For healthier, cleaner baby boys
Sep 05, 2010
‘IS it really necessary? Will he recover?<br>What if something goes wrong?’ Many<br>mothers ponder over those questions<br>when faced with circumcising their<br>babies.
‘IS it really necessary? Will he recover?
What if something goes wrong?’ Many
mothers ponder over those questions
when faced with circumcising their
babies. But as Vicky Wandawa writes,
the worries are unfounded
Agatha’s story
My name is Agatha Bugonzi. I am a social scientist living in Mpererwe. I have one child, Keroine. One of the reasons I had Keroine circumcised is because it’s healthy, particularly as regards hygiene. I don’t expect his nanny to pull back the fore skin and shower the baby well! However, that is not the only reason I had him circumcised. Keroine had a problem with his penis; the foreskin was abnormally tight, a condition I later came to learn as phimosis.
So when he passed urine, it would not completely flow out, causing the penis to swell like a small balloon, then after a while, it would flow out. I found that weird so visited the internet and found that the only way to correct the condition was by circumcision.
I immediately called up his doctor and made an appointment. I knew it was the right thing to do but I was so scared for him. The doctor scheduled the surgery for a week later. That week was not
easy for me.
I even had nightmares. Whenever I saw him smiling, my heart would melt and
ache just thinking of him crying each night soon after the surgery!
The big day came, my heart was racing but I stood strong and had it done, he is now totally fine and clean!
Circumcision is better done when the child is young
It’s a boy!,†you’re told. Overjoyed, you cuddle the tiny bundle of joy in your arms. You have for the last months been preparing for his arrival, carefully picking out his clothes, setting up his room and you just cannot wait to take him home.
You have done all to guarantee his comfort but you know what would guarantee his comfort even more? Circumcision. Ben Khingi, a specialist surgeon with Mulago Referral Hospital defines circumcision as a surgical procedure which involves cutting off the foreskin.
He says before the decision is made to circumcise a child, the parents should be counseled. They should be told what the process entails, its benefits, contraindications and care for the wound.
The procedure takes between 20 to 30 minutes and depends on the number of superficial blood vessels exposed during the procedure. Kyambadde says circumcision can be done at any medical centre that has been registered with the Government and has the required facilities.
Khingi explains that ideally, doctors who undergo formal training should be able to
carry out circumcision but its safer done by a competent person who is confident and understands that certain mistakes made could be permanent.
Why circumcise children?
Khingi explains that in children, the foreskin is tight around the glans (the rounded head of the penis) and may not easily be retracted for cleaning. This leads to accumulation of dirt beneath the foreskin, known as smegma.
Uncircumcised children are at a high risk of suffering from infections such as balanitis. Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans, and can occur due to the accumulation of dirt under the foreskin.
Khingi explains that without circumcision, a child can suffer a condition called phimosis. This is where the foreskin is too tight and the opening of the penis is partially blocked, making it difficult for the baby to pass urine.
Hussein Kyambadde, a doctor with Kibuli Muslim hospital says the risk of developing a UTI is increased with phimosis. “Due to the tightening of the foreskin, it is difficult for the child to pass urine.
The urine cannot flow completely out, leaving part of it to trickle backwards and increasing the risk of a UTI,†Khingi explains. Kyambadde notes that phimosis is uncommon and occurs in about one to two in 100 people.
In children, phimosis may be exhibited by fever, passing urine while crying, as well as touching and picking the
private parts. In addition to phimosis, uncircumcised individuals can suffer Para–phimosis.
“This is where the foreskin fails to fall back after it has been retracted, for example, after washing or sexual intercourse,†Kyambadde explains. The inner part of the fore-skin is delicate and can easily be permeated by the HIV.
Removal of the foreskin does not give complete protection against HIV but reduces chances of acquiring it. “In areas where circumcision is common, there is reduced prevalence of HIV through sexual intercourse by 50 to 60%,†Kyambadde notes.
He also adds that circumcision reduces the chances of penile and cervical cancer development. This is because the foreskin which increases chances of harbouring the viruses that cause cancer by making conditions favorable for them to thrive is eliminated.
He says the same applies to STDs. The accumulation of smegma makes it favorable for the micro organisms
responsible for STDs and STIs to thrive, therefore enhancing the development of STDs and hence spread to the sexual partners. Circumcision also reduces problems with erections, especially at puberty
Myth!
