Common paediatric problems

Abstract

Many paediatric problems can present to medical professionals. This article covers some of the common ones including phimosis, undescended testis, retractile testis, vesicoureteric junction reflex, hypospadias, neonatal hydronephrosis, obstruction of the pelviureteric junction, and some types of tumour. Phimosis Phimosis is the most common reason for circumcision, although recurrent balanitis is also an indication. Circumcision may also be performed for religious or social reasons. At birth, adhesions are present between the glans penis and foreskin, but separation begins to occur immediately and continues thereafter. The prepuce normally becomes retractile after the age of two years, but many adolescent boys retain some adhesions. Preputial adhesions are a common reason for referral to a urologist, but adhesions are normal and should be treated only if "physiological phimosis" persists into adolescence and causes problems with masturbation or sexual intercourse. A non-retractile foreskin is free of symptoms and self limiting, and circumcision is not needed. Parents often say that the prepuce "balloons" when the child urinates, but this is a sign of a non-retractile foreskin rather than phimosis. Careful examination will show that the urethral meatus is visible through the narrowed preputial opening, and, with time, this opening widens to allow the foreskin to retract normally. True or "pathological phimosis" is rare, but it may cause appreciable problems in childhood or adolescence. Treatment is usually circumcision, whereas alternative treatments are preputioplasty or application of steroid creams.