Hypospadias in a child is a congenital anomaly of the urinary system, in which there is an absence of the posterior wall of the urethra. A similar pathology is most often found in boys, but in girls it is considered a rarity. In any case, a sick child needs help.
Hypospadias in a child and its causes
In fact, in modern medicine it is customary to distinguish two main causes of the appearance of such an anomaly. To begin with, it is worth noting that hypospadias can be the result of a genetic or chromosomal mutation.
On the other hand, the most common cause of the disease is a sharp change in hormonal levels. A similar phenomenon is often found in cases where a woman took some hormonal drugs in the early stages of pregnancy, when the laying and development of the main organs is still ongoing.
Hormonal disruptions can be associated with diseases of the mother’s endocrine system . In addition, emotional experiences, constant stress, severe nervous overstrain also affect the functioning of the endocrine glands, which leads to the synthesis of altered combinations of hormonal substances. Of course, the mental state of a pregnant woman can also be attributed to risk factors.
Hypospadias in a child and its varieties
In fact, such a pathology is very serious. The absence of the posterior wall of the urethra leads to deformation of the entire urogenital system. For example, in newborn girls with a similar anomaly, not only the urethra, but also the vaginal wall and hymen are split , and the urethral opening is in the tissues of the vagina. Such children suffer from constant urinary incontinence.
But in boys, deformations can be different. Depending on the location of the urethra, the disease is usually divided into several main types:
- If the opening of the urethra is located on the glans penis, but not in the usual place, this is capitate hypospadias in children.
- With the stem form of pathology, the urethra opens outward on the lower surface of the penis. In this case, a strong narrowing of the urinary canal and a noticeable curvature of the penis are often observed.
- Scrotal hypospadias in a child is also accompanied by a curvature of the penis and a significant reduction in its size - with the opening of the urethra located in the tissues of the scrotum.
- In some cases, the canal opens in the perineum.
Such a disease is really dangerous. And here we are talking not so much about aesthetic beauty, but about the work of the genitourinary system. Hypospadias in a child is often accompanied by some other abnormalities, in particular enuresis, impaired urine outflow, diseases of the bladder and kidneys, and the development of inguinal hernias.
Hypospadias in a child and treatment methods
To date, the only possible treatment is surgery. Yes, if the urethral opening is located on the head of the penis, and the genitals themselves are not bent, then you can try to do without plastic correction. Unfortunately, not every sick child has such good prospects.
Hypospadias in children after surgery completely disappears. But it is worth noting that such reconstructive plastic surgery is a rather complicated procedure, which not every surgeon can perform. Indeed, during the operation, correction is necessary not only for the urethra itself, but also for all genital organs. By the way, surgery is best tolerated by children aged 1 to 2 years. If you get rid of the anomaly during this period, the child will be able to develop normally both physically and psychologically.