Medical treatment of urethral prolapse in children.

Urethral prolapse denotes the complete circular eversion of the urethral mucosa through the external meatus. Two different entities exist: premenarcheal and menopausal urethral prolapse. Premenarcheal prolapse is predominantly asymptomatic and is usually brought to medical attention by vaginal bleeding. Trauma and medical conditions predisposing a patient to increased abdominal pressure are associated with prolapse in children. The menopausal group seeks medical attention primary because of the severity of urinary symptoms, ie, nocturia, urgency, tenesmus, dysuria, and frequency. Therapy for both groups has been traditionally accomplished by surgical manipulation-excision, surgical ligation, cautery, fulguration, and cryosurgery. The authors treated 5 premenarcheal female children with antibiotics, estrogen cream, and sitz baths for 2 weeks. In all the patients prolapse was resolved. The results, with follow-up for 4 to 12 months without recurrence, suggest that urethral prolapse in children can be managed without surgical intervention.