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.
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The foreskin is red, swollen and tender and there may be a smelly discharge associated.
Posthitis can have infectious causes such as bacteria or fungi or non-infectious causes such as contact dermatitis or psoriasis. The inflammation may be caused by irritants in the environment. Common causative organisms include Candida, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. The cause must be properly diagnosed before a treatment can be prescribed.
A common risk factor is diabetes.
Posthitis can lead to phimosis, scarring of the foreskin which makes it difficult to retract. This then makes cleaning very difficult and predisposes to balanoposthitis
Posthitis can also lead to superficial ulcerations and diseases of the inguinal lymph nodes.
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.
If contact dermatitis is suspected, soaps and other external irritants should be discontinued and a latex allergy should be investigated.
The treatment depends on identification of the cause. Irritants in the environment should be removed. Antibiotics and antifungals can be used to treat the infection,[1] but good hygiene such as keeping the area dry is essential to stop recurrence, however excessive washing with soap can cause contact dermititis.[2]
If infection is sexually transmitted, sexual partners should be notified and treated.
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 be no posthitis or balanoposthitis although balanitis can occur separately.