Treatment of synechia of the foreskin in boys. What to do if the foreskin is attached to the head. Causes of synechiae

You should not be afraid of the term synechia of the foreskin, but only if it concerns newborn children. This phenomenon is natural and represents the fusion of the glans penis and the inner side of the foreskin from the coronary groove to the urethra. Thus, our body performs a protective function and creates a barrier to infection at such an unprotected age. Gradually, the problem disappears on its own, without causing any discomfort in boys. However, if this does not happen or there is pain, then you cannot do without going to the doctor.

The natural process of disappearance of synechia

It is considered normal that by the age of three the head of the penis can be partially exposed, and by the age of 6-7 – completely. Adhesions are separated thanks to the sebaceous glands, which, under the influence of sex hormones, secrete a special one - smegma. Also, the skin at this moment becomes more tender and elastic. Note that this process is not instantaneous; it will take some time before the foreskin finally separates.

It happens that due to an infection that has entered the child’s body, his defense mechanisms are activated, and the separation of the synechia does not occur on time. It can occur due to poor personal hygiene, passed from mother to boy during pregnancy, and sometimes due to an allergic reaction. However, science cannot yet name the exact reasons for the persistence of adhesions in older age.

Why is synechia dangerous?

If the head of a boy's penis does not open in time, it can lead to more serious problems and affect his future sex life. Thus, synechiae that do not disappear in due time provoke the occurrence of various inflammatory processes, since the hygiene of the head of the penis is difficult. Without proper treatment, the infection can spread further to the pelvic organs, and the consequences will be more dire.

Also, very often, smegma, which should have resolved adhesions, accumulates and provokes inflammation of the foreskin on the inside. In medicine, this phenomenon is called balanoposthitis, or balanitis.

This process can also affect the head of the penis and even become chronic. In this case, the child’s penis swells and turns red, and urination becomes painful. Here you should not hesitate to contact a doctor, who will prescribe washing the cavity between the head and the foreskin. The inflammation will quickly pass as soon as the excess enzyme breaks out. This process is usually performed by a specialist, sanitizing with a stream of antiseptic, but after training, parents can also do the procedure at home.

In addition, synechia increases the likelihood of phimosis, in which the flesh becomes rough, wrinkles and forms scars. As a result, its narrowing makes it difficult to expose the head of the penis. This problem will require surgery and excision of the foreskin. Otherwise, this can lead to problems in intimate life, for example, male immaturity. This often happens when parents are concerned that the child is not exposing the head of the penis, and they try to sharply separate the synechiae using force. This method is strictly prohibited, because, in addition to severe pain, the boy’s torn adhesions will grow back together after a while, only now they will not be tender.

Treatment methods for synechia

As already mentioned, you need to address this problem to a child’s office if your child has reached the age of six, and the head of the penis is not visible at all or only partially. However, you should not hesitate with this issue, because if you consult a specialist in a timely manner, you can avoid complications, as well as surgical intervention.

Most often there are no symptoms, but you should pay special attention if your child has:

  • the penis turns red;
  • there is swelling of the penis;
  • the boy experiences pain in the groin area;
  • unpleasant sensation when urinating;
  • there is purulent discharge.

If the child is under 12 years of age, he will be prescribed conservative treatment for synechia. This method involves gently applying pressure to the boy’s foreskin. Parents can do this while bathing in warm water, gently stretching the skin and moving it away.

Please note that the child should not experience any discomfort or pain. Do not count on quick results; it will take at least 3-5 months of regular procedures.

However, it is worth it, since it will avoid the painful procedure of separating adhesions in the future. When the boy has already reached puberty, he will undergo surgery to eliminate synechia. Since this is an extremely sensitive area with many nerve endings, the patient is given local anesthesia.

Basically, the procedure is done only with the hands, without any tools, sometimes a probe is used. The postoperative period is most important here. You should carefully follow all the doctor’s instructions to avoid the recurrence of adhesions. Recovery may take up to 10 days. During this period, you should be especially concerned about personal hygiene, and also use special anti-inflammatory ointments that your doctor will prescribe.

