Current features of urethral mucosa prolapse among children in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Setting: Urethral mucosa prolapse is a benign gynaecological condition which is common among young black children. Objective: To evaluate the presentation, management, outcome and current status of urethral mucosa prolapse at a tertiary centrre. Design/ Method: A retrospective descriptive study of 49 patients managed at the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin. The case files of all patients who were managed from 1st Januaty 2001 to 31st December 2010 were retrieved from the medical records department and relevant information extracted. The results were expressed in tables and compared with an earlier study from the centre. Results: A total of 49 patients were managed; the prevalence of urethral mucosa prolapse was 1.3% of all gynaecological admissions; all were Nigerians aged 3-12 years. The commonest presenting complaint was blood stain on the underwear in 37(75.5%), 28(57.1%) presented with multiple symptoms and 32(65.3%) had failed medical treatment prior to presentation. Surgical treatment was 100% successful, minor postoperative complications occurred in 8(16.6%) patients and the commonest was urinary retention in 5(10.2%) patients. The results were generally similar to a previous study conducted a decade earlier in this centre. Conclusion: Urethral mucosa prolapse is not a common condition in this environment; medical and conservative management with higher failure rates should b discouraged while surgical management which was curative with no long term complication is highly recommended as the treatment of choice.