Cryptorchidism in a local population in Nigeria

To screen for undescended testis, retractile testis and other anomaly of the external genitalia in randomly selected Nursery/Primary schools in Osogbo, Nigeria.

A prospective study involving seven different Nursery/Primary schools with 1615 male pupils ages 2-10 years were screened.

Five private Nursery/Primary schools and two government owned primary school in Osogbo.

Permission was sought from the schools' Headmasters through the proprietors of the private schools, Local inspector of Education of government primary schools, and the ethical committees of the University and the Teaching Hospital Male pupils were examined by three groups made up of a consultant and a resident in each group.

A total of 1615 male pupils were examined out of which 40 pupils (2.5%) were found to have undescended testis, five of these (12.5%) had bilateral cryptorchidism. Eighteen had right undescended testis (45.0%) while seventeen (42.5%) presented with left undescended testis. Four pupils had retractile testis two on each side and another four had a co-existing hydrocoele with their undescended testis.

Prevalence of Cryptorchidism in the age group in this study is significant. There is need to screen male children so that early detection and correction may be effected.