Priapism in the paediatric and adolescent population

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Urology
• Adolescent Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Priapism is defined as a penile erection lasting over 4 hours, unrelated to sexual stimulation.
• It affects males of all ages with an incidence of 0.3-1.5 per 100,000 annually.
• The condition presents in three main types: ischemic, non-ischemic, and stuttering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on priapism in pediatric and adolescent populations.
• To highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis and emergent management.
• To discuss management pathways for affected individuals.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current knowledge on pediatric and adolescent priapism.

Main Results:

• Sickle cell disease is the most common cause of priapism in children.
• Ischemic priapism, often associated with sickle cell disease, is a urological emergency.
• Delayed management of priapism can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis and emergent management are paramount in pediatric and adolescent priapism cases.
• Understanding the specific causes, like sickle cell disease, is key to effective treatment.
• Preventing delayed management is critical to avoid long-term sequelae such as erectile dysfunction.