Postoperative care for phimosis in children

It is not uncommon for children to undergo phimosis surgery. Currently, most men have phimosis, but not all of them need to be removed. Generally, phimosis surgery for children needs to be performed after the age of three or four, and daily care is required afterwards, such as anti-inflammation, avoiding friction, maintaining good sleep, etc.

What is phimosis surgery in children?

When children are born, the foreskin is adhered to the glans penis (glans). When they are 3 to 4 years old, due to the development of the penis and glans penis and the penis erection, the foreskin of most children can retract upward on its own, and the foreskin can be turned outward to expose the glans penis. However, the foreskin of some children is very thin, and the foreskin cannot be retracted even during puberty, which hinders the development of the glans and even the entire penis. The foreskin opening is as small as a pinhole, and some patients even experience difficulty urinating. In this case, surgery is necessary.

How to care for children after phimosis surgery

1. After phimosis surgery, you must follow the doctor's instructions to take anti-inflammatory drugs; pay attention to whether the wound has bleeding after the operation; fix the wound with absorbent gauze after the operation, remove the gauze after 3 days, expose the wound, and clean it with antibiotic ointment and 4% boric acid water.

2. After phimosis surgery, you must avoid local friction and wear loose underwear. In addition, sports such as cycling have a greater impact on postoperative recovery.

3. Keeping the child sleeping well within 2 to 3 months after phimosis surgery will help him recover faster. At the same time, children are encouraged to urinate in time after surgery to avoid urinary retention. Also, try to keep the wound dry. If the gauze gets wet when urinating, go to the hospital to replace it in time.

4. Parents should always pay attention to their children's wounds. After the operation, the wound should be fixed with absorbent gauze. After 3 days, the gauze should be removed to expose the wound, and it should be cleaned with antibiotic ointment and boric acid water. After the operation, parents should pay attention to whether there is bleeding from the wound. If bleeding occurs, they must seek medical attention in time.

The harm of phimosis in children

1. Damage to kidney function: Inflammation of the penis may cause stenosis of the urethral opening or anterior urethra, leading to difficulty in urination. If you have difficulty urinating for a long time, your kidney function will be damaged.

2. Hindering the development of the penis: During adolescence, because the glans penis is tightly covered by the foreskin and cannot receive the necessary external stimulation, the development of the glans penis is greatly restricted, causing the circumference of the glans penis crown to become significantly smaller after the sexual organ matures.

3. There is a risk of cancer: If the foreskin of a child is too long and not treated promptly and effectively, it will often lead to phimosis. When phimosis occurs, the blood circulation of the incarcerated penis is blocked and it cannot get nutrition. The glans penis and foreskin are prone to infection, ulceration and even necrosis. The repeated occurrence of balanitis and chronic stimulation of smegma will promote the occurrence of penile cancer.

4. Affect the normal development of the glans: Once repeated urethral infections occur, it is easy to cause adhesion of the foreskin and the glans mucosa, affecting the normal development of the glans. Severe symptoms may even cause glans deformity.

5. Inflammation of the penis: There are abundant sebaceous glands in the foreskin, which can secrete a large amount of sebum. Generally, when suffering from phimosis or prepuce is too long, the secretions of the sebaceous glands in the foreskin cannot be discharged, and the sebum and the sediment in the urine combine to form cheese-like and smelly "scum". Smegma is suitable for bacterial growth, so it will cause inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin.

Clinical investigations have shown that the incidence of penile cancer in those who underwent circumcision before the age of 20 is not significantly different from that in those with normal foreskin. In addition, the foreskin opening of congenital phimosis will gradually expand due to constant traction within 3 to 4 years after the child is born, so it is not advisable to choose surgery too early. It can be seen from this that in order to effectively treat phimosis, especially to prevent the occurrence of penile cancer, phimosis surgery in children should be performed before pathological changes reach the entire dermis and the cell structure has not changed, that is, when the child is 10-14 years old.