Complications after spending nearly 30 million VND on circumcision

Previously, the patient had inflammation and itching of the foreskin, went to a private clinic for examination, and was prescribed cutting, costing 3-4 million, to treat premature ejaculation. During the examination, the doctor said that the tumor on the head was secreting mucus, causing infection and dirt, and needed to be burned to prevent cancer. He had to pay an additional fee of more than 10 million VND.

After surgery, he went to the hospital regularly for a week to change bandages, administer medicine, and receive infrared light, for two million a day. The total cost was nearly 30 million VND but the wound did not heal but oozed dirty fluid and was swollen, painful, and even bleeding. Because he was worried, he went to Saint Paul Hospital for a check-up.

On October 1, Doctor Nguyen Van Duc, Department of Urology and Andrology Surgery, said that the patient’s circumcision wound and the burn around the glans rim were infected, swollen, and oozing a lot of fluid. The team cleans the wound and prescribes oral antibiotics at home.

According to the doctor, the patient only has a long foreskin and poor hygiene causing inflammation. He just needs to clean it at home. In addition, the bumps on the head of the penis are actually genital papillae, also known as penile pearls, benign, often appearing in people with long foreskin, not yet having sex, and poor hygiene. Penile pearls occur in about 14.3% to 48% of men, rarely appearing before puberty, most commonly between 20 and 40 years old.

The doctor said that circumcision is a minor surgery to remove excess skin around the head of the penis. This is an important minor surgery that helps reduce the risk of male diseases. Doctors prescribe circumcision in cases of foreskin narrowing or blockage, inflammation (basitis, balanitis, painful urination…) recurring many times, accompanied by long foreskin. Men need to go to a reputable facility that ensures conditions such as a clean, sterile operating room and trained surgeons. For children under 12 years old, anesthesia is needed so it must be done in a hospital.

In cases of circumcision at unreliable facilities, there is a risk of surgical wound infection due to poor infection control, and more serious complications due to injection of fluids and antibiotics. In addition, patients may face psychological consequences due to prolonged and costly stress.

Doctors recommend that when you have strange symptoms, do not rush to self-treat or diagnose. Advertisements such as a few doses of medicine to cure the disease, a few months of treatment to cure…. attack the psychology of the patient, are not true, and are very expensive.

Patients should go to reputable specialized hospitals to be diagnosed and treated under doctor’s supervision to avoid losing money and suffering.