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Children's health

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Original poster

Smelly penis.. Possibly TMI!

21 replies

SpanglyGiraffe · 14/08/2012 18:45

2.5 yr old DS has been potty trained for a couple of months now, but still wears a nappy for a nap & at night.
After his nap yesterday I took his nappy off & the most horrendous smell came out, which I realised was coming from his willy! There wasn't a discharge at all, so I just cleaned him with wet wipes.
But the same thing has happened today (I don't know if it's the same in the mornings as he's been at his dad's for the last 2 nights)
His pants have smelt if the same smell as wel.
He has a bath every night & clean pants on every day.
Is this something I should worry about & is there anything I can do?
It might be worth mentioning he has been comparing of a stomach ache, but has still been his usual cheery self.

TIA & sorry for any typos/crap grammar I'm on my phone!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

coffeeandwine · 14/08/2012 18:49

Do you ( gently) pull back his foreskin when you bath him? I suspect the smell is coming from a build up under it. It smells and looks disgusting.

thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 18:52

i would take him to the GP to check for an infection.

you shouldn't be retracting his foreskin at all, and his penis really shouldn't smell horrendous, so i'd guess there is something else going on...

BertieBotts · 14/08/2012 18:56

I would take him to the GP too. It might be that the "stomach ache" is something lower down - young children aren't always good at articulating pain. DS sometimes gets constipated at night but complains of his legs hurting.

coffeeandwine · 14/08/2012 18:57

At 2.5, you should be retracting it. The pertinent word is gently. If it won't retract, then you shouldn't force it. If he has an infection under his foreskin ( balanitis), then usually it will be sore and red as well. If he has a build up under the foreskin that isn't cleaned away, then that can become infected.
Alternatively, if it is the urine in the nappy you are smelling and it has changed, then he may have a urinary tract infection and yes, you should take him to the GP.

coffeeandwine · 14/08/2012 18:59

Just seen the tummy ache comment, so yes, it could be a UTI, so take to the GP.

thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 19:05

no, you shouldn't. there is really no need to. you only need to wash the outside, not under the foreskin

5madthings · 14/08/2012 19:09

you should NOT be retracting it! he will do this on his own as he fiddles etc. at this age it is common for the foreskin to still be fused and so not able to pull back.

i would be checking for a uit as well.

and balinitis is something to watch for it will get red and inflamed, and maybe balloon up slightly! this is disconcerting, my ds2 had it once and i was but a quick course of antibiotics and all was fine :)

coffeeandwine · 14/08/2012 19:12

I agree, you don't have to, but by this age, most foreskins will be starting to be retractable. I have taught mine to gently do it in the bath over time.
If there wasn't a smell, I wouldn't particularly suggest it, but as there is, I would try it and see. Otherwise, if this is the cause of the smell, he is likely to get balanitis and possibly adhesions between the foreskin and the glans. Worse case scenario, he then needs a circumcision.

OP Sorry, not saying that is the case with your son and not saying it to scare you

5madthings · 14/08/2012 19:26

itsn not a case of not having it is NOT recomended, a child will naturally fiddle, you can encourage this in the bath but dont attempt to do it yourself, you can very easily do damage by doing so.

and studies have shown that the average age for a foreskin to retract by is age 10.4 mths is USED to be thougth taht it should be able to retract by age 3 but actually its common for it not to retract until puberty and the misinformation about it led to a lot of unnecessary circumsions.

honestly encourage a child to ahve a fiddle, but a good swish in the bath should be fine.

sorry this is something i have researched quite a bit as my eldest ds1 had a tight foreskin, which was resolved at age 11 with a bit of steroid cream thankfully. it really is not a problem for it not to retract at this age and is infact quite normal.

tummy ache and smell indicts a uti, as well as a trip to the dr make sure he is drinking plenty :)

5madthings · 14/08/2012 19:27

sorry that should be 'its not a case of not having to, it is NOT recomended.'

headinhands · 14/08/2012 19:35

Again, no need to retract it yourself just ask him if he can pull the skin back during bath time. If he can then get him to clean it but probably advisable to not use soap, just a rub and swish to remove any build up of wee. If he can't retract, and he is extremely unlikely to force it if it was painful, I would see the GP who will be able to advise if your ds needs any treatment.

Original poster

SpanglyGiraffe · 14/08/2012 19:39

Thanks for all of your replies it certainly is a minefield as I've never had any experience with them before!!
I'll be ringing the GP in the morning and getting an appointment just to check. Thanks again everyone!

OP posts:

5madthings · 14/08/2012 19:59

oh and 10.4mths means 10 YEARS and 4mths. sorry just realised that didnt look very clear.

and yes spangly it is a minefield, i have four boys and have learnt a lot!

coffeeandwine · 14/08/2012 20:06

5madthings - I bow to your superior knowledge! Have just been realising its 12 years since I was dealing with this regularly.
I would still try having a peak under his foreskin in case it is a smelly willy as the OPs title said rather than smelly wee.
My 10 yo no longer allows me on the bathroom, but I'm pretty sure he cleans his reasonably well.

BertieBotts · 14/08/2012 20:10

I didn't think 2.5 was a usual age for it to retract? DS is nearly 4 and his hasn't. I thought it was more like 7.

5madthings · 14/08/2012 20:13

i only know as ds1's didnt retract and i got rather worried as dp couldnt remember when his started to! so several trips to the dr and lots of googling means i know far more than i need to about foreskins!

ds1 cleans his fine now i am assuming he is 12 (almost 13) so i dont see him in the bathroom much either. ds2 is 10 and his retracts and has done from a young age, he is at the rather proud of his willy stage, the other week after a bath he was delighted to show me he could hang the towel on his erect willy! i politely told him that was great but i did NOT need to see and then left the room rather quickly before i burst out laughing

BertieBotts · 14/08/2012 20:13

Oh okay that's good then

I was told you should never ever attempt to retract a boy's foreskin even gently, they'll find out themselves when it's ready to. Adhesions can be caused by pulling it back too soon if it tears because the tissue will fuse as it's healing if that makes sense. Whereas this is unlikely when it comes away by itself.

BertieBotts · 14/08/2012 20:14

Oh dear 5madthings! DS is extremely proud of his, I'd hoped that the shyness might kick in by 10!

5madthings · 14/08/2012 20:15

thats right bertie but there is still lots of misinformation about it. encourage them to fiddle, but dont do anything with it yourself, generally a good swish in the bath is fine and they will learn how to retract it as they get older and fiddle more, as boys do!

coffeeandwine · 14/08/2012 20:16

5
I'm now glad DS doesn't let me in the bathroom if this is the alternative.

5madthings · 14/08/2012 20:17

no shyness with ds2! ds1 is now but only since 11-12 it kicked in, thankfully he wasnt too shy to let us know it was sore and didnt retract, so we got it sorted, ditto when he had an issue with his testicles, one swelled up rather horrendously and he needed an emergency op! thankfully it was all sorted and they didnt have to remove the testicle, it was a nightmare at the time tho and the poor boy walked like john wayne for a few weeks!

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