What a first post for this forum, eh? I'm a long time lurker here-- Frank, you've answered so many of my questions from day one! This time, though, I'm stumped.
I've read through the archives and the "sticky" thread on swollen foreskins, but I still have questions. Here's what's going on:
Not sure if this is related, but DS (18 months) has had a rotavirus-type illness the last several days; vomiting and low (or him) grade (102) fever, on top of a runny nose and general lethargy. I noticed coincidentally, his foreskin was looking slighty reddened and swollen, but nothing of concern.
Yesterday afternoon, while the other symptoms has lessened, upon removing his diaper for a change, I was greeted by a horrific sight.
I can't call it foreskin swelling alone-- it was like his whole penis was rigid (but not an erection), red / purple, and easily TWICE the size of normal. The foreskin was tight, and seemed swollen itself. I noticed no discharge, but everything had swollen too tight. I immediately started epsom salt baths alternating with lavender / calendula baths. I also did "ye olde breastmilk squirt" trick, much to DS (and DH's) amusement. By bedtime, the swelling had reduced enough to where I didn't feel it was an emergency, and DS was not seeming to be in constant pain.
This morning, his entire penis was still red and swollen, but not so rigid-like (and again, I *swear* it was not erection rigidity), but I could see discharge. There was some smegma, but also some yellowish pus. I've continued all day with the soaks, and this afternoon we saw his ped, who while very no-circ friendly (his own son is intact), didn't seem to know much more about it than I did. He did say one infection does not Phimosis make, but that it WAS infected. He did not culture anything, but did give us a scrip for Keflex. He knows I feel very strongly about not using antibiotics, and said if it didn't clear up overnight, to start the course.
So, we've continued with baths, and I'm giving him a booster of Echinacea / goldenseal (as well as upping his probiotics and Vit. C). However, while it's not as awful and painful looking as yesterday, it's still inflamed and oozing a bit (although that has slowed, too.)
My questions (at last, you say!)-- what might you do? Could an infection left untreated with an antibiotic cause scarring and further complications? Are there other suggestions for helping to clear it up? And does this sound like a "routine" epithelial foreskin / glans seperation, or something worse?
The only thing that I could see as a complication is that at birth, my over-eager midwife (yes, midwife) retracted very gently, and DS's foreskin retracted. I remember her commenting how unusual it was that such a young baby would retract so easily (and I was sadly ignorant of such things, not to mention hemhorraging at the time!). Over the next few days, there was swelling and redness and even a slight fever, and I remember thinking she screwed up big time. But he recovered quickly, and I never thought about it again. Is it possible there's scar tissue there causing this problem?
Thanks so much for reading my veritable novel, and any advice you might have.
I've read through the archives and the "sticky" thread on swollen foreskins, but I still have questions. Here's what's going on:
Not sure if this is related, but DS (18 months) has had a rotavirus-type illness the last several days; vomiting and low (or him) grade (102) fever, on top of a runny nose and general lethargy. I noticed coincidentally, his foreskin was looking slighty reddened and swollen, but nothing of concern.
Yesterday afternoon, while the other symptoms has lessened, upon removing his diaper for a change, I was greeted by a horrific sight.
I can't call it foreskin swelling alone-- it was like his whole penis was rigid (but not an erection), red / purple, and easily TWICE the size of normal. The foreskin was tight, and seemed swollen itself. I noticed no discharge, but everything had swollen too tight. I immediately started epsom salt baths alternating with lavender / calendula baths. I also did "ye olde breastmilk squirt" trick, much to DS (and DH's) amusement. By bedtime, the swelling had reduced enough to where I didn't feel it was an emergency, and DS was not seeming to be in constant pain.This morning, his entire penis was still red and swollen, but not so rigid-like (and again, I *swear* it was not erection rigidity), but I could see discharge. There was some smegma, but also some yellowish pus. I've continued all day with the soaks, and this afternoon we saw his ped, who while very no-circ friendly (his own son is intact), didn't seem to know much more about it than I did. He did say one infection does not Phimosis make, but that it WAS infected. He did not culture anything, but did give us a scrip for Keflex. He knows I feel very strongly about not using antibiotics, and said if it didn't clear up overnight, to start the course.
So, we've continued with baths, and I'm giving him a booster of Echinacea / goldenseal (as well as upping his probiotics and Vit. C). However, while it's not as awful and painful looking as yesterday, it's still inflamed and oozing a bit (although that has slowed, too.)
My questions (at last, you say!)-- what might you do? Could an infection left untreated with an antibiotic cause scarring and further complications? Are there other suggestions for helping to clear it up? And does this sound like a "routine" epithelial foreskin / glans seperation, or something worse?
The only thing that I could see as a complication is that at birth, my over-eager midwife (yes, midwife) retracted very gently, and DS's foreskin retracted. I remember her commenting how unusual it was that such a young baby would retract so easily (and I was sadly ignorant of such things, not to mention hemhorraging at the time!). Over the next few days, there was swelling and redness and even a slight fever, and I remember thinking she screwed up big time. But he recovered quickly, and I never thought about it again. Is it possible there's scar tissue there causing this problem?
Thanks so much for reading my veritable novel, and any advice you might have.
I see you're posting same time as I am. 
