New here, have a question

[Neccolady]

Hi I have a question about my 2 1/2 yo intact son. I live in mainstream, USA so information is not readily available via the ped.

He has been showing some signs of foreskin irritation. It is not swollen. It is a little red at the inside of the tip, but this isn't usual for him. I have noticed it's worse since he potty trained, though (he's been pt'd for several months now). He seems to be grabbing at it a lot the past few days. I thought maybe the problem was those last few drops of urine that remain in the foreskin. I tried to show him how to dab at it a little bit with TP, but he jumped back at the slightest touch and told me it hurt. I have been pushing fluids and keeping an eye on him in the bathroom. When he urinates it comes out easily and forcefully, and appears to cause him no discomfort.

Is there anything I can do? Especially with the redness. He's not letting me near him to see it any closer, and I'm cautious of pushing it back at all. All that we're doing now is pushing fluids hoping that frequent urination cleans it out, and making sure he soaks in the tub (without soap) for a while each night.

TIA!
-NL

[Doodlebugsmom]

I would say it's just the normal, foreskin-loosening-from-the-glans redness. My ds is 3.5 now, but he had some episodes like that at around 2-2.5. He's not retractable yet, but I can tell that it has loosened a little. (I see him messing with it from time to time. I would never try to retract it myself.) I'd say it will pass in a couple of days to a week.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

My guess is he is going through normal seperation issues. Here is a thread you may find useful. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732

There are a few suggestions there on how to help things a bit as well.

[Neccolady]

Thanks. I'm getting a lot of useful information here. It's hard to confidently deal with this when the local peds have virtually no experience with intact little boys.

So if I'm reading the information correctly, I still don't need to worry about medical help unless it becomes painful for him to urninate and/or he has swelling, stinky discharge, fever, or other signs of infection?

I also have a question about "ballooning". Would this happen in the tip of the foreskin when he urinates, or would it be further up around the glans? Does the foreskin separate evenly all around, or is it normal for one area to separate before the others? I have more "what's normal" questions, but I'll save them for when I'm finished reading all of sticky threads at the top of the forum. These are probably pretty silly, irrelevant questions but since I'm not really sure what's normal......

Thanks again!

-NL

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

So if I'm reading the information correctly, I still don't need to worry about medical help unless it becomes painful for him to urninate and/or he has swelling, stinky discharge, fever, or other signs of infection?

Yes that is right.

Would this happen in the tip of the foreskin when he urinates, or would it be further up around the glans?

The ballooning would involve the area under the foreskin were it has already seperated so it could be the whole "head" or just some areas around it.

Does the foreskin separate evenly all around, or is it normal for one area to separate before the others?

Foreskin seperation happens gradually and one area will release at a time. So that you may see several areas loose while others are still attached. Or you may see a very large area seperated but one small spot still attached all normal. (going to add that to the link I gave you. So much to remember : )

[kldliam]

I agree with the posters above.....sounds like the separation process is beginning.

Answers to Your Questions about Your Young Son’s Intact Penis

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/4pam.pdf

and


http://www.nocirc.org/publish/6pam.pdf