Balanoposthitis:In males who are not circumcised, inflammation of the glans (the rounded head of the penis) known as balanitis, often occurs concurrently with inflammation of the foreskin, termed posthitis. This combination is referred to as balanoposthitis, indicating inflammation of both the glans and the foreskin. Circumcision prevents balanoposthitis since the absence of a foreskin eliminates the possibility of posthitis, thereby also preventing balanoposthitis. It is important for an uncircumcised boy to learn how to properly clean his penis to avoid infections and inflammation of both the foreskin and the glans. Cleaning should be done by gently retracting the foreskin without force, stopping where resistance is felt. Full retraction might not be achievable until the child is around three years old or older. The prefix "balano-" pertains to the glans of the penis (or clitoris) and is derived from the Greek word "balanos," meaning acorn. "Posthitis" (pronounced pos-THI-tis) also has Greek origins, from "posthe," meaning foreskin, combined with "-itis," indicating inflammation, thus defining inflammation of the foreskin. Consequently, balanoposthitis refers to inflammation of both the glans and the foreskin.
