What are the effects and harms of phimosis in children

Phimosis in children is not unfamiliar to many people. Many children are born with this condition and it can heal itself. Many people want to know the impact of phimosis on children. If it does not heal itself, phimosis in children may affect the child's development and be harmful to his life.

1. Affects the normal development of the penis: the foreskin cannot be turned up, the glans penis cannot be exposed, and the penis cannot grow normally, which can result in a small penis over time.

2. Affect the normal development of the glans: In some children with phimosis, if there are repeated urethral infections, it is easy to cause adhesion of the foreskin and the glans mucosa, affecting the normal development of the glans, and in severe cases, glans deformity.

3. Causes inflammation of the penis: There are abundant sebaceous glands in the foreskin, which can secrete a large amount of sebum. When phimosis occurs, the secretions of the sebaceous glands in the foreskin cannot be discharged, and the sebum and sediment in the urine combine to form the cheese-like and smelly "smegma". Smegma is suitable for bacterial growth, so it can cause inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin. Bacteria can also cause urinary tract infection through the urethra. Inflammation occurring at the urethral opening may cause narrowing of the urethral opening after healing, resulting in difficulty in urination.

4. After inflammation, the mucosal epithelial cells fall off, forming foreskin stones as the central core and the scale on the periphery. Most parents feel very anxious when they find small lumps in their children's foreskin. In fact, the stones can be removed by slightly expanding the phimosis ring.

5. With phimosis, the development of the penis and glans is often restricted. Due to the restricted development, it looks like a small penis from the outside. Clinical investigations have shown that the incidence of penile cancer in those who undergo circumcision before the age of 20 is not significantly different from that in those with normal foreskin. Therefore, the time for surgery should be before the age of 20, which can significantly reduce the harm of congenital phimosis in children.