Patient's question:

Medical history (onset time, main symptoms, changes in symptoms, etc.): My child is only 7 years old now and has developed phimosis. I feel that phimosis is quite serious, so I want to ask the doctor what are the potential harms of phimosis in my child and how it should be treated.

Doctor's answer:

The meatus of the prepuce is narrow, resembling a pinhole, which can cause varying degrees of urinary difficulty, slow and thin urine flow, and swelling of the prepuce during urination. The prepuce cannot be retracted for cleaning, leading to the accumulation of smegma within the preputial sac. Smegma can be expelled through the meatus of the prepuce or remain as small clumps in the coronal sulcus of the glans penis. The retention of smegma, along with obstructed urine flow, increases the risk of balanoposthitis. During balanoposthitis, the meatus of the prepuce becomes red and swollen, with purulent discharge. In cases of paraphimosis, severe pain occurs, accompanied by swelling of the prepuce and a visible constricting ring at its upper edge. The glans penis appears dark purple. Urinary difficulty is present, and prolonged paraphimosis can lead to necrosis of the prepuce and glans penis.