[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by R J K. at 19 Feb 2001 20:14:44: Re: Young child with possible phimosis
As an answer to: Young child with possible phimosis written by Huenemann at 19 Feb 2001 12:42:04:
>I am writing on behalf on my 3 1/2 yr old, who cannot begin to retract his foreskin. His Dr here in Paris (France) says that the opening from which he pees is too small and he needs an operation. I am sceptical, and would not assume the non-retraction to be a problem yet, except that he complains of pain during urination and during his infrequent and only-recently-discovered erections (he is rather amazed at the whole thing).
Karyn, one important question is, what operation does the Dr have in mind? If circumcision, it's understandable that you'd not want it at this age, when it could be pretty traumatic for the child. Another possibility, much less drastic, can end the problem and be healed within less than a week, in all likelihood. That would be to make a very short dorsal slit, in the top of the foreskin, accompanied by running a probe around the glans under the foreskin to make sure there are no adhesions between foreskin and glans. It may be that the doctor had such a dorsal slit in mind; it's sometimes called "the French cut" by American doctors, many of whom are advocates of circumcision. The dorsal slit can be made so short that it is virtually unnoticeable when the penis is flaccid, yet the foreskin is always easily retracted for cleaning and elimination of infection-causing bacteria. I personally think that this minimally invasive surgical approach is much preferable (and more likely to be quickly forgotten by the child) than any effort to use a steroid cream accompanied by prolonged efforts to loosen the tight skin. Bon chance! RJK.
>Should I be using betamethasone cream? Or hydrocortizone or Canesten (I HAVE those)?
>Anyone know if there are negative side effects, so that I should AVOID using steroids on one so young?
>Thanks for any advice.
>K Huenemann