Clinical and Laboratory Profile, Parental Perception and Management of Micropenis in Childhood: Experience at a Referral Centre in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

Abstract

Background: Micropenis is a congenital condition that is part of the group of disorders of sex differentiation (DSD). It is a condition that has not received much attention among children in our environment.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical profile, and therapeutic profile of children with micropenis and the management outcome.

Methods: This was a descriptive, retrospective study of children with micropenis at the Paediatric unit of the Military Hospital, Abidjan, over six years (May 2016 to June 2022).

Results: A total of 70 children with micropenis were studied. The mean age was 9.3±3.9 years (1 month to 15 years). About one-third (30%) of the children were obese. The mean penile length was 2.55 ±0.65 cm (1 cm to 4 cm). In more than three-quarters of the cases, the mothers discovered a small-sized penis and anxiety in 91.4% of the parents. In the majority of cases (62.9%), the aetiology was unknown, while primary and central hypogonadism were observed in 24.3% and 11.4%, respectively. Affected children received testosterone treatment with favourable outcomes in all cases. The mean increase in penile length was 2.68 cm ± 0.97 (minimum of +1 cm and maximum of 6 cm).

Conclusion: It is essential to raise awareness about micropenis among the population and health personnel to reduce undue anxiety in parents and children.