Large head of pus on sons penis?

[EuphemiaLennox]

My DS aged 10yrs has shown me a very large lump on the tip of his willy that looks full of pus.

Any ideas what this might me and what may have caused it? He's quite upset and I was a bit shocked.
We'll go to the docs tomorrow but any knowledge know would be help.

I've tried googling but just got lots of info on STI's.

[cocolepew]

Did he catch it on his zip or scratch it?
Did he say how long hes had it? Poor ds, sounds nasty.

[EuphemiaLennox]

Not that he can remember.

He's saying he's had it for ages, but I'm sure we'd have noticed.

Thanks so much for replying.

[Faverolles]

Could it be milia?

[run4it]

It's likely just to be a bit of infection - scary when you don't know what it is, but unlikely to be anything sinister. Just reassure him and know that it will get sorted in the morning

[cocolepew]

It was probably a spot or scratch that has got infected or bigger because his clothes had been rubbing on it. I figured he had had it for a while but didn't want to tell you. Hope he gets on OK at the dr.

[EuphemiaLennox]

Thanks all. He's in bed with me now as he can't sleep he's so worried about it.

It does look quite dramatic.

Will it be antibiotics?

[EuphemiaLennox]

He's been out cycling for 6 hours today do you think that could have rubbed and created irritation?

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Could it be balanitis?

[cocolepew]

I would think so Euphemia, if it was a spot, 6 hours of pressing on a seat would bring it to a head.

[afromom]

My DS had an infection in his a month or so again, it swelled up like a balloon and then had puss coming out of it. Was quite scary at the time for him and he was utterly embarrassed at having to show me (he's 9). Turns out it was an infection. Is it swollen or more of a spot? I would take him to the GP to get it checked out, my ds's problem cleared up really quickly. Hope you get it sorted.

[Gruntfuttocks]

If he's really uncomfortable a warm bath might be quite soothing and would encourage any pus there to come out possibly?

[EuphemiaLennox]

Thanks all. They all sound like possibilities and I feel calmer.

He's already had a bath. He's now reading the beano to take his mind off the trauma of showing the doc tomorrow!

[cocolepew]

Hope it goes ok today

[EuphemiaLennox]

Thought I'd update this in case anyone in the same position searches the archives for info:

Dr initially said he thought it was something called a pearly papule.

He then decided though that as I said it looked pusy last night(today it looked more like a large hard yellow lump) and as it hurts when he does a wee, he'll give him a course of antibiotics in case it's an infection.

I've looked up pearly papules (nice google images I don't recommended it) and I really don't think it looks like that.

So, I'm thinking it's an infection and hope that antibiotics will clear it up. Dr didn't really give any reasons why a boy would get an infection here.

Poor old DS was v upset toady at having to show his little todger to the doctor.

Thanks all for responding last night. That's when MN is great, when you can't find any info and have no one to ask...some one MN always can help and does.

[cocolepew]

Poor Ds. Hopefully the antibiotics work.

[Inkspellme]

My son has had similar twice. Once as a toddler and once about a year ago. He's nearly 11 now. It was an infection and antibiotics work each time. Doc explained to him how to make sure he cleaned it properly in the shower or bath and also said that it wasn't unusual. Doc also said to make sure he didn't start holding back going to the loo as it hurt him as this could cause a urinary tract infection.

Cleared up within a couple of days. HTH

[valiumredhead]

Very common for boys to have infections btw. How it clears up soon.

[valiumredhead]

Hope

[SauvignonBlanche]

Bless him, hope it's better soon.