POSTITE

What is postite?

In medicine, with the term “postitis” s "identifies inflammation and / or infection of the foreskin, the retractable mucocutaneous layer that covers the glans penis. Generally, the inflammation does not remain limited to the preputial level, but tends to extend also to the glans: in similar situations, we speak of balanoposthitis; when, on the other hand, the inflammatory process only affects the glans, without affecting the foreskin, the disorder is known as balanitis (from balano = glans).

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pósthē

Symptoms

As we have seen, postitis involves only the foreskin; therefore, the affected subject complains of the following disorders:

especially dry and purulent foreskin skin;

swelling and widespread redness on the foreskin, with possible formation of exudate;

bloody preputial wounds;

formation of micro-lesions and sores on the foreskin, which are accentuated during intercourse;

burning and / or possible pain during intercourse;

loss of elasticity and small cracks on the foreskin;

preputial skin excoriations;

preputial microvesiculation;

phimosis (narrowing at the preputial level);

discomfort sometimes associated with pain during intimate hygiene: the typical sensation of subjects suffering from postitis is the “skin that pulls” for cleaning the glans;

whitish spots affecting the foreskin;

the glans has no red spots, irritation, bruising or pain.

Causes and related diseases

The triggering causes that generate postitis are almost the same analyzed for balanoposthitis and balanitis: they are mostly infectious etiological factors (eg. Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, Herpes simplex), toxic (e.g. intolerance to particular medicinal specialties), traumatological, autoimmune, metabolic, allergic (e.g. contact dermatitis).
Among all, the Candida albicans, fungi which, under normal conditions, resides in the digestive system of all individuals: in conditions of imbalance, the Candida albicans it could cause damage, therefore burning, itching and small pustules. Candida postitis, in turn, could be favored by diabetes mellitus, urethritis and gonorrhea.
Poor intimate hygiene or excessive use of irritating detergents could also predispose to postitis: in general, however, incorrect hygiene of the genitals also causes irritation of the glans, as well as of the foreskin.
Still, the disease could be transmitted through sexual contagion: not surprisingly, the postitis "s" fits into the category of sexually transmitted diseases.
The symptoms caused by postitis sometimes reflect ammonia dermatitis, mainly caused by pathogenic microorganisms capable of decomposing urea; consequently urea is released in the urine [taken from Clinical Andrology, By Wolf-Bernhard Schill, Frank H. Comhaire, Timothy B. Hargreave].
According to some authors, postitis represents the most obvious complication of balanitis.

Therapy

Given the heterogeneity of the triggering factors, before proceeding with the treatment of postitis, the doctor must identify the cause through a targeted andrological examination. Although this type of control is remarkably embarrassing for most men, the patient suffering from postitis ( or balanoposthitis) should undergo the examination as soon as possible, in order to speed up healing, followed by a meticulous bacteriological and mycological investigation in order to isolate the responsible bacteria.
The partner should also have an examination, as she may have been infected.
Generally, specific antimicrobials are prescribed, such as topical metronidazole and clotrimazole; cortisone creams can also be useful, especially in case of a suspected contact dermatitis.
When postitis is generated by incorrect intimate hygiene, the affected man will have to correct his hygiene habits.
In some cases, circumcision could be a permanent solution to redeem the patient from balanitis.