Intravenous cefotaxime and flucloxacillin were started. A urine specimen grew streptococci. Two weeks later his would had healed and renal scanning with radiolabelled dimercaptosuccinic acid showed no scarring. These three babies were admitted to Guy's Hospital over a period of two years with symptoms of dyspnoea, vomiting, and abdominal distension following circumcision. Male ritual circumcision is widely practised in the community and is generally regarded as safe.
Circumcision otherwise is uncommon in Europe and Scandinavia.
Little is ever mentioned about prolonged urinary obstruction due to overzealous bandaging or penile oedema. Our experience clearly shows that unless parents are given appropriate information about possible complications, such as anuria associated with urinary retention, the consequences could be fatal. Our patients developed considerable hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, and acute renal failure. Appropriate education of parents and community practitioners is clearly needed and would greatly reduce the risks. Willams N, Kapila L. Complications of circumcision.