Burying the penis in a newborn

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital. The doctor is a person who is very passionate about health care for children and has experience in successfully treating many newborn cases.

Penile entrapment is a congenital malformation of the external genitalia in which the penis is covered by a foreskin. Normally the foreskin will cover the penis and cover the scrotum, but in some cases, babies are born with the foreskin not hugging the penis evenly. This condition is called penile inclusion or penile concealment. The disease is completely curable or can recover on its own over time depending on the condition of the inclusions in the penis.

Some skin problems, the fatty layer that surrounds the penis during fetal development causes the inclusion of the penis in the baby at birth. Common causes are excess fat on the pubic bone in babies, as well as insufficient skin between the penis and scrotum, which causes the penis to be buried in newborns.

Newborn to about 2 years old is the time when penile inclusions are most easily detected in children. After birth, parents need to pay attention to some of the following signs to be able to detect the condition of the penis early in the child such as:
The penis is too small, making it difficult to go to the toilet. The foreskin bulges, dilates when the child urinates, there is incessant leakage of urine, the child has difficulty regulating the flow of urine. Penile burying can easily be confused with foreskin stenosis, leading to errors in treatment. Because pediatric patients with penis entrapment, if treated only by dilating the penis, there will be no results. Therefore, correctly distinguishing the symptoms of penile inclusions plays a very important role in the correct treatment of the disease. Parents need to distinguish cases of small penis, buried penis, narrow foreskin...

For infants with penile entrapment, most will clear up on their own after a while. If there is no recovery, the child needs to be treated early to stabilize the child's health, activities and psychophysiology.
Under the appropriate examination and treatment of the doctor, the child with the penis buried can take betamethasone anti-inflammatory drug, or pull the foreskin by hand several times a day.
Besides, parents can also opt for surgical treatment. Circumcision surgery in the first month after birth.
For methods of treatment of penile inclusions, parents need to listen to the doctor's advice and instructions to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment for the child. Moreover, early treatment of penile inclusions is very necessary, especially before school age to avoid shyness towards children.