What does phimosis look like in children?

After a child is born, parents will first observe whether his or her genitals are healthy and sound, etc. However, genital problems after birth are the most common in males, which will have a serious impact on the child's reproductive development. Among them, phimosis is an important factor affecting the child's physiological development. What are the manifestations of phimosis in children? Let’s take a look at the explanation below, I hope everyone can understand it.

Congenital phimosis: Every normal boy is born with congenital phimosis. There is physiological adhesion between the foreskin and the glans penis. In addition, the foreskin opening is narrow, so the foreskin cannot be turned up to expose the glans penis. Strictly speaking, congenital phimosis is not a disease, but a physiological phenomenon. If a boy is not born with phimosis, it is abnormal for the glans penis to be exposed. It may be a congenital malformation, such as hypospadias or epispadias. Physiological phimosis will start to occur a few months after birth as the adhesions are absorbed, the foreskin separates from the glans penis, and the foreskin opening gradually expands and heals itself. 90% of phimosis in children will heal on their own after the age of 3. After the age of 17, less than 1% have phimosis. Most cases of physiological phimosis can heal on their own.

Acquired phimosis: Congenital phimosis can lead to infection and cause balanoposthitis. If balanoposthitis recurs and becomes a chronic inflammation, the foreskin opening will lose its skin elasticity and expansion ability, forming a scar contracture, and the foreskin cannot be turned up. This type of phimosis is acquired phimosis, which is often accompanied by urethral stenosis. Scar contracture after foreskin trauma can also lead to acquired phimosis.

There are two types of acquired phimosis: pseudophimosis and true phimosis. Pseudophimosis is not true phimosis. When the child has an erection, he only needs to pull down the foreskin with his hands to expose the glans penis, which may even break out automatically during an erection. If phimosis is not treated in time, the glans penis will be locked by the foreskin for a long time, causing poor development of the penis after puberty and affecting sexual life.

Therefore, if parents find that their infants and young children have phimosis, they do not need to worry too much. If a child still has phimosis after puberty, surgical treatment should be performed immediately.