We also note that if a boy is undergoing an inflammatory process, then before a doctor intervenes he should undergo a course of treatment. Only after the infection has disappeared will it be possible to proceed to the division of synechia.

There are no preventive measures to ensure that adhesions resolve in a timely manner and the head of the penis opens. However, an important role is played by parents' awareness of this delicate issue, maintaining the child's personal hygiene and visiting a doctor if necessary. After all, the sooner the problem is diagnosed, the fewer complications there will be subsequently.

Therefore, if you have any suspicions after reading the information, make an appointment with a doctor. Typically, a specialist will only need a visual inspection to confirm or refute your concerns. If an inflammatory process is also detected, you will be sent for a blood and urine test, and will also conduct a study of discharge from the urethra (if any) to determine the causative agent of the infection. And only in rare cases, when the doctor suspects widespread inflammation, will it be necessary to do an ultrasound of the genitourinary system.

First you need to understand exactly what synechiae in boys is.

In medicine, this term is called adhesions connecting the inner part of the foreskin directly to the head of the penis.

Immediately after birth, in almost all boys, the foreskin is tightly fused to the head with small congenital synechiae. As the child grows older, by about three years of age, these adhesions are separated.

This is facilitated by sudden erections, during which special enzymes are released. These substances help babies get rid of adhesions painlessly.

However, some boys still have synechiae up to 17 years of age.

In this case the boy needs to be taken to see a pediatrician so that he could surgically remove the adhesions that were bothering him.

Reasons for appearance

There are a large number of reasons why boys may develop adhesions.

Maybe, an infection has settled in the child’s urinary tract. If pathogenic microorganisms enter the organs of the genitourinary system, inflammation may occur, leading to the fusion of the foreskin with the head.

In order to completely rule out this cause, the boy’s urine needs to be tested and a culture done to detect infection.

But how could the infection enter the child’s body if he is too young for sexual activity? Unfortunately, all genitourinary infections can easily pass from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.

In addition, they are easily transmitted through dirty towels and other personal hygiene products, so You need to keep a close eye on your baby's things.

Manifestation of allergic diseases. If a child clearly shows an allergy to any irritant, you should always monitor the condition of the penis. It may also become red and then inflamed, which can lead to the formation of synechiae.

Complicated maternal pregnancy. The infection can enter the mother's body, which can negatively affect the baby's health. In this case, boys begin to develop very quickly numerous synechiae, which the body cannot get rid of on its own.

Symptoms

In boys, synechiae may not cause discomfort, but in some cases they suffer from severe itching, which leads to redness of the head of the penis.

Frequent scratching can cause small wounds to form, and this, in turn, significantly increases the chance of contracting some kind of infection.

In addition, pain and other discomfort may sometimes be felt during urination.

If the child is very small and cannot talk about his feelings, then it is very easy to understand that something is going wrong - the child begins to cry.

And, of course, synechiae can be easily seen with the naked eye, since they are small fusions of the foreskin and the head of the penis.

How dangerous (and is it dangerous?) synechiae in boys?

Harmless at first glance synechiae pose a hidden danger to the child’s health.

Lubricant, or, in other words, smegma, begins to accumulate under the foreskin, in which various pathogenic bacteria multiply very quickly.

These bacteria almost always cause dangerous inflammation - balanitis or balanoposthitis.

Balanitis in medical practice they call the process of inflammation that affects the foreskin and glans penis in a child. Very often during the course of this disease there is redness and swelling of the head.

The child may experience unpleasant itching and discomfort during urination.

If balanitis is not cured in time, the disease will easily become chronic, which is difficult to treat. As for balanoposthitis, this is the name for inflammation of the inner part of the foreskin.

Another danger that synechia poses is difficulty during urination, as well as the effect of psychological factors.

If synechiae does not disappear by adolescence, they become denser and do not allow the head to be completely exposed. In the future, a teenager with synechiae will have problems with sex life.

That is why you need to contact a surgeon as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of the disease

Synechiae can be diagnosed by the attending pediatrician or surgeon.

