What to do if the urethral orifice of a little boy is red and swollen

Redness and swelling of the urethral orifice in little boys can be treated by local cleaning, adjusting diet, using topical drugs, oral drugs, and medical examination. Urethral orifice redness and swelling are usually caused by local irritation, allergic reaction, urinary tract infection, balanitis, urethritis and other reasons.

1. Partial cleaning

Gently clean the urethral opening and surrounding skin with warm water every day, and control the water temperature at around 37°C. Avoid using soap or shower gel when cleaning, and keep the area dry after cleaning. Choose breathable cotton underwear instead of tight pants. Cleansing can reduce bacterial growth and relieve redness and swelling caused by secretions.

2. Adjust your diet

Increase daily water intake to 1000-1500 ml to promote urine flushing of the urethra. Reduce the consumption of spicy foods such as pepper and ginger, and limit the intake of high-sugar foods. You can eat diuretic fruits such as watermelon and pears in moderation to help reduce congestion in the urethral mucosa. Dietary adjustments can significantly improve allergic or irritating redness and swelling.

3. Use topical drugs

Apply erythromycin ointment or mupirocin ointment to the affected area as directed by your doctor, twice a day. For redness and swelling caused by allergies, hydrocortisone cream can be applied for a short period of time. Clean and dry the skin before use to avoid mixing the medicine with urine. Topical medications can act directly on the inflammatory site to relieve bacterial infection or contact dermatitis.

4. Oral medications

For bacterial infections, antibiotics such as cefaclor dry suspension and amoxicillin granules must be taken as directed by the doctor. For allergic reactions, loratadine syrup can be taken orally. The entire course of antibiotics must be completed to avoid the development of drug resistance. The dosage of medicine needs to be adjusted according to body weight, and the dosage cannot be increased or decreased by oneself.

5. Medical examination

If redness and swelling persist for more than 3 days or are accompanied by pain during urination or fever, you need to see a pediatrician or urologist. The doctor may conduct urine routine and urine culture examination, and in severe cases, a urinary system ultrasound may be required. When a definite diagnosis of phimosis or urethral malformation is made, surgical treatment such as circumcision may be required. Medical treatment can rule out organic diseases such as urethral stricture.

Parents should pay attention to the child's urination frequency and urine color changes, and avoid holding urine at night. Choose light-colored pure cotton underwear to facilitate observation of secretions, and change and disinfect them daily. Clean your perineum promptly after playing and avoid direct contact with unclean surfaces in public places. If redness and swelling occur repeatedly or are accompanied by symptoms such as hematuria or thinning of the urine line, you must seek medical attention immediately to check for congenital urinary system abnormalities. Daily urination diary can be recorded to help doctors judge the condition.