DS (8 yo) - sore penis

[roisin]

This morning ds1 told me his penis was very sore - it was stinging as though he had a cut on it he said, and it hurt so much he couldn't urinate.

I took him upstairs to the loo, turned on the taps, and said it was important he emptied his bladder, which he did - though with much moaning and groaning.

This evening I gave him a long soak in the bath, which seemed to ease the stinging. But he was unable to retract his foreskin fully - he said it was unbearably painful, but also that it was stuck and he couldn't physically do it.

So does this sound like a bad infection, or not? Do I have to cart him off to the GP tomorrow, or will it just sort itself out in a couple of days? (They're a bit trigger-happy with antibiotics round here, and I don't want him to have ABs if he doesn't really need them.) Any warning signs to look out for?

It sounds like ballanitis Roisin. He will need some antibiotics.

If this should keep happening they may look at doing a circumcision which is what happened with my DS1.. although when he was 3.

Hope he feels better soon..

SJ x

Thanks SJ

I don't have any experience/advice re infection, but a tip to ease things when peeing is to do it in the bath or pouring a jug of warm water over the sore bit whilst going. That may ease it a bit. Poor chap. Hope he gets sorted out soon.

Hi Roisin This has been a recurring problem with my ds (now 9) and can easily be trated with fucidin or antibiotic cream rasther than oral antibiotics. To put your mind at rest, our consultant who has been keeping an eye on ds over the years has said a circumscsion is not necessary in the vast number of cases unless scarring or for other reasons the foreskin is unlikely ever to retract enough (which may not happen until puberty). DS had another infection only 2 weeks ago and I took him back to the consultant who said they may keep but it will eventually sort itself out when the foreskin finally becomes fully retractable.

Sorry for rushed spelling

ballinitis
ds1 aged 3 had this and was given antibiotics and cream
unfortunately he has it again and I am led to believe it can recur - so we are just beig meticulous about hygiene and putting cream on

Thanks Popsy, Shimmy and Tinygang.

Ds1 says it's stopped stinging now. He's never ill - he hasn't been to the GP since we moved here, which is 3.5 years! and I think he's very nervous of having to go. I don't know whether to say he has to go and get it checked out, or leave it if he says it's OK tomorrow.

Our doc never gives anitbiotics if he can help it but was quite quick to prescrobe a ;belts and braces; approach as he put it.