During the examination of the child a separate detailed examination of the penis is carried out. The doctor specifically exposes the head to see how freely this process can proceed.

Also, the pediatrician takes into account child's age. If adhesions are found in a one-year-old child, then this process is not considered pathological.

However, if the boy has reached the age of three, and even worse, if the child’s age is gradually approaching 15-17 years, then the doctor will advise you to consult a surgeon.

Treatment

As mentioned above, in most boys, adhesions on the penis go away without any intervention from parents and doctors. However, there are special cases associated with extremely pronounced synechiae.

In such cases, the entire surface of the foreskin fuses with the head, or a pronounced balanoposthitis. In these two cases, synechiae must be treated.

Most often used surgical methods breeding synechiae.

Usually, breeding of synechiae in boys is carried out under local anesthesia. Before the operation, the child must undergo several sessions of massage and physiotherapy.

Then on the head of the penis various ointment applications are applied, which help reduce pain during the separation of synechiae.

Moreover, such manipulations help make the separation more qualitative, since in medical practice there are often cases when adhesions grow together again and the procedure needs to be done one more time.

In addition, with the use of ointments and physical therapy, the risk of seriously injuring children's genital organs is reduced.

After the operation is completed, parents should carefully monitor the condition of the baby’s penis.

The doctor will recommend apply special ointments to the head of the penis within the next ten days. With their help, the healing of small wounds will occur even faster, and the risk of adhesions fusing again will be reduced to almost zero, since it will create a thin layer that will successfully protect the skin of the foreskin from this harmful process.

After the course of ointment treatment has been completed, you can make an appointment again with the pediatrician so that he can assess how the child’s penis is healing.

Instead of a conclusion

Synechia or, in other words, adhesions of the foreskin are considered normal.

They are diagnosed in 96% of all boys.

The main task of synechiae is protection sensitive glans penis from various external factors.

Inflammation of the foreskin (balanitis)- this is one of the possible complications during the appearance of synechiae. However, this disease can be successfully treated if diagnosed in a timely manner.

Separation can be carried out only using anesthesia.

After the separation procedure You must use special creams or ointments for 10 days which the doctor will prescribe. These medications prevent the adhesions from re-union.

Attention, TODAY only!

    09/07/2016at 9:46 am

    08/20/2016at 4:25 pm

    Synechia is a condition where the foreskin and glans are fused together and prevent exposure of the glans. Synechiae in children are adhesions that initially perform a protective function, preventing infections from entering the child’s body. This condition itself is considered natural and is diagnosed in a very large number of newborns. However, if the adhesions that prevent the exposure of the head of the penis do not disappear by puberty, this can lead to serious consequences for the boy’s health, so it is necessary to consult a specialist.

    Medical Center "Energo" is a clinic that provides a wide range of services to adults and children. The treatment regimen in the clinic is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of each patient and the specific course of the disease.

    Synechia: causes of occurrence

    Synechiae in boys themselves is a natural phenomenon: in this way the body tries to protect itself from various infections that can enter through the genitourinary system. At the same time, as boys grow older, they begin to secrete smegma, the components of which soften the adhesions. In turn, spontaneous erections contribute to the natural stretching of the foreskin and dilation of synechia. Partial exposure of the head of the penis in boys under the age of 3 years and complete exposure at the age of 6 years is considered normal. If this does not happen, you should consult a pediatrician or pediatric urologist (in some cases, fusion of the foreskin is observed even in boys aged 12–15 years).

    The reasons for the persistence of adhesions in older age are not fully understood, but it is generally accepted that these can be various types of infections affecting the genitourinary system or the head of the penis. The infection provokes the body to activate defense mechanisms, which include synechiae. In this case, the infection can enter the child’s body in two main ways:

    • transmitted from mother to fetus if the pregnancy had complications and the mother was a carrier of the infection;
    • through contact and household contact: with inappropriate personal hygiene, including when visiting public places such as bathhouses, swimming pools, gyms, etc.
    • In some cases, the cause of this problem may also be an allergic reaction, especially if it manifests itself as irritation and redness of the skin, including in the intimate area.

