What is phimosis in children?

Phimosis in children is a physiological condition, which is expressed in the narrowing of the foreskin and in the difficulty of removing the glans penis. This condition is not manifested in every boy, because it depends on the characteristics of the fetal development of the fetus. Children's andrology and urologists disagree about the treatment of phimosis, but they all consider this phenomenon transient, stating that after a certain period of time (8 or 15 years), the flesh and head will separate as a result of spontaneous rejection of the synechia.

Degrees of development of the disease

Physiological phimosis has four stages of development:

1 degree. In a normal state, the glans penis is removed, but there are problems with erection.

2 degree. The head is not completely displayed, but is visualized.

3 degree. Only part of the head is output.

4 degree. Difficulty of urinating in the presence of adhesions, a prepackial sac.

The first and second degree of phimosis require strict adherence to the rules of care and hygiene; in turn, the fourth or third degree is a prerequisite for the appointment of adequate treatment. Regular intake of baths with decoctions of chamomile, calendula or with the addition of potassium permanganate are mandatory for hygienic procedures in boys with phimosis 1 and 2 degrees. With phimosis of the third degree, these procedures are no less important, since they allow to avoid surgical treatment.

Possible complications

Sometimes due to non-compliance with hygiene rules, phimosis in children can cause various complications. Such phenomena include balanoposthitis (inflammation of the foreskin of the penis). Often this disease is expressed in swelling, redness, itching and deformity of the penis, as well as in violation of urination. If frequent relapses of balanoposthitis occur, they can be expressed in the appearance of scars on the foreskin. As a result, physiologic phimosis in children turns into cicatricial, and this condition already requires adequate treatment. Balanoposthitis, although rare, can still give a complication in the form of spread of infection to the genitourinary system. In this case, the boy will need adequate antibiotic therapy, uroseptics, plentiful drink.

Another complication of phimosis is paraphimosis, this condition occurs when, when trying to open the head, it becomes jammed. Paraphimosis requires emergency care, as it can lead to a violation of blood circulation in the genital and to its death. Emergency help is also required if the boy feels a feeling of discomfort when urinating, if the urine stream is very thin, if local procedures do not give the desired relief.

Phimosis in children. Treatment.

In modern medical practice, two methods of treating phimosis in children are used. Gentle method is a surgical mini-operation to cut existing adhesions. The second method - circumcision or circumcision, it is used in cicatricial phimosis or in the ineffectiveness of other treatments. The pharmacological methods include long-term use of hormonal ointments, which soften and increase the elasticity of the foreskin. The drawbacks of this method are long-term use of hormonal drugs and their effect on the children's body, but there are many positive outcomes, when for a year the doctors achieved a cure even of the third and fourth stages. Such treatment of phimosis in children today is considered quite sparse.

It should be noted that the timely passage of medical examinations, attention to health and complaints of your child, adherence to elementary rules of hygiene is an excellent prevention of complications and a pledge of health for the future of men.