Genital deformities in children can be acquired or present at birth. Some kids are born with birth defects that impact the genital and reproductive organs, such as the vagina and labia in girls and the penis, scrotum, or testes (testicles) in boys. For neonatal surgeries in Siliguri, reach out to the best pediatric surgeon in the city.
Paediatricians perform a physical examination that helps detect some genital problems after birth. However, not all children's genital abnormalities are visible during an ultrasound or prenatal examination.
Pediatric genital issues refer to a wide range of congenital or acquired conditions in kids that affect the genitalia of infants and children. Many of these conditions are highly treatable with early detection and appropriate medical care.
This blog shares the basics of pediatric genital abnormalities, their causes, and common treatment options.
What Are Paediatric Genital Abnormalities? – An Overview
Genital abnormalities in children are nothing rare. These involve any structural or functional deformities with the genital organs that are present at birth (congenital) or develop later in life (acquired) in kids.
Such conditions can affect both boys and girls and range from mild to more severe forms, which many times need surgery. Genital abnormalities often manifest as issues with the shape, size, or function of the external genitalia; however, these can also involve internal structures.
Some common paediatric genital abnormalities to know about
Given below are some common genital conditions in kids:
Hypospadias: These are very common genital abnormalities. Here, the urethral opening in children with this issue is located farther down on the ventral surface, between the scrotum and the head of the penis, rather than near the tip of the penis.
Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testicles):Another common pediatric genital abnormality in which one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum.
Ambiguous Genitalia: The external genitals in this case don’t appear clearly male or female, making it difficult to assign the kids’ gender at birth. Consult the best neonatal surgery doctors in Siliguri, North Bengal.
Labial Adhesions: In girls, the labia (the outer vaginal folds) may stick together/ it occurs when the inner lips of the vulva stick together more commonly caused by very low oestrogen.
Hydrocele: Fluid builds up around the testicle, causing swelling in the scrotum, very common in newborns.
Chordee: This genital deformity is a curvature of the penis in which children are born with a chordee with noaccompanying hypospadias or epispadias.
Epispadias: At birth, epispadias is present in which the tube that exits the body from the bladder, the urethra, does not grow into a fully developed tube. Urinating is made more difficult by this genital abnormality.
Inguinal Hernia: Also called groin hernia, inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin area, often caused by a weakness in the abdominal wall. It causes pain or discomfort in the groin, more often when coughing, bending over, etc.
Proper medical care helps prevent health risks in kids and newborns. Get effective neonatal surgeries in Siliguri from the top child surgeon in the region.