How to Care for Your Child after Circumcision

This leaflet will provide information about the care after circumcision procedure, benefits, home care advice, and when to seek medical advice.

Circumcision

What is a Circumcision?

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin tissue that covers the head of his penis.

What are the benefits of circumcision?

There are many benefits from circumcision, If your child circumcised he has a lower risk of

  • Urinary tract infection
  • Skin infection
  • cancer of the penis

What to expect after the procedure

  1. A dressing will be applied. This will help reduce the irritation and sticking to the diaper.
  2. The tip of the penis may develop white/ yellow coating, do not worry about this. This is expected and is part of the normal healing process.
  3. swollen immediately after the circumcision; this gradually settles down within 48 hours and may look red and sore until it is fully healed over the next 7-10 days.
  4. Your child should be able to pass urine within 10-12 hours after the procedure.
  5. Minor bleeding

Home care advice:

  1. The dressing usually falls off within 24 hours. Sometimes it may dry out. If this happens, moisten it with warm water and then gently peel it off after 24 hours
  2. Keep the site clean by gently cleaning it with warm water and a cotton ball at every diaper change.
  3. Afterwards, using clean fingers, apply (Vaseline or Fucidin ointment) to the wound after each diaper change for 5-7 days to reduce the irritation and adhesion between the wound and the penis.
  4. If your baby doctor advises to give medicine, you can give
  • Paracetamol (any brand) or Ibuprofen (any brand)   
  • Follow the instruction on the medicine package for the correct dose for your baby
  • Do not give your child Aspirin as this can cause serious complications

Go to the Emergency Department if your baby has one of the following:

  1. active bleeding and soaking the gauze and not slowing down from the site of circumcision
  2. fever
  3. green/yellowish discharge coming from the penis
  4. redness and swelling at the site of circumcision
  5. Bad smell from the circumcision site
  6. Looks tired and does not wake up for feeding according to his usual pattern
  7. Appears to be in pain or distressed despite giving him analgesia
  8. passing urine difficulty
  9. crying too much and is not consolable