleaning the glans of the penis, is generally considered sufficient to prevent infection and inflammation of the foreskin. Full retraction of the foreskin may not be possible in boys younger than about ten years.