    Synechia: consequences

    If synechiae does not disappear in due time, this can lead to serious consequences for the boy’s health:

    • development of the inflammatory process: synechiae usually complicate the process of intimate hygiene, and the accumulation of smegma can cause inflammation. One of the most serious inflammations in this case is considered to be balanitis, or balanoposthitis - inflammation of the foreskin on the inside, which can spread to the head of the penis, and also easily become chronic. In addition, any infections of this kind without appropriate treatment tend to spread to other pelvic organs, leading to even more serious consequences;
    • phimosis, or narrow foreskin: With phimosis, the flesh can become rough and wrinkled, making it difficult to expose the glans, which can subsequently lead to serious problems in your personal life, including with male fertility. Most often, phimosis requires excision of the foreskin;

    Synechia: symptoms

    Most often, synechiae can be detected with the naked eye, primarily by parents, of course. Fusion usually occurs from the coronal groove of the penis to the urethra. In addition, since the consequence of synechia is often inflammation, additional symptoms of this disease can be considered:

    • swelling of the glans penis and the foreskin itself;
    • severe itching in the intimate area;
    • redness of tissues, the appearance of small wounds (most often a consequence of itching and attempts to get rid of it);
    • discharge from the urethra;
    • pain when urinating or difficulty urinating.

    The appearance of the described manifestations may indicate that, against the background of synechiae, the spread of infection has begun, which requires timely intervention by a specialist.

    If parents notice that at the age of 3 years or more a boy has problems with exposure of the head of the penis (at first partial, and by 6 years full), it is necessary to make an appointment with a pediatrician or pediatric urologist to avoid the development of complications.

    Initial appointment

    An initial appointment with a doctor involves interviewing both the little patient and his parents, as well as a thorough visual examination. Most often, diagnosing synechia is not particularly difficult, and the presence of a problem is determined by a specialist already at the examination stage.

    However, if inflammation has already begun to develop against the background of synechia, the following may also be prescribed as an additional diagnosis:

    • tests of blood, urine and discharge from the urethra, allowing you to make a diagnosis and establish the stage of inflammation and the causative agent of the infection;
    • Ultrasound of the genitourinary system: prescribed at the discretion of the doctor if there is a suspicion that the inflammation could have spread or caused changes in certain organs.

    The treatment regimen for synechia of the foreskin in a boy largely depends on the age of the child. The most common method of removing adhesions is surgery, which can take place if the patient is over 12 years of age. Separation of synechiae of the foreskin in boys is done under local anesthesia; sometimes adhesions are removed using a probe. After the procedure, special anti-inflammatory ointments are used, selected by the doctor individually, to speed up tissue restoration and prevent the reappearance of adhesions. Typically, the recovery period can last about 10 days. During this period, special attention must be paid to personal hygiene.

    If inflammation occurs against the background of the fusion of the foreskin and the head of the penis, then surgical intervention can be performed no earlier than the infection disappears, swelling and pain subside (antibiotics and other drugs may be prescribed for this, depending on the causative agent of the infection, as well as painkillers ). The duration of treatment in this case is individual and depends on the general condition of the little patient’s body.

    If the child has not yet reached the age of 12 years, the doctor may recommend conservative methods of treating synechia. Parents may be asked to gently manipulate the skin of the foreskin while bathing in warm water, gently stretching and partially retracting it. In this case, the child should under no circumstances experience pain or other discomfort, so such manipulations should be carried out only after preliminary consultation with a specialist. Typically, the desired effect with such exposure can be achieved within a few months.

    Since synechiae in itself is not considered a disease, it is hardly possible to talk about any special preventive measures in this case. In any case, the main measures to prevent problems of the genitourinary system in children are:

    • careful personal hygiene to avoid infection. This applies both to young children, whose condition is monitored by their parents, and to older children, to whom the importance of hygiene procedures should be explained. Moreover, in the case of synechia and other problems of this kind in boys, parents should be very careful while bathing so as not to accidentally harm the child. Trying too hard to retract the foreskin can result in pinching of the penis;
    • If, at the age of over 3 years, there are problems with exposing the head of the penis or signs of inflammation occur, it is necessary to consult a specialist as quickly as possible for advice and possible treatment. The sooner synechiae of the foreskin in boys is diagnosed, the easier it will be to both treat this problem conservatively, without surgical intervention, and to get rid of the serious consequences of this disease, which it can cause.

