In the process of caring for the healthy growth of their babies, do mothers pay attention to the health of their babies’ external genitalia? What should be done in case of abnormalities? Let’s learn more about it now. Problems of male babies Scrotal problems Possible situations in development – scrotal enlargement Some babies, especially newborns, have an enlarged scrotum with smooth skin and a transparent scrotum when illuminated with a flashlight, which is medically called syringomyelia. The main reason for the formation of syringomyelia is that during the development of the external genitalia, the pouch does not close and there is a small hole between it and the peritoneal cavity. The abdominal fluid flows into the pouch through the hole and accumulates in the scrotum together with the fluid secreted by the wall of the pouch, making the baby’s scrotum swollen and becoming syringomyelia. Usually the pouch will close on its own and the fluid will be absorbed, and most syringomyelia will heal on its own within 6 months of birth. Abnormalities: If the syringomyelia is still present at 6 months of age, a pediatric surgeon should be called to deal with it. Testicular problems Possible situations in development – Cryptorchidism Cryptorchidism: Some children’s testicles stay in a certain part of the descent process after birth, so the testicles cannot be touched in the scrotum. Hazards of cryptorchidism: (1) the testicles are in the abdominal cavity and their temperature is higher than the scrotum, which is not conducive to the development of the testicles and affects the spermatogenic function of the testicles in the future; (2) the cryptorchidism is easily damaged by external force; (3) the cryptorchidism is poorly fixed, and it is easy to twist the spermatic cord of the testicles and cause the testicles to have impaired blood flow and even necrosis; (4) the cryptorchidism is prone to cancer, which is 40 times higher than normal. Children with cryptorchidism must be treated by surgery in time. The best age for surgery is 6 – 12 months. Circumcision Problems Circumstances that may occur during development – congenital prepuce The adhesion between the baby’s foreskin and penis after birth is called congenital prepuce, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. Usually, within one year of age, this adhesion is gradually absorbed and the foreskin separates from the penis, becoming mobile and allowing the glans to be pushed back to reveal the glans. Abnormalities Pinhole-like prepuce: congenital prepuce does not always subside on its own, as some children have a very tiny prepuce opening, as small as a pinhole, which prevents the prepuce from receding upward and hinders the development of the penis head or even the penis. Acquired prepuce: Mostly secondary to injury or inflammation of the penis head and foreskin. If a child with pinhole-like prepuce has poor urination, urine accumulates between the foreskin and the head of the penis, which is very likely to cause inflammation; the secretions in the foreskin of a child with prepuce are not easily discharged, often causing inflammation and repeated inflammatory cell invasion, causing scarring narrowing of the foreskin opening, called acquired prepuce. Both of the above cases should be treated surgically. Problems of baby girls Labia minora adhesions: mostly congenital, manifesting as poor and weak urination. Due to diaper wrapping, it is difficult to observe abnormal urination of the baby, so it is mostly unnoticed by mothers and often found only during health checkups. It is usually not treated surgically, but can be separated by manipulation and heals well. Inguinal hernia: Girls also have inguinal hernia, which manifests as a hemispherical localized mass or bulge in the inguinal region or labia majora when crying or standing, and the mass can be incorporated into the abdominal cavity by itself when lying down or quiet. Since most of the contents of hernias in girls are ovaries and fallopian tubes, if they are not treated in time and cause ischemia and necrosis of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, they will have a greater impact on future fertility. Therefore, girls with inguinal hernia should be operated as soon as possible.