On a hot summer day, a heart-wrenching incident occurred in a hospital in Fuzhou, Fujian Province.
A six-year-old boy was taken to a children's hospital for a routine medical check-up as he was about to start school.
However, the doctor found that the child had phimosis during the examination, and believed that it had affected the child's normal development, so he recommended surgery**.
On July 24, 2023, the little boy underwent surgery.
The operation seemed to go smoothly and the child was allowed to go home the next day.
However, what was supposed to be an easy recovery process turned out to be incredibly difficult.
When the child returned home, not only did he have a low-grade fever, but he also had pain and loss of appetite.
What's even more worrying is that his ** also has yellow unidentified fluid oozing.
The child's father, Mr. Jiang, recalled: "After the child came back from the hospital, it has been like this, and we are all very worried. ”
In the face of these symptoms of the child, Mr. Jiang and his wife took care of the child in strict accordance with the doctor's instructions, rubbing the medicine regularly to cool down the child, and taking ibuprofen to relieve the pain and fever.
Unfortunately, the child's condition has not improved as a result.
On August 2, they took the child to the hospital again, but the doctor said that the child's condition was "fine".
However, the next day, the child's symptoms intensified with a low-grade fever, lower abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were so anxious that they first took their children to a nearby clinic, but they failed to get an effective **.
They then rushed to the children's hospital, but tragedy struck on the way - the child's condition deteriorated dramatically and he was already in critical condition when he arrived at the hospital.
Despite the hospital's emergency rescue, it was not able to save the little life.
This little boy, who was supposed to be lively and cute, unfortunately passed away because of a seemingly simple circumcision.
In their grief, Mr. Jiang and his wife found that the child had abnormal indicators during the preoperative examination, but did not undergo a follow-up examination before being discharged from the hospital after the operation.
They believe that the hospital should bear some responsibility in this matter.
The hospital said that the clinical treatment of the follow-up doctor was appropriate, and there was no direct correlation between the child's death and the new symptoms that appeared after the operation.
This unfortunate incident not only broke the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, but also made the whole society think again: the safety and supervision of medical procedures, the concern and care of parents for their children's health, and how we can better protect the health of children.
Circumcision is a common topic in many families, especially as the child grows up.
During the summer vacation, many parents choose to perform circumcision on their children during this time to avoid affecting their children's learning.
In fact, in some hospitals, the number of foreskin surgeries performed in a pediatric surgeon can reach as high as 50 in a single day.
This phenomenon reflects a widespread belief in society that the sooner a child is circumcised, the better it is for his health.
However, is this concept scientific and suitable for every child?
It has been suggested that early circumcision can help children avoid possible circumcision-related problems in the future, such as inflammation or difficulty cleaning.
Others take the opposite view, arguing that circumcision is not necessary and may even pose unnecessary risks to the child.
For example, a father in Guangzhou took his child to the United States for circumcision just three days after the birth.
The father firmly believed that "the sooner the circumcision, the less sinful the child will be, and the better it will be for the child".
In many countries, such as the United States, Japan, Israel, male circumcision is a tradition that is believed to make children healthier.
Jews have a tradition of circumcising newborns.
But is that really the case?
Does circumcision really bring more health benefits to children?
The National Health Service (NHS) has made it clear that there is no conclusive data to suggest that circumcision protects against STDs.
A properly cleaned foreskin and a circumcised foreskin are equally effective at preventing disease.
In fact, although circumcision is a minor surgery, it also carries certain risks, including surgical errors, postoperative bleeding or infection, etc.
These risks are sometimes even more serious than the problems that the foreskin can cause.
Therefore, when considering circumcision for their child, parents should carefully consider and should not blindly follow social ideas or traditions, but should make a decision based on the child's specific situation and the doctor's advice.
When discussing the necessity of circumcision, we must first understand under what circumstances surgery is necessary.
Medically, circumcision is not required for every boy.
In fact, most of the time, the problem of the foreskin in boys can be resolved naturally with age.
Generally speaking, it is normal for boys to have adhesion between the foreskin and the ** head before the age of 3, which is called "physiological phimosis".
As the child grows, the foreskin usually gradually separates and eventually turns up naturally, revealing the head.
So what are the conditions that require circumcision?
True phimosis
Paraphimosis
The foreskin is too long
However, even in these cases, surgery is not without risk.
Although circumcision is a common minor procedure, there are risks such as postoperative infection, bleeding and, rarely, more serious complications.
For example, in 2003, there was a case in the United States where a boy *** was injured due to a defective design of circumcision.
Such cases, while uncommon, are a warning to parents and doctors that even minor surgeries require a high degree of professionalism and care.
In addition, there is a misconception that circumcision can promote the development of boys.
There is no scientific basis for this view.
The development of a boy depends mainly on genetic factors, nutritional status and hormone levels, and is not directly related to whether or not to undergo circumcision.
Therefore, when considering circumcision for their child, parents need to fully communicate with a professional doctor to understand the specific situation of the child and weigh the necessity and potential risks of the surgery.
This procedure should only be considered if it is genuinely necessary and under the professional guidance of a doctor.
Determining the best time for circumcision is a matter that requires careful consideration.
According to the advice of medical experts, circumcision is generally not recommended before the child's age of 3.
At this age, the child's foreskin may detach naturally without the need for external intervention.
Circumcision may be considered between the ages of 5 and 10 when there is true phimosis or other conditions that medically require surgery
At this age, the child's body is relatively mature, and the risk of surgery and recovery time are relatively low.
Before considering surgery, parents should fully communicate with the doctor to understand the specific condition of the child and make a decision based on the doctor's recommendations.
Once surgery is confirmed, preoperative preparation and post-operative care are particularly important.
Preoperative preparation mainly includes the following aspects:
Mental preparation: Communicate with your child to explain the need for surgery and relieve their tension and fear.
Physical examination: Perform a thorough physical examination to ensure that your child is in a healthy state suitable for surgery.
Allergy history is known: Give your child's history of allergies, including food and drug allergies, to the doctor in case of possible allergic reactions during and after surgery.
Post-operative care involves the following:
Comfortable to wear: Prepare loose clothing for your child to reduce friction and pressure on the surgical site.
Rest & Activity: In the early postoperative period, it is necessary to let the child rest more and avoid strenuous exercise to facilitate wound recovery.
Dietary modifications: After surgery, irritating foods should be avoided and light and easy to digest foods should be chosen.
Medications and wound care: Give your child the medication prescribed by the doctor on time, and clean and care for the surgical site regularly.
Watch for symptoms: Keep an eye on your child's recovery and contact the doctor immediately if there are any abnormal symptoms.
It is important to note that parents should never perform circumcision on their children.
Even medical professionals should not perform such surgeries without proper medical conditions and equipment.
Once you decide to have surgery, it is important to do it under the guidance of a hospital and a medical professional.
The role of parents is not only the decision-maker, but also the guide and guardian of the child's growth.
On the road to children's health, parents should make the best choice in a scientific manner and responsibly.
Hopefully, this article will help parents who are facing the same choice, and let's work together to protect their children's health and well-being.