    You can make an appointment with a specialist at the Energo Medical Center either by phone or by using a special form for patients on the clinic’s website. We will help you take care of your child's health!

    Synechia in boys is a common phenomenon, which is considered a variant of the physiological norm. In most cases, the fusion of the glans penis with the foreskin goes away on its own when the child reaches 7 years of age. However, in a number of situations in boys, the natural separation of the tissues of the genital organs does not occur, as a result of which forced breeding of synechiae is required. What does this phenomenon look like, what should the penis normally be like, what methods can be used to eliminate this problem?


    A boy has synechiae: is it normal or a reason to visit a doctor?

    Synechia is a normal physiological phenomenon that occurs in children of both sexes, so you should not sound the alarm if the boy’s head of the penis is fused with the foreskin (prepuce).

    Experts recommend closely monitoring the baby’s development, since this phenomenon, in the presence of certain factors, can acquire the status of a pathology over time. To prevent this, every parent should be able to distinguish physiological synechiae in a boy from pathological ones.

    Physiological adhesions

    Normally, up to 3 years, the head of the penis should be completely covered by the foreskin. You cannot move it away yourself - this can cause harm to the baby. There is a widespread belief that by periodically moving the foreskin, you can train it, as a result of which, after a certain period of time, the process of natural exposure of the head of the penis will occur much easier. However, this is completely untrue.

    In most cases, synechia does not cause any discomfort to the boy and does not manifest itself at all. Hyperemia, itching, swelling and other signs of an infectious process are detected only in case of complications requiring treatment. For clarity, the photograph below shows what a boy’s penis normally looks like at an early age.

    Pathological synechiae

    If the head of the penis has fused to the foreskin as a result of mechanical damage, this process will be accompanied by severe redness and pain in the groin area. In this case, purulent or cheesy discharge often appears. When synechia occurs, retraction of the foreskin is difficult, the head of the penis is partially or completely closed. If this phenomenon is detected, you should not make a diagnosis yourself. The presence of growth can only be determined by a doctor. In the photo below you can see what the fusion of the head of the penis with the foreskin looks like in boys.

    Symptoms of synechiae in boys

    Dear reader!

    This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!

    Synechiae in boys is usually visible to the naked eye (see also:). The accretion usually occurs from the coronal sulcus of the penis to the urethra. In addition, the following symptoms may be present:


    Such signs indicate that, against the background of fusion of the glans penis with the foreskin, an infectious process has begun. If these symptoms appear, you need to show your child to a pediatrician as soon as possible.

    Diagnostic measures

    To make a diagnosis, it is enough for a doctor to conduct a visual examination of a small patient (we recommend reading:). To confirm the pathological process, the baby is prescribed additional examinations:

    • general urine test to exclude urethritis;
    • clinical blood test - performed when body temperature rises, in most cases indicating the development of an infectious process;
    • examination of a smear from the urethra;
    • ultrasound examination of the genitourinary system - penis, scrotum, bladder, kidneys.

    During diagnosis, consultation with a urologist is required. If necessary, the small patient is examined by a surgeon. A treatment regimen is developed only after an accurate diagnosis has been made.

    When is specialist intervention necessary?

    Usually, fusion of the head of the penis with the foreskin does not require special measures. With age, synechiae disappear on their own. In some cases, this process lasts until the beginning of puberty. During adolescence, due to the increased production of hormones, the skin of the penis becomes elastic, as a result of which the head of the penis is easily released from the flesh. In addition, the release is facilitated by erections that appear as the boy grows older.

