Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin - the skin covering the head of the penis - is particularly narrow. This anomaly is quite common in newborns and young children. The main negative consequence is that this condition can affect urination and normal sexual activity of the patient. In fact, it increases the risk of urinary tract infections.
Depending on the severity, a distinction is made between phimosis, in which it is impossible to expose the head of the penis, and phimosis, in which the head is only partially exposed. As a rule, treatment for this condition includes circumcision surgery, which can be performed at the Bogolyuby MC . During the intervention, the skin of the prepuce is removed completely or partially.
If phimosis is diagnosed at a young age, it makes sense to wait, accompanied by manipulations that help improve the condition and increase the elasticity of the skin. In some cases, conservative treatment is carried out based on corticosteroid creams, which are applied 2-3 times a day for a maximum of 3 months, used for the same purpose.
What are the causes of phimosis?
Phimosis can be either congenital or acquired. This condition is observed in 80% of infants under 6 months and in 10% of children under three years of age. Up to 6 years of age, this is a physiological norm, which is important to know and not to panic ahead of time. If phimosis is associated with urination problems, then early correction by circumcision is applied.
Acquired phimosis occurs in adulthood due to infectious pathologies (fungal or bacterial) affecting the foreskin or head of the penis, eczema, psoriasis. This may be a consequence of chronic inflammation, such as lichen sclerosus . This pathology causes atrophy and ulceration of the affected tissues, followed by the formation of scars.
What are the complications of phimosis?
Partial phimosis can lead to a complication such as paraphimosis . In this case, it is not possible to cover the head with the foreskin after it is exposed. This can happen after catheterization or after inept hygiene procedures in a child. Due to paraphimosis, the head of the penis swells, “grabbing” the retracted foreskin. The area becomes swollen and painful, requiring emergency surgery.
What are the signs of phimosis?
Symptoms of phimosis are varied and closely related to the severity of the clinical picture and the underlying cause. Usually the patient complains of redness, swelling, itching or burning in the area of the glans and foreskin. Sexual intercourse is difficult. Cracks, small ulcerations, and sometimes bleeding may appear if the condition develops as a result of minor injuries to the penis. The skin at the level of the foreskin is pale and loses its elasticity, especially with lichen sclerosus . In severe forms of the disease, difficulty urinating.
What to do and what not to do?
Never undertake traumatic maneuvers to expose the head, as they are not only painful, but also fraught with dangerous consequences. For adult patients with acquired phimosis, as mentioned above, a conservative treatment regimen using hormonal cream can be recommended. If this approach is ineffective, then the only alternative is circumcision surgery. The intervention is carried out on an outpatient basis.
To prevent the risk of developing phimosis, it is very important to maintain proper genital hygiene to reduce the risk of inflammation, infection or adhesions.
