Forcible retraction (for possible infection)

[LionLady13]

I'm really worried I may have not protected my son like I should have. My husband and I took our twenty four month old son in for a doctors visit on Monday for what turned out to be strep. I asked the doctor to take a look at his penis b/c it seemed to be irritated again (had minor infection in June!) and before my husband and I could say anything he had forcibly retracted the foreskin all the way back! Doctor said he probably had a little strep on his penis as well.

Now I'm reading up on forcible retraction and FREAKING OUT! My son seems to have a bone dry diaper after four hours and I'm sending myself into a tailspin here!

I really need some advice on this and how I should proceed from here. For an possible infection is it ever warranted to retract? Even my husband is circumcised and thinks it wasn't! Please help!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

No what the Dr. did is potentially very damaging not to mention that by retracting he could have spread the infection.

It is NEVER ok for a Dr. to retract there is no reason for it. There is nothing to see under there that wouldnt be seen on the outside if there was a problem.

All you can do is keep an eye on it and put some breast milk on there because it kills germs. If you see irritation happening then put some OTC bacatracin on the foreskin but do not retract it. He should heal on his own if things are left alone.

I would make sure to talk to the Dr. about what he did and tell him under no circumstances is he to ever do that again. If you feel you cant trust that Dr. then never let him touch your ds's genitals again or find a new Dr.

[LionLady13]

Thanks for the response! I'm realizing this was totally unnecessary (more likely a complete violation) now! I can't understand how pediatricians don't have this understanding!!!! I'm just so angry and sad this has happened and it seems to me (maybe I'm imagining things) but that his penis looks different! He hasn't gotten any sort of infection and the redness that was initially there is completely gone (he's still on the antibiotic).

I've gone through three pediatricians and it looks as though I'll be going through one more! I am sending him a letter though. And this kindof sucks b/c he was very open to us not vaxing (I'm still doing my research two and a half years later and am stuck on tetanus!).

My DS has been extremely irritable and needy since the appointment (even though I know he's feeling better illness-wise) and he's been wanting constant nursing .....

[AFWife]

If you went through hell finding a doc that accepts no vax I'd keep going because I know how hard that is...however, I'd put a permanent ban on his hands anywhere near my son's penis. I would even have him sign a form stating such.

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by AFWife

If you went through hell finding a doc that accepts no vax I'd keep going because I know how hard that is...however, I'd put a permanent ban on his hands anywhere near my son's penis. I would even have him sign a form stating such.

What that doctor did was very wrong. However, I do agree that letting him know (in writing) that what he has done was wrong and reminding him to not touch your son's penis during every appt may solve the problem.

[mommyminer]

My 26 month old's foreskin looks slightly different on different days. It should heal fine as long as it isn't retracted again. I agree with educating your dr; don't just dismiss him b/c of this. Print out the AAP statement, highlight the section about intact care, and write a nice letter stating your concerns. I doubt he will ever retract again, but if we don't educate, how many more boys will be forcibly retracted?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by AFWife

If you went through hell finding a doc that accepts no vax I'd keep going because I know how hard that is...however, I'd put a permanent ban on his hands anywhere near my son's penis. I would even have him sign a form stating such.

I agree with this. I have kept the peds that have caused me issues with ds in the past because they fit in other ways. But they are not allowed to touch my ds's penis in any way now though I do allow testicle checks because I dont know what to look for with a problem there. He only goes once a year though for school physicals now. I stopped all wbv when he was younger because of the issues with retraction and we no longer vax.

[sharkysmom]

I had the same thing happen at my son's 15mth well check up!! Only it wasn't because of any suspicion of illness just for the heck of it I guess?? It happened so fast I didnt have time to react.
At this same appt. the ped told me I was an uneducated parent for not vaccinating!!! Who is the uneducated one who doesnt know how to care for an intact penis???
I need to sit down and write a letter to the board of directors, it is a large practice and I dont normally have issues with the dr we see but I couldnt get an appt with him. and I feel that the board of directors needs to know how their dr.'s are speaking to parents and how they are treating patients.
Can someone please send me info to include in the letter about NEVER retracting foreskin. I read the AAP statement and I will include that but I really want something that emphasizes the importance of not retracting the foreskin.
Thank you ladies for being so strong on this issue and helping me to help my son and other boys!!!

[AFWife]

I found this and thought of this thread:

http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/care.htm

[Fyrestorm]

I posted this in another thread - I think it bears repeating here:

http://www.mothering.com/health/protect-your-uncircumcised-son-expert-medical-advice-parents

[fruitful womb]

Originally Posted by LionLady13

I'm really worried I may have not protected my son like I should have. My husband and I took our twenty four month old son in for a doctors visit on Monday for what turned out to be strep. I asked the doctor to take a look at his penis b/c it seemed to be irritated again (had minor infection in June!) and before my husband and I could say anything he had forcibly retracted the foreskin all the way back!Doctor said he probably had a little strep on his penis as well.

Now I'm reading up on forcible retraction and FREAKING OUT! My son seems to have a bone dry diaper after four hours and I'm sending myself into a tailspin here!

I really need some advice on this and how I should proceed from here. For an possible infection is it ever warranted to retract? Even my husband is circumcised and thinks it wasn't! Please help!

"probably"?

I have NEVER heard of strep on a penis before! Wow, that is a new low. I'd have said, "If he has strep, its from YOU (the doctor) retracting him and carrying step from your previous patient!"


He is touting an ignorant guess to scare you.
Strep can only be dx with a test. Oh the nerve of that doctor!

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by fruitful womb

"probably"?

I have NEVER heard of strep on a penis before! Wow, that is a new low. I'd have said, "If he has strep, its from YOU (the doctor) retracting him and carrying step from your previous patient!"


He is touting an ignorant guess to scare you.
Strep can only be dx with a test. Oh the nerve of that doctor!

I knew a boy that got strep around his anus...so it can live "down there"

But yeah, you can't diagnose strep visually! Even when there's evidence of an advanced throat strep they do a culture to confirm!!

[LionLady13]

Thank you so much for these responses! Here's the update:

The dry diaper turned out to be nothing (could've been a reaction to the retraction, I don't know...?), but now, one week after he has what appears to be an infection on the tip of his penis again. Now he's had a similar looking rash before that the doctor said was diaper rash (didn't know diaper rash could be in the penile area but apparently it can). I've just put diaper ointment on it before and it disappeared. We'll see what this turns out to be.

I'm just fed up with doctors really and am thinking my midwife had a strong point when she said pediatricians are close to worthless. He actually asked me to send him the link on tetanus vax not protecting against possible tetanus (when I expressed skepticism after he told me to just get the tetanus vax should my son ever get a deep puncture wound ). I'm no wiz-kid but I feel pretty damn smart leaving him after our short vax convos/exchanges (lets just say he's admitted that he's trained to think the way he does). Ahhh being your childs advocate it tiring at times, when we really should be able to trust these people.