Very often in neonatal boys there is such an innate disease as phimosis . Phimosis is a special structure of the genital organ in the male, in which the narrowing of the prepuce interferes with the opening of the head. It can be of varying degrees, depending on the possibility of revealing the foreskin (1 to 4).
In this article, we will examine the main types of phimosis in boys and methods of treating it in children.
Types and causes of phimosis
By the nature of the origin of phimosis is:
- physiological (congenital) - manifested from birth, most often passes to a certain age (usually to 7-8 years);
- acquired (pathological) - can appear at any age as a result of trauma to the genitals or transferred inflammatory or infectious diseases.
As a consequence of the appearance of phimosis, a man can develop paraphimosis, that is, infringement of the head.
In turn, the acquired phimosis happens:
- cicatricial (atrophic) - develops as a result of scar scarring of the foreskin, occurs as a result of injuries or infections. With this form, the foreskin is much thinner than normal, and the scar tissue is whitish in color.
- hypertrophic is an innate elongation and narrowing of the foreskin, in which the urination process is disrupted and a constant accumulation of infections occurs, but the elasticity and color do not change. It often happens in children with excess weight.
Although some doctors say that phimosis is normal, but this phenomenon brings not only physical discomfort, but also causes psychological trauma in boys, especially in adults, so you need to know how to treat it.
How to treat phimosis in boys?
Depending on the degree and type of phimosis, after 7 years, boys are offered two types of treatment: conservative (at home) and surgical (operation).
Treatment of phimosis at home
In cases of congenital phimosis or acquired in mild degrees (1 and 2), conservative treatment can be tried, which is as follows:
- stretching the foreskin - 3-4 times a week during bathing in very warm water with herbs (chamomile or string). The procedure consists in shifting the prepuce to the appearance of mild pain, and then injecting a little sterile vaseline oil;
- mandatory adherence to hygiene of the genitals after each visit to the toilet;
- treatment with antiseptic solutions;
- application of hormonal ointment (corticosteroids, but only after consulting a doctor).
Such treatment is most often ineffective and very long, so if home treatment does not promote self-disclosure of the head, then it is worth using surgical intervention.
Operation as a method of treatment of phimosis in boys
This method of treatment should be consulted for hypertrophic or congenital phimosis of grade 3 and 4 in boys after 7 years of age, when conservative treatment does not help accurately.
For the treatment of phimosis, circumcision is most often used, which consists in circumcision of the foreskin. In cases of complications ( balanoposthitis or paraphimosis), longitudinal cut of the foreskin is done, and after the removal of the inflammation also circumcision. The operation in the treatment of phimosis is the most effective, quick and safe way, just do not tighten with it, since it can be better performed at lighter degrees.
Having found out phimosis from your child, it is better to immediately contact a pediatric urologist who will determine his degree and offer you treatment to determine how to treat this disease.