scratch/sore under foreskin??

[mountainborn]

my ds (he is 4 yrs) complained yesterday of stinging when he peed, and when we checked it out he had a small sore underneath his foreskin, right along the edge where it is attached. my best guess is that he scratched it; he has been sticking his fingertips inside quite a bit lately. he has been able to retract his fs for a while now, maybe 5 months? it's possible that he pulled it back too hard because the crack/sore is right along the connecting edge.

i'm waiting for the nurse at our family practice to call back, and hoping that we don't have to go in to the waiting room full of sick kids - we're healthy now and don't want any bugs!

i did put a little dab of polysporin on it last night before bed, it had a slight smell that made me think it might be infected. i would rather use something more natural, any suggestions? back in the day i would have put breastmilk on it but he weaned this summer and i don't think i've got what it takes anymore in that dept. i read about using acidophilus but would that be helpful now that there is an open sore?

any advice is appreciated! i know my dr office won't go the "just circumsize" route but i am a little worried that they will prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily.

thanks!
anna

[glongley]

If he was a little too rough handling himself, he could have ripped the tissue a little where the foreskin is attached. So this is going to sting when he pees on it. However, like any other part of the body, it will heal quickly. I wouldn't be spinning off on imagining a need for antibiotics just yet. Have him soak in a clean warm tub water several times a day to keep it clean and help it heal. He can pee in the tub water or pee in a cup of warm water to dilute the urine so it won't sting as much. I'd just keep it clean and keep an eye on it for now.

If he handles himself a lot, make sure to keep his fingernails trimmed and make sure he knows about handwashing when his hands are grubby, and especially after he wipes himself after pooping.

Gillian

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Bacatracin is great for this kind of thing. It will aid healing while protecting a bit from the sting. Another thing that will help a lot is when he urinates have him retract just past the urethra so the urine wont go up under the foreskin and sting. He dosnt need to retract all the way just a little.

[mountainborn]

Thanks mamas,

We just kept it clean and talked about keeping hands clean and not pulling back quite so hard until it heals - it is already looking way better and healing up.

Thanks for the reassurance!