Do not believe those who say circumcision takes away sexual pleasure. Circumcision does not kill sexual sensation. Dr. Ben Khingi explains when circumcision is carried out the medical way; extreme care is taken to steer clear of the sensitive areas on the penis which are likely to impinge on the individual’s sexual pleasure.
Hence, when done medically and professionally, there is no reason for the individual to experience less sexual pleasure than uncircumcised men. Circumcision does not influence the size of a child’s penis either.
The healing process
Kyambadde says the healing is are urgently given medical attention. in two phases. “By the time a week elapses, the wound has closed. Complete healing however, takes 4 to 6 weeks.â€
What’s more, air quickens the healing process; hence the baby’s private parts should be exposed as often as possible. “For any wound to get better, good air circulation is required,†Kyambadde says.
Kyambadde advises that they are dressed in loose pants, until the wound completely heals. Diapers, Kyambadde warns, are a complete no-no, because
they generate heat which slackens the healing process.
If one must use a diaper, Khingi advises over size diapers, preferably two at a time, which will help form a tent over
that area with the wound.
Treating the wound
“The first 24 to 48 hours are critical so extreme hygiene should be observed to avoid infection,†Kyambadde warns. The doctor will dress the area, which should be kept intact and clean, but the dressing should be removed after 24 hours.
In some cases, peeling the dressing
off may cause pain and discomfort, in which case Khingi advises a considerable application of olive oil to the dressing. “The oil helps to get the dressing off faster and with less pain.â€
After the dressing is off, salty warm water should be used to clean the
area until the wound heals completely, it acts as an antiseptic.
“The concentration of the salt should be as comfortable as you would have in a meal,†Khingi advises. Kyambadde also advises that during the first 3 days following the procedure, the baby should be wiped, not bathed. He adds that in case of pain, pain killers are given and if the circumcision is done in a sterile place, there is no great need of antibiotics.
After three days, the baby should be
taken for a medical review. Kyambadde
warns that applying detergents and herbs increases the risk of infection.
Signs that should ring alarm bells
Pus discharge
Swelling
Blisters
Excessive bleeding
Persistent pain
Difficulty in passing urine. The procedure
should not in any way disrupt the outflow of urine so if this happens it should be checked by a doctor.
Failure of dressing to come off the
wound. Khingi advises that a mother
should maintain contact with the child’s
surgeon so that in case of anything,
are urgently given medical attention.
What if something goes wrong?’ Many
mothers ponder over those questions
when faced with circumcising their
babies. But as Vicky Wandawa writes,
the worries are unfounded
Agatha’s story
My name is Agatha Bugonzi. I am a social scientist living in Mpererwe. I have one child, Keroine. One of the reasons I had Keroine circumcised is because it’s healthy, particularly as regards hygiene. I don’t expect his nanny to pull back the fore skin and shower the baby well! However, that is not the only reason I had him circumcised. Keroine had a problem with his penis; the foreskin was abnormally tight, a condition I later came to learn as phimosis.
So when he passed urine, it would not completely flow out, causing the penis to swell like a small balloon, then after a while, it would flow out. I found that weird so visited the internet and found that the only way to correct the condition was by circumcision.
I immediately called up his doctor and made an appointment. I knew it was the right thing to do but I was so scared for him. The doctor scheduled the surgery for a week later. That week was not
easy for me.
I even had nightmares. Whenever I saw him smiling, my heart would melt and
ache just thinking of him crying each night soon after the surgery!
The big day came, my heart was racing but I stood strong and had it done, he is now totally fine and clean!
Circumcision is better done when the child is young
It’s a boy!,†you’re told. Overjoyed, you cuddle the tiny bundle of joy in your arms. You have for the last months been preparing for his arrival, carefully picking out his clothes, setting up his room and you just cannot wait to take him home.
You have done all to guarantee his comfort but you know what would guarantee his comfort even more? Circumcision. Ben Khingi, a specialist surgeon with Mulago Referral Hospital defines circumcision as a surgical procedure which involves cutting off the foreskin.
He says before the decision is made to circumcise a child, the parents should be counseled. They should be told what the process entails, its benefits, contraindications and care for the wound.
The procedure takes between 20 to 30 minutes and depends on the number of superficial blood vessels exposed during the procedure. Kyambadde says circumcision can be done at any medical centre that has been registered with the Government and has the required facilities.
Khingi explains that ideally, doctors who undergo formal training should be able to
carry out circumcision but its safer done by a competent person who is confident and understands that certain mistakes made could be permanent.
