Posthitis refers to the inflammation of the foreskin. In males who have not been circumcised, posthitis and balanitis—an inflammation of the glans, or the rounded head of the penis—often occur simultaneously, resulting in a condition known as balanoposthitis, which is the inflammation of both the foreskin and the glans. Circumcision prevents these conditions, as the absence of a foreskin eliminates the possibility of posthitis and thereby balanoposthitis.It is important for uncircumcised boys to learn proper hygiene to avoid infections and inflammation of the foreskin. This involves gently retracting the foreskin, without force, to clean the area. The foreskin should only be pulled back until slight resistance is felt, as full retraction may not be achievable until around age three or older.The word "posthitis" is derived from the Greek "posthe," meaning foreskin, combined with "-itis," which denotes inflammation, thus signifying inflammation of the foreskin.
