Phimosis in children is a common disorder in which the foreskin is not removed from the glans penis. In this case, parents begin to complain that the child does not fully open the head of the penis. This condition can be congenital or acquired form. In a child, phimosis is almost always physiological. Normally, it goes to six years without outside help. It is important to determine what to do if the head does not open.
When is a problem considered a disease?
Phimosis can be classified as pathological if it occurs together with local symptoms (inflammatory process of the head of the penis and skin sheet, scarring of the foreskin, redness, slowed down urine output). Also, with phimosis, lesions of the urinary system (infection of the urethra, bladder) may be present.
Unfortunately, specialists can not always determine exactly what phimosis in young children is pathological and physiological. Poor qualification of the doctor, his inability to accurately distinguish between the physiological form of phimosis and the pathological phimosis can cause panic in parents. In this case, they will have to additionally visit a urologist.
Circumcision Features
If the child does not open the head, what should I do? The most common way to eliminate phimosis is circumcision of the foreskin. But now new methods of operations are being actively developed, which are gradually replacing the usual methods. Many modern surgical interventions help to achieve an effect with less pain and trauma for the child.
It is important to remember that the physiological form of phimosis does not need surgery and often goes away on its own when growing up. In this case, it is very important to carefully monitor the condition of the glans penis, follow the rules of hygiene and prevent infection and inflammatory processes.
Phimosis is the inability to withdraw the foreskin on the genitals behind the base of the head. This disease is quite common in adolescents under 16 years of age.
When is the best time to wait?
What to do if the head of the penis does not open? Most often, parents are very worried about the problems with the abduction of the foreskin on the head of the penis in the newborn. After visiting a doctor, many decide to conduct a planned operation to remove the foreskin.
Cases are common when circumcision in newborns is performed unnecessarily. Surgery itself can lead to complications and side effects, as well as sometimes to psychological injuries in the baby.
In order not to conduct an unjustified operation, it is important to be able to distinguish between physiological and pathological phimosis.
Features of the foreskin
The development of the child's genital organ occurs at the seventh week of pregnancy and completely ends by the 17th week. The cover of the penis forms a fold, which gives rise to the foreskin. It closes the head of the organ and is responsible for protective and erogenous functions.
The foreskin is distinguished by innervation and is well supplied with blood. On its surface, there are receptors of point contacts, which are sensitive.
When carrying out the removal of the foreskin, sensitive areas have to be removed. Unlike the foreskin, pressure receptors are located on the head, and there are no tactile receptors on it.
Physiological factors
In many newborns, specialists diagnose problems with exposure of the head. This condition appears for physiological reasons, which include:
- The formation of a narrow ring of skin covering the head.
- Clumping of the glans and prepuce for natural reasons. After the birth and during the first few years of a child, the surface of the prepuce is firmly pressed to the head of the genital organ and is not normal. Over time, as a child grows up, the balano-prepucial plate dissolves, which interferes with the normal exposure of the head.
- Short frenum of the penis.
Over time (from birth to 18 years), the mobility of the foreskin on the head begins to increase due to erections, as well as keratinization of the epithelial lining. Under the influence of such physiological processes, the exposure of the head of the penis increases significantly.
The complete opening of the head in most children occurs by the age of 12, but under the supervision of a urologist this condition can last up to 16 years.
With physiological phimosis, the foreskin is not changed, has a natural shade, there are no pronounced scars (stripes, spots) on the skin, as well as the inflammatory process. The narrowing is noted at the very end of the foreskin, and not over its entire surface.
Call to a specialist
If the boy does not open his head, what should I do? Mandatory treatment to a treating specialist is required in the following cases:
- It is important to visit a urologist every year to conduct a medical examination even in the absence of pronounced lesions in the baby.
- The presence of redness, swelling, inflammation, pain, bleeding in the area of the glans penis.
- A visit to the urologist is also necessary in the presence of scarring of the skin above the head, problems with the pressure of the jet when removing urine, difficulty urinating, as well as in the presence of urinary tract diseases.
- If during removal of the skin from the penis it cannot be returned back, then the foreskin forms a strong ring, compressing the base of the head.
Therapeutic measures
What to do if the head does not open? Features of treatment will directly depend on the age of the baby, the form of phimosis, the severity of the lesion, the causes of its occurrence, as well as the presence of additional pathological symptoms.
The attending physician must tell the parents of the child what preventive measures it is important to observe in order to prevent infection of this part of the body. What to do if the head does not open? With the pathological form of phimosis, the following methods of treatment are used:
- Medical gels and ointments with corticosteroids in the composition. A positive result from the use of such drugs can be achieved after 4-6 weeks of treatment. Only a small amount of ointment reaches the bloodstream, so when using it, no side effects are observed. Despite the good effectiveness of the local drugs used, a relapse of the disease may occur several months after the end of treatment. In this case, the doctor prescribes a second course.
- Treatment through surgery. When performing plastic surgery of the foreskin, the doctor achieves the result by narrowing its area. Its complete removal is not carried out. When performing plastic surgery during the recovery period, the child has no pain, bleeding, and also reduces the risk of infection. In addition, the penis retains full sensitivity, but there is a chance of a second relapse.
Prohibition of self-medication
If a man does not open his head, what should I do? In this case, it is important to remember that no self-medication of the disease and physical effects on the genital organ are unacceptable.
If the head does not open well, what should I do? Difficulties with opening the head of the penis can occur in a man, regardless of his age. The operation will help completely get rid of phimosis and restore the normal condition of the head, but after surgery, you will have to consult your doctor regularly to check the condition of the skin.
What to do if the head does not open fully? When conducting medication, the doctor prescribes a course of medication with corticosteroids in the composition.
In order for the opening of the glans penis to occur without any difficulties, it is important to regularly wash the penis.
Preventive actions
When swimming, a man must observe the normal regime of water temperature. Care for the glans penis should not be done using soap products that can adversely affect the removal of the foreskin. When identifying problems with opening the head of a penis in a man, it often turns out that such a condition appeared in him as a child as a result of exposure to various harmful substances found in urine and fecal matter.
When caring for the genital organ and its foreskin, it is important not to use tools that can provoke skin inflammation. Even mild soap when washing is important to use very carefully. Regular sexual intercourse with different partners can also cause problems with opening the head of the penis. If she stopped opening normally, then the risk is high that the man caught a sexual infection.