Why circumcise children?
Khingi explains that in children, the foreskin is tight around the glans (the rounded head of the penis) and may not easily be retracted for cleaning. This leads to accumulation of dirt beneath the foreskin, known as smegma.
Uncircumcised children are at a high risk of suffering from infections such as balanitis. Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans, and can occur due to the accumulation of dirt under the foreskin.
Khingi explains that without circumcision, a child can suffer a condition called phimosis. This is where the foreskin is too tight and the opening of the penis is partially blocked, making it difficult for the baby to pass urine.
Hussein Kyambadde, a doctor with Kibuli Muslim hospital says the risk of developing a UTI is increased with phimosis. “Due to the tightening of the foreskin, it is difficult for the child to pass urine.
The urine cannot flow completely out, leaving part of it to trickle backwards and increasing the risk of a UTI,†Khingi explains. Kyambadde notes that phimosis is uncommon and occurs in about one to two in 100 people.
In children, phimosis may be exhibited by fever, passing urine while crying, as well as touching and picking the
private parts. In addition to phimosis, uncircumcised individuals can suffer Para–phimosis.
“This is where the foreskin fails to fall back after it has been retracted, for example, after washing or sexual intercourse,†Kyambadde explains. The inner part of the fore-skin is delicate and can easily be permeated by the HIV.
Removal of the foreskin does not give complete protection against HIV but reduces chances of acquiring it. “In areas where circumcision is common, there is reduced prevalence of HIV through sexual intercourse by 50 to 60%,†Kyambadde notes.
He also adds that circumcision reduces the chances of penile and cervical cancer development. This is because the foreskin which increases chances of harbouring the viruses that cause cancer by making conditions favorable for them to thrive is eliminated.
He says the same applies to STDs. The accumulation of smegma makes it favorable for the micro organisms
responsible for STDs and STIs to thrive, therefore enhancing the development of STDs and hence spread to the sexual partners. Circumcision also reduces problems with erections, especially at puberty
Myth!
Do not believe those who say circumcision takes away sexual pleasure. Circumcision does not kill sexual sensation. Dr. Ben Khingi explains when circumcision is carried out the medical way; extreme care is taken to steer clear of the sensitive areas on the penis which are likely to impinge on the individual’s sexual pleasure.
Hence, when done medically and professionally, there is no reason for the individual to experience less sexual pleasure than uncircumcised men. Circumcision does not influence the size of a child’s penis either.
The healing process
Kyambadde says the healing is are urgently given medical attention. in two phases. “By the time a week elapses, the wound has closed. Complete healing however, takes 4 to 6 weeks.â€
What’s more, air quickens the healing process; hence the baby’s private parts should be exposed as often as possible. “For any wound to get better, good air circulation is required,†Kyambadde says.
Kyambadde advises that they are dressed in loose pants, until the wound completely heals. Diapers, Kyambadde warns, are a complete no-no, because
they generate heat which slackens the healing process.
If one must use a diaper, Khingi advises over size diapers, preferably two at a time, which will help form a tent over
that area with the wound.
Treating the wound
“The first 24 to 48 hours are critical so extreme hygiene should be observed to avoid infection,†Kyambadde warns. The doctor will dress the area, which should be kept intact and clean, but the dressing should be removed after 24 hours.
In some cases, peeling the dressing
off may cause pain and discomfort, in which case Khingi advises a considerable application of olive oil to the dressing. “The oil helps to get the dressing off faster and with less pain.â€
After the dressing is off, salty warm water should be used to clean the
area until the wound heals completely, it acts as an antiseptic.
“The concentration of the salt should be as comfortable as you would have in a meal,†Khingi advises. Kyambadde also advises that during the first 3 days following the procedure, the baby should be wiped, not bathed. He adds that in case of pain, pain killers are given and if the circumcision is done in a sterile place, there is no great need of antibiotics.
After three days, the baby should be
taken for a medical review. Kyambadde
warns that applying detergents and herbs increases the risk of infection.
Signs that should ring alarm bells
Pus discharge
Swelling
Blisters
Excessive bleeding
Persistent pain
Difficulty in passing urine. The procedure
should not in any way disrupt the outflow of urine so if this happens it should be checked by a doctor.
Failure of dressing to come off the
wound. Khingi advises that a mother
should maintain contact with the child’s
surgeon so that in case of anything,
are urgently given medical attention.