Don't ignore if your child hurts every time he pees. Observe carefully the condition of his penis. Young children usually have difficulty telling exactly what they are feeling. For this reason, parents must be sensitive and carefully observe the health condition of their little ones. So, if the child feels sick or has difficulty urinating, it could be a problem with the genitals. This should not be ignored, because if it is not treated immediately an infection can occur and result in infertility or other sexual obstacles in the future.
Closed foreskin
One of the disturbances that may arise in the child's genital organs is the closing of the tip of the foreskin of the penis. In medical terms, this disorder is called phimosis. As a result, urine cannot come out normally and the head of the penis cannot be cleaned. This condition will trigger an infection in the head of the penis (balanitis). If this situation continues, where the urethra at the tip of the penis is blocked, the doctor will recommend that your little champ be circumcised. This action is performed by opening and cutting the skin of the penis so that the tip is exposed.
What caused it?
Phimosis in newborn boys occurs when the space between the foreskin and the penis does not develop properly. This condition causes the foreskin to become attached to the head of the penis, making it difficult to dance toward the base. The cause can be congenital or acquired, for example, due to infection or impact.
What are the Symptoms?
To mark whether the child really has phimosis, parents should pay close attention to the following symptoms:
- The skin of the child's penis cannot be pulled toward the base when it is cleaned
- The child struggles when urinating because the mouth of the urethra is closed at the end. Usually, he cries and the tip of his penis looks bulging.
- The urine that comes out is not smooth, sometimes dripping, and emanating in unpredictable directions.
- If an infection occurs, the child will cry every time he urinates, and can also be accompanied by a fever.
If you find the above symptoms in a child, you should take him to the doctor. Remember never try to force open the foreskin by pulling it to the base of the penis. This action is dangerous because pulling the foreskin to the base can pinch the shaft of the penis and cause intense pain and swelling. This in medical terms is called Para Phimosis.
If the child has difficulty urinating, the doctor will try to expand the adhering skin, but this must be done with great care by an experienced doctor. If this attempt fails, circumcision is the way out, especially if the phimosis persists or an infection occurs. To perform a circumcision on a child, the problem of anesthesia must also be considered because if the child is afraid and feels pain, this will affect his mental condition in the future. In addition, if the child is struggling because of fear or pain, then this act of circumcision will actually be dangerous because it can injure his penis and the penile skin suturing cannot be done perfectly.
The article was written by dr. Johan R. Wibowo, Sp.U (Urological Surgery Specialist at EMC Pulomas Hospital).