    In these cases, medical intervention is not required. However, there are situations when it is impossible to do without the participation of a specialist. Mandatory treatment requires symptoms such as pain and discomfort during urination, redness of the head of the penis, signs of an infectious process, and age over 15 years. Experts note that if there is any suspicion of pathological synechiae, the child should be shown to a pediatrician. The decision on the need for treatment is made solely by the doctor.

    Treatment methods for pathological synechiae

    Treatment methods depend on the patient's age and severity of the disease. In most cases, synechiae are separated using conservative methods. If there is slight fusion of the glans penis with the prepuce, the problem can be eliminated at home. In severe situations, surgical intervention is used to remove synechiae.

    Conservative therapy

    Conservative therapy, in addition to the use of medications, is based on massage of the foreskin. It makes sense to carry it out at home until the age of 6–7 years. The procedure for self-removal of synechiae is not difficult. To do this, the child is placed in a container with warm water. After 30–40 minutes, the steamed prepuce should be carefully pulled back, trying to expose the head of the penis. If the baby complains of pain, you need to stop the manipulation immediately.

    This procedure should be carried out 2-3 times a week. The duration of the massage depends on the scale of the adhesive process. Independent separation of synechiae lasts on average about 3–6 months.

    Along with this, the child is prescribed local drug treatment, which includes the following drugs:

    • antiseptic solution Miramistin;
    • Hydrocortisone ointment;
    • Contractubex gel.

    Ointments, creams and gels are applied to the head of the penis or foreskin. Movements must be as careful as possible, otherwise the baby’s genitals may be damaged. The duration of drug use is determined by the doctor in each specific case.

    Surgery

    The question of the need for surgical separation of synechiae in boys is decided by a urologist. The operation is prescribed for children over 3 years of age and in the presence of certain indications, for example, the traumatic or infectious nature of the fusion, as well as the lack of results from conservative treatment.

    The purpose of surgery is to excise all existing adhesions and release the glans penis from the foreskin. The features of the operation include the following points:

    • the child has no scars after surgical removal of synechiae;
    • the need to use local anti-inflammatory or wound-healing drugs at the postoperative stage;
    • The operation is most often prescribed for teenage children;
    • surgery is performed under local anesthesia;
    • surgical removal of the fusion of the head of the penis with the prepuce is the basis for an annual examination by a urologist.

    Postoperative care at home

    After the operation, parents need to closely monitor the condition of the boy’s penis. To speed up healing and prevent re-growth within 7-10 days, you need to apply a special ointment to the head of the penis and foreskin. The prescription of medications for topical use is individual.

    • daily cleansing of the genital organ under running water;
    • regular treatment of the penis and prepuce with antibacterial drugs (Erythromycin, Levomekol, Miramistin);
    • local baths with decoctions of medicinal herbs (calendula, chamomile, mint).

    The duration of such procedures is determined by the doctor in each specific case. It is strictly forbidden to change medications and treatment periods - this can lead to serious consequences. If the rehabilitation period is delayed or complications develop, you need to contact a specialist to adjust the therapy. In such cases, as a rule, the boy is prescribed a course of antibacterial drugs.

    Daily hygiene – prevention of pathology

    Incorrect actions of parents lead to the development of certain diseases in children. Fusion of the anterior part of the penis with the prepuce is one of these pathologies. In addition to the fact that the occurrence of this problem is influenced by infectious diseases and pathologies of the genitourinary system in a woman during pregnancy, a significant role in the formation of adhesions on the penis is played by the boy’s improper intimate hygiene. To avoid fusion of the anterior part of the penis with the prepuce, the following preventive measures must be strictly observed:

    • daily washing of the baby and cleansing the intimate area during the day if necessary;
    • teaching a boy from early childhood to personal hygiene;
    • avoiding long-term wearing of diapers;
    • regular ventilation of the child’s genitals;
    • use of individual personal hygiene items;
    • timely treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system.

    Compliance with the listed rules will help protect the baby from fusion of the front part of the penis with the prepuce. If this does happen, you should in any case show the child to the pediatrician. The specialist will assess the severity of the problem and, if necessary, prescribe effective treatment. It must be remembered that it is easier to prevent any disease than to subsequently treat it for a long time and painfully.



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