What is the postite?
In medicine, the term "postitis" identifies the inflammation and / or infection of the prepuce, the retractable mucocutaneous leaflet that covers the glans of the penis. In general, inflammation does not remain circumscribed at the preputial level, but tends to extend also to the glans: in similar situations, it is called balanopostitis; when instead the inflammatory process affects only the glans, without affecting the foreskin, the disorder is known as balanitis (from balano = glande).
Symptoms
As we have seen, the postite only involves the foreskin; therefore, the affected subject complains of the following disorders:
- particularly dry and purulent foreskin skin;
- swelling and diffuse redness on the foreskin, with possible exudate formation;
- bleeding wounds at preputial level;
- formation of microlesions 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;
- prepucial skin excoriation;
- preputial microvescication;
- phimosis (narrowing at preputial level);
- discomfort sometimes associated with pain during intimate hygiene: typical sensation of subjects with postites is the "skin that pulls" for cleaning the glans;
- whitish spots affecting the foreskin;
- the glans does not show red spots, irritation, excoriation or pain.
Causes and related diseases
The triggering causes that generate posts are almost the same as those analyzed for balanopostitis and for balanitis: these are mostly infectious etiological factors (eg Chlamydia, trichomoniasis , Herpes simplex ), toxic (eg intolerance to particular medicinal products), traumatologic, autoimmune, metabolic, allergic (eg contact dermatitis).
Among all, Candida albicans stands out, a fungus which, under normal conditions, resides in the digestive tract of all individuals: in conditions of imbalance, Candida albicans could cause damage, therefore burning, itching and small pustules. The Candida postite, in turn, could be favored by diabetes mellitus, urethritis and gonorrhea.
Also the scarce intimate hygiene, or the excessive use of irritating detergents could predispose to the postite: in general, however, the incorrect hygiene of the genitals causes irritation also at the level of the glans, as well as of the foreskin.
Furthermore, the disease could be transmitted through sexual contagion: not surprisingly, the postitis is inserted in the category of sexually transmitted diseases.
The symptoms caused by the postitis sometimes reflects an ammoniacal dermatitis, caused mainly by pathogenic microorganisms capable of decomposing the urea; consequently urea is released into the urine [from clinical Andrology, by Wolf-Bernhard Schill, Frank H. Comhaire, Timothy B. Hargreave].
According to some authors, the postite represents the most obvious complication of balanitis.
Therapy
Given the heterogeneity of the triggering factors, before proceeding with the treatment of the postitis, the doctor must identify the cause through a targeted andrological examination. Although this kind of control is greatly embarrassing for most men, the patient with postite (or balanoposthitis) should undergo the visit as soon as possible, in order to speed healing. A meticulous bacteriological and mycological investigation will follow in order to isolate the responsible bacteria.
The partner should also undergo a visit, as it may have been infected.
In general, specific antimicrobials are prescribed, such as for example metronidazole and topical clotrimazole; also cortisone creams can be useful, especially in case of a suspected contact dermatitis.
When the postite is generated by incorrect intimate hygiene, the affected man will have to correct his hygiene habits.
In some cases, circumcision could be a definitive solution to redeem the patient from balanitis.
