Thin connective adhesions (fusion), or synechia, between the glans penis and the inner sheet of the foreskin are found in approximately 75% of children under the age of seven. This is a physiological norm that does not require any treatment. But if the adult foreskin has grown to the head of the penis, then this indicates pathology.
The term for opening the glans penis
The space between the glans penis and foreskin in childhood is well protected from various infections. Opening the head is an extremely individual process. In 4-5% of boys, the head can open in the first months, and in 15-25% of children, the opening becomes possible during the first year.
In most children (up to 90%), the foreskin acquires mobility only by three to five years. But most often, the discovery is carried out by a doctor or parents and is quite painful. This process independently occurs at the age of six to eight years, and in some boys the head begins to open only in adolescence.
Untimely head opening
If the foreskin does not go away for a long time, but at the same time nothing bothers the child, then do not worry. You need to show the boy to the doctor if there are problems with urination, inflammation or redness. If parents try to open the head on their own, infringement is possible. In this case, the child will be capricious, the skin may turn red, and urination will be difficult and painful. Such symptoms are a reason for visiting a pediatrician.
Reasons for the formation of adhesions in children
If in boys the foreskin has grown to the head, this is included in the concept of the norm. As they grow older, the adhesions soften, spontaneous erections occur, which contributes to the exposure of the head of the penis. By the age of six, the head of the penis should open without difficulty. If this does not happen, the reasons may be as follows:
- Infections of the genitourinary system. At this age, diseases can be transmitted by contact-household or vertical, that is, from mother to fetus during the passage of the genital tract during childbirth.
- Allergic reactions. Using certain hygiene products, detergents, or eating foods can cause skin rashes, redness, and irritation in the genital area.
- Transition of physiological phimosis to pathological.
- Connective tissue dysplasia. This disease is characteristic (except for synechia) curvature of the spine, pathology of the heart and blood vessels, weakness of the ligaments.
Causes of fusion in adults
The foreskin can grow to the head in adulthood. Then this is a pathological process. The causes of fusion in an adult male can be:
- Urogenital tract infections. Inflammation and further formation of adhesions will cause pathological secretions, as well as waste products of microorganisms.
- Non-observance of personal hygiene.
- Pathological phimosis in advanced form. In this case, smegma accumulates between the head and foreskin, which creates good conditions for the development of the inflammatory process and the growth of fibrous tissue.
- Superficial head injuries and the consequences of surgery. For example, the foreskin can grow to the head after circumcision.
Phimosis in childhood and adulthood
A condition in which the foreskin grows to the head, making it impossible to open it, is called phimosis. This can be either a variant of the norm (in childhood), or pathology. With phimosis, the head of the penis can be excreted almost completely, but with certain efforts. In the second stage of the disease, a complete opening is impossible, in the third only a few millimeters of the head open.
The fourth stage - the head does not open at all. In this case, an inflammatory process may develop or problems with urination may appear. Medical care is needed only in the fourth stage, but the third requires increased attention to the implementation of hygiene procedures. An infection may begin to develop.
When an infection is attached, a complex of unpleasant symptoms is usually added: itching and burning both in a calm state and during urination, an unpleasant odor, pus under the foreskin (may go out), pain, and urination problems. In this case, you need to contact a specialist. The doctor will open the head. Before healing, it will be necessary to treat the damaged area with antiseptics.
Adult men are recommended the only existing way to treat phimosis is circumcision. Other methods of therapy in most cases do not bring any effect.
Symptoms of adhesions of the foreskin of the penis
If the foreskin has grown to the head of the child, this will show up to parents when bathing. Normally, the boy does not cause any unpleasant sensations. This phenomenon disappears by three to five years. In adolescence, the symptoms of adhesions will be due to diseases that caused the growth of the foreskin in the head of the penny.
Non-specific symptoms (that is, signs that are inherent in many pathologies) can be considered painful sensations during urination, itching in the perineum, swelling of the head and foreskin of the penis, painful and limited head excretion, atypical discharge from the urethra and erection pain.
The appearance of these symptoms indicates the development and spread of the urogenital tract of the infectious process. This requires timely medical attention. Otherwise, you may encounter serious complications (up to impotence and infertility).
Diagnostic methods and treatment
Closely related in this condition are its causes and treatment. Is the foreskin attached to the head? This happens for various reasons, and the first thing a doctor should do is get ahead of the primary disease. Uncomplicated synechia in early childhood does not require any treatment at all. The condition should normalize independently as the boy grows up.
In the case of the formation of adhesions on the background of the inflammatory process, a surgeon or urologist performs a physical examination. A laboratory blood test is prescribed, an analysis of the smear and discharge from the urethra, a urine test to assess the general condition of the body. In some cases, an ultrasound examination of the perineum and pelvis is indicated.
When treating children under twelve years of age, conservative treatment is used. Parents should gently affect the foreskin, develop it, move it away and gently stretch while swimming. In this case, the child should not feel discomfort and pain.
If the foreskin has grown to the head, then the most common method of therapy for adolescents over twelve years of age and adult men is surgery. As a rule, the operation is performed under local anesthesia. The joints are dissected with a scalpel or probe - special tools.
After the procedure, the use of healing ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs of local effect is recommended. All therapies are prescribed by the doctor individually. Recovery takes about ten days. At this time, special attention should be paid to intimate hygiene.
If there is inflammation, surgery is not performed until the symptoms disappear completely. To do this, the doctor prescribes antibacterial agents, hygienic baths and local drugs to relieve inflammation.
Recommendations
In early childhood, the presence of adhesions in the boy is not a cause for excitement. Therefore, there are no specific preventive measures so that the foreskin does not grow to the head of the child or a discovery occurs faster. At an older age, prevention is aimed at preventing infections and complications.
If it is impossible to normal head removal in a child older than five years, parents are advised to consult a doctor for advice. The problem can be successfully resolved conservatively. You should also observe the rules of intimate hygiene, but without exposing the head with the application of effort. It is necessary to avoid diseases of the genitourinary system, use barrier contraceptives.
If the foreskin has grown to the head (synechia), preventive measures must be taken to prevent complications (phimosis). First of all, this provides for careful observance of hygiene rules.