My Son's Penis Is Infected. Is Circumcision The Cure?

Posting Date: 01/11/2000

Melissa: My son is uncircumcised and has had an infection on the foreskin of his penis for two months. He's not in any pain, though.

The doctor has tried a couple of antibiotics, including Keflex, but they aren't working. The doctor suggests that I take him to a pediatric urologist and consider getting a partial circumcision.

Dr. Dean: Well, circumcision will work. Anytime an organ is infected, if we remove the offending organ we remove the infection. But what the heck is a partial circumcision?

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Getting treatment for this in London, where every little boy is like your little boy is one thing, but the opinion of an American pediatric urologist cannot automatically be trusted. I'm always complaining that people shop for doctors until they hear what they want to hear, but since most American doctors are not up to snuff on treating uncircumcised penises, you are likely to run into one who has no ideas other than picking up a knife.

Pediatricians should be speaking out for children's welfare by doing all they can to prevent unnecessary circumcision. Contrary to what many mothers are told by pediatricians, a healthy foreskin should not be retracted and cleaned. That causes tearing and can be a set-up for infection. However, once an infection is present, retraction and cleaning may be necessary.

I have to say I'm suspicious of the diagnosis, because this should be simple to treat. Keflex is a heavy antibiotic and we don't even know if your boy has a bacterial infection. If he has a yeast infection, an antibiotic can make it worse.

Do your best to find a doctor who is sincere in his attempts to find a treatment other than circumcision unless it's necessary for your little boy's recovery. Good luck to you.