Natural separation symptoms or infection

[Ish'smom]

I really need some help.
For the last day and a half my intact 14 month old son has had a red swollen penis and had some pain urinating. He had some discharge in his diaper last night that was yellowish but I didn't look at it until this morning(dont know if smegma changes color) We took him to the ped to rule out infection and recieved very bad treatment. I told the doctor that his foreskin is not retractable yet and not to retract it but I could tell he wanted to and he pulled on it and squeezed it more than I was comfortable with. He didn't actually pull his forskin back but he made him cry. There was a little white discharge while he was pushing on DS's penis.
We collected a urine sample and when the doctor came back after getting the results he gave us antibiotics and bacitracin. He didn't give us any information. I asked if he had a urinary tract infection and he said "no" he said he "thinks" he has an infection on the head of his penis and he said the antibiotics were to kill any "possible" infection. He then wennt on to say that we had to pull back his foreskin to put on the bacitracin and that if he gets recurrent infections it would "force their hands" and they would have to do a circumcision.

I am just so upset and angry. I feel now that it probably is just separation pain because the last few times he has urinated it hasn't hurt. I feel abused and harrassed by this doctor. He had no need to bring up circumcision for a minor concern. Can anyone say whether this sounds like natural symptoms of separation of the foreskin or an infection. I intend to put the bacitracin on it in case it is an infection.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by Ish'smom

I really need some help.
For the last day and a half my intact 14 month old son has had a red swollen penis and had some pain urinating. He had some discharge in his diaper last night that was yellowish but I didn't look at it until this morning(dont know if smegma changes color) We took him to the ped to rule out infection and recieved very bad treatment. I told the doctor that his foreskin is not retractable yet and not to retract it but I could tell he wanted to and he pulled on it and squeezed it more than I was comfortable with. He didn't actually pull his forskin back but he made him cry. There was a little white discharge while he was pushing on DS's penis.

So far the things you describe sound like the foreskin is separating from the glands. This happens in different ways and at different rates for different boys at different ages. This process may or may not include soreness and some discomfort along with possible discharge of smegma. Any soreness or discomfort should abate within 24 to 48 hours and may reoccur from time to time as the separation process doesn't always occur in one go. Different sections may free themselves at different times (This is in part how the multiple infection myth got started and persists).

A warm bath is a good idea and usually helps and some parents here report that the warm bath helps their son urinate during this day or two of discomfort. There is usually a recent thread (with substantial content) that discusses this issue such as this thread , this thread, and this tread. Follow some of the links provided in those threads and there will also be a few other posters who might be able to provide more details. Dr. Fleiss's article also discusses it further.

Originally Posted by Ish'smom

We collected a urine sample and when the doctor came back after getting the results he gave us antibiotics and bacitracin. He didn't give us any information. I asked if he had a urinary tract infection and he said "no" he said he "thinks" he has an infection on the head of his penis and he said the antibiotics were to kill any "possible" infection. He then wennt on to say that we had to pull back his foreskin to put on the bacitracin and that if he gets recurrent infections it would "force their hands" and they would have to do a circumcision.

Collecting the urine sample was the right way to go. It is a shame that the doctor wasn't more forward with you. Perhaps because he just doesn't know what it its.

Originally Posted by Ish'smom

I am just so upset and angry. I feel now that it probably is just separation pain because the last few times he has urinated it hasn't hurt. I feel abused and harrassed by this doctor. He had no need to bring up circumcision for a minor concern. Can anyone say whether this sounds like natural symptoms of separation of the foreskin or an infection. I intend to put the bacitracin on it in case it is an infection.

The fact that the last few urinations hadn't hurt strengthens the possibility that this is normal separation (like a growing pain). Bottom line just keep an eye on it some, but by no means all, boys go through this it sounds like typical separation to me. I see no reason not to use the cream though I don't think he'll need it but I would hold off on the ABX, if you haven't already started the course. If it doesn't abate within about 48 hours or so or gets noticeably worse, including say development of a fever, you should perhaps start the round. One other thought, some times these things may also be yeast or irritation due to soaps used on clothes or body just to name a few possibilities.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted we are here to help out.

[Ish'smom]

Thank you so much! Your post made me feel so much better! We haven't started the ABX but are using the cream just in case. He does seem alot better. He isn't having pain while urinating but his penis is still redder than usual. We are going to go take a warm bath now
]

[Frankly Speaking]

I agree with what JWhispers said.

I'll add: Smegma can be yellowish or even greenish in addition to the more often seen white. It is not unusual to see a smegma discharge after a separation episode. The separation releases pockets of smegma.

It's too bad the doctor didn't take a sample for a culture. A culture is the most basic of diagnostic tools and the first that should be pulled out of the doctor's bag of tricks.

It is up to you whether you want to immediately start medication or see if this sorts it self out by itself. I'll tell you that the vast majority of these cases turn out to be separation.

Forget about any talk about circumcision. In eight years of doing this, I haven't lost a foreskin yet and I'm not about to let your son ruin my record.



Frank

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I used bacatracin on my ds and it really did the trick. It cant hurt anything that is for sure. I think what you have been seeing is seperation, he is the right age and the description sounds just like it. This thread goes in depth on some seperation issues http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732

[MommaShark]

I think that's what just happened with my son - dr didn't touch penis at all - just looked at it and thought it was infected - thought it would clear up but gave us an athlete's foot cream to put on it - we never did and it cleared up that day.....