Abnormalities of the external genitalia and groins among primary school boys in Bida, Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundAbnormalities of the male external genitalia and groin, a set of lesions which may be congenital or acquired, are rather obscured to many kids and their parents and Nigerian health care system has no formal program to detect them.ObjectivesTo identify and determine the prevalence of abnormalities of external genitalia and groin among primary school boys in Bida, Nigeria.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of primary school male pupils in Bida. A detailed clinical examination of the external genitalia and groin was performed on them.ResultsAbnormalities were detected in 240 (36.20%) of the 663 boys, with 35 (5.28%) having more than one abnormality. The three most prevalent abnormalities were penile chordee (37, 5.58%), excessive removal of penile skin (37, 5.58%) and retractile testis (34, 5.13%). The prevalence of complications of circumcision was 15.40% and included excessive residual foreskin, excessive removal of skin, skin bridges and meatal stenosis. Undescended testes were seen in 6 (0.90%) boys, with median age of 9 years and 2 were bilateral. Also, micropenis was detected in 27 (4.07%) of the pupils.ConclusionInguino-penoscrotal abnormalities are common in our community (36.20%). Screening of pre-school and school children to detect them should be introduced into the school health programs in Nigeria.

The Frequency of Penile and Scrotal Abnormalities in Early Childhood Boys Attending Pediatric Mansoura University Hospital

“…The prevalence of undescended testis in Adekanye et al (1) study was found to be 0.9%, which is close to our study and the widely quoted prevalence of 1% by age 1. Onuora and Evbuomwan (18) also reported a prevalence of 0.5% out of 2200 between the ages of 6 and 12 years in Nigeria.…”

“…According to the penile abnormalities frequency among the studied cases, it is distributed as the following from the most to least frequents; concealed penis (1.2%), penile torsion (0.8%), chordee (curved penis) and hypospadias (0.4%), hooded prepuce (0.3%) and 0.1% for trapped penis, webbed penis and penile masses. While in Adekanye et al (1) it is distributed as the following; penile torsion (6.49%), penile chordee (5.58%), micropenis (4.07%), hypospadias (0.45%).…”

“…Abnormalities of the male external genitalia and groins are a set of lesions, which may be congenital or acquired but are rather obscured to many kids and their parents. This is particularly so where the parents may not be certain of what a normal external genitalia and groin should look like (1) .…”

“…Among the congenital ones are hypospadias, epispadias, buried penis, micropenis, ambiguous genitalia, phimosis, paraphimosis, aphallia (penile agenesis), diphallia, chordee without hypospadia, hernia, hydrocoele, bifid scrotum, ectopic scrotum, cryptorchidism/undescended testis, retractile testes and epididymal cyst. The acquired ones may result from circumcision which includes excessive residual foreskin, excessive removal of skin, meatal stenosis, granuloma, penile torsion, secondary chordee, skin bridges, glans amputation, inclusion cyst and urethrocutaneous fistula (1) .…”

Editorial: HIV and NCDs: inevitable interaction in resource limited settings.

“…Abnormalities of the external genitalia and groin are common in Nigeria affecting over a third of boys in primary school. 20 This report is followed by Odiit's letter on childhood kidney diseases in Uganda, 21 and a South African report on childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. 22 …”