4-year old can no longer retract foreskin because of pain

[Meadow]

My 4-year old ds has been completey retracting his foreskin for almost 6 months now. We've never had any issues until this week. For the past two days it is burning when he pees and he said that the foreskin won't retract anymore. I'm not sure if he really means it won't retract or that it hurts badly to retract. Either way, I'm wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone. It definitely looks red and a bit swollen at the tip.

Does it sound like a UTI or yeast infection?

On a side note, he had some red blister appear around his mouth and nose in the past couple of days as well. I don't know if they are related.

TIA for any experiences or ideas!

[mamasophy]

I would just have him soak in warm baths, no soap, maybe some baking soda added. Leave it alone - it's most likely just some local irritation. An infection will make itself apparent with discharge (greenish, not just smegma) and more swelling. He should just leave it alone too, don't try to retract. the foreskin is very sensitive, just like the lips - any bump or irritation and it swells.

[glongley]

From Dr. Fleiss's article "Protect Your Uncircumcised son":

>>>>>>>>>

[Reason given for why an intact boy "needs to be circumcised"]: Your son's foreskin is getting tighter. It no longer retracts. Something is wrong. He will have to be circumcised.

[Dr. Fleiss's response]: Sometimes, in childhood, a previously retractable foreskin will become resistant to retraction for reasons that are unrelated to impending puberty. In these cases, the opening of the foreskin may look chapped and sting when your son urinates. This is not an indication for surgery any more than chapped lips. This is just the foreskin doing its job. If the foreskin were not there, the glans and urinary opening would be chapped instead. Chapping is most often caused by overly chlorinated swimming pools, harsh soap, bubble baths, or a diet that is too high in sugar, all of which destroy the natural balance of skin bacteria and should be avoided if chapping occurs. The foreskin becomes resistant to retraction until a natural and healthy bacterial balance is reestablished.

You can aid healing by having your son apply a little barrier cream or some ointment to the opening of the foreskin. Acidophilus culture (which can be purchased from a health food store) can be taken internally and also applied to the foreskin several times a day to assist healing, and should be given any time a child is taking antibiotics.

>>>>>>>

Gillian

[Meadow]

Update

Thank you both very much for your input. I really appreciate it as there are few places you can get reliable information about intact penises, IME.

A few hours after I posted my ds showed me that he had stuff dripping from his penis, so I took him to see the ped. He had impetigo (which is also what the red blisters were on his face) and needed to get on antibiotics to clear it up.

Thanks again. He's feeling much, much better now.