infection in penis?

[fortheloveofvintage]

Hi all,

So a few days ago my husband pulled back my 4 year olds foreskin to wash underneath. I did query at the time wether we should be doing that but my husband has a knack of acting like he knows what he's doing when he's just making it up as he goes. He confirmed that yes, of course we should be washing under his foreskin and made me fee bad for not doing it before!

Stupid me just assumed that because my husband has one himself, he would know better then me!

Anyway last night we got home and I pulled off my sons pants, top of his willy was very red and he had (tmi) crusty discharge in pants (yellow with speck of blood)

Asked him to go for a wee to see if it hurt and he did with no complaints. Asked him if his willy hurt and he said it didn't.

This morning the redness is less but still a white discharge coming out. I am taking him to dr incase I need a cream but now I am concerned as his foreskin seems quite tight and won't retract even a tiny bit.

I'm now worried we have damaged him as have been googling and the general advice is to never retract the fore skin as can lead to tearing, which leads to an overly tight foreskin, which leads to circumcision!

Has anyone's little one had an infection with no side effects like this? Should he 'go back to Normal' after the infection clears up?

[MattDillonsPants]

I don't think you're meant to. Take him to the GP.

[fortheloveofvintage]

Called GP and have a nurse calling me back soon. Just wondered if anyone had any experience of this in mean time as I am getting myself really worried that he will be damaged for life (I have a fair bit of health anxiety, especially around my son)

[Penfold007]

A child's foreskin shouldn't be forced back, it's meant to be a close fit up until 10 or so. You need to take your son to the GP or better still your DH should so he can explain what he did and why.

[fortheloveofvintage]

I know that now, but as a female had no idea about foreskins until I was forced to google it because of this incident. I had no idea that they shouldn't be pulled back and I can bet that a lot of other females wouldn't have a clue either.

My husband was under the (mistaken) impression that he was practising good hygiene. I don't blame him for this, he didn't do it to deliberately hurt out son and now feels terrible about the whole thing.

I was looking for some helpful advise or experiences but I forgot that MN is full of judgemental and rude pricks.

So if your only advice is that it shouldn't have happened, I KNOW THAT NOW. Telling me it shouldn't have happened isn't helpful after the fact!!

Have a doc appointment sorted, as explained earlier just wanted to hear some
Other mums experiences of this.

[Jugglingballs65]

My DS had an infection under his foreskin aged about 3. Needed antibiotics which cleared it up.
Later was seen at the hospital who said it was adhered to his penis and was too tight. Had an op to gently stretch the foreskin and no further prkblems.
Your sons is probably very tight now due to swelling. Once the infection clears it should loosen again.

[Penfold007]

OP you make a valid point re lack of understanding about genital care in children, maybe it's something that needs to be taught? P

[HeffalumpHistory]

My ds also had an infection under foreskin about 6months ago & got an antibiotic plus cream.
Although the circumstances may not be common, I believe these infections are fairly common in little boys. Hopefully the antibiotics will clear it up & no further treatment will be needed. Don't beat yourself up. I had no idea about penis/foreskin care. I think most people would assume their partner would, given that they have one themselves!!

[McBassyPants]

OP Out of curiosity, what did the gp say?