[tylerdylan]

I posted this in health and healing too, but I figured this is where all the intact experts hang out, so I am cross-posting it here.

DS is 21 months old. He is intact and wears cloth diapers. I noticed a few days ago the tip of his penis was a little red. I didn't think much of it. Yesterday I noticed a little wound just beside his pee hole so I just cleaned it with a wipe. Today after swimming (his first time in weeks) in a public pool it was pusy under the skin (I touched it and it is all under the skin surface).

What would cause this? And what do I do about it?

I am leary to take him to the doctor. We don't have a family doctor or pediatrician right now (due to negligence with our older DS on their parts - we essentially fired them) so we are stuck with an after-hours clinic. I am worried they will retract his foreskin - guess I need to locate that article I've seen floating around these message boards on that.

Any thoughts? Should I give it a few days? Maybe the chlorine in the pool will have helped it? I am worried it will get bad and require an urgent circumcision and I'd for that to happen.

 

[JamieCatheryn]

Perhaps it got accidentally retracted irritating it at some point? There could be puss or if might be that smegma stuff that got knocked loose somehow. I'd keep it very clean with baths, no retraction, put breastmilk on it, maybe something else naturally antibacterial and soothing too like arnica, calendula, lavender, something like that or neosporin if I was very worried about an infection.

 

[tylerdylan]

It's definitely pus and has never been retracted, but it's beside the pee hole not in it.

 

[perspective]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerdylan It's definitely pus and has never been retracted, but it's beside the pee hole not in it.

Well you said there was a small wound on the foreskin, this seems to be the reason all of this is happening. Here is a copy-paste of an email a friend sent me when I asked him what is puss, the answer also may help explain your son's situation:

"Puss is the body's reaction to infection. Most infections are caused by bacteria, the most common of which is called Staphylococcus epidermis, but most people just call it Staph. These Staph bacteria live all over our bodes, but usually do not cause any problems. However, when our skin breaks or is punctured, the bacteria get inside our body. Our immune system responds to eliminate the invader. Local immune compartment cells (white blood cells known as monocytes or macrophages) respond first, and attempt to engulf the invaders. If the number of bacteria is great, it is likely that they will grow faster than the local cells can eliminate them.

The local cells send out chemical "messages" that tell the rest of the immune system that they need help. More white blood cells are called into the local area by these messages. The white or off-white color is the result of millions of these white blood cells. The odor is due to the growth of bacteria, the chemicals being released by the immune system, and the death of cells. Draining the wound helps get rid of large numbers of bacteria (which grow very rapidly), which helps to eliminate them from the wound."

Now in your son's situation it seems clear that some kind of bacteria got into your son's wound while in the pool, and the puss is just the body defending itself, and doing its job.

Unlike a wound somewhere else on the body, the foreskin of a young boy is very delicate, and I am not sure what "draining" is, so I am not sure if this is the best idea. Maybe calling a doctor, or looking online to find ways of helping the body as it heals? Certainly stay away from pools and keeping the area clean and airy is good start.

But if it does start to get worse, and not better it might be a be a good idea to see a doctor for a simple swab so they can see what kind of bacteria it is, and if he needs antibiotocs

 

[Lula's Mom]

When you say "pee hole", do you mean the opening on the glans (head) of the penis? Or do you mean there's pus next to the opening of the foreskin? How big is it? I'm trying to picture it from your description.

Is it possibly a blister, since you say it's all under the skin at this point? I know you think it's pus for sure, but since it hasn't come out to be seen and smelled, perhaps it's a fluid-filled blister. In the case of blisters I usually think yeast first, especially with cloth diapering.

The pp had a good suggestion with breastmilk, that's very good for minor wounds. I'd let it air out if you can.

Please don't think he would require an urgent circumcision, even if he does have an infection! Sure, you might have a doctor tell you that, but it would not be true. At all. If you got a bad infection on your genitals, what would they do? Treat it, right? Whether it's yeast or bacterial, they have treatments for infections! They would not tell you they need to cut parts off of you, and do not believe anyone who tells you they need to cut parts off of your son.

 

[tylerdylan]

I caved and took DS to the clinic because it was looking worse today. The doctor took one look at it (while I held it) and said "yes, he has an infection". He prescribed an antibiotic cream to catch it before it gets bad and requires oral antibiotics or worse. So, no big deal in the end - guess I overreacted! Thanks everyone!
(I soooooo HATE doctors and we try to avoid them - can you tell?)