Doctors troubled by cases of undescended testis in Nyandarua, Laikipia children

There doctors say there was a high number of young patients being found with the condition after examinations yet their parents are not aware of it.

Dr. Priscila Maina and Dr. Dismus Kazimoto, claim the cases are high in the area as compared to other regions.

“This is when testes are not in the scrotum sack. It happens because the testes are initially formed in the abdomen. Then when the baby grows in their mother’s womb, they go down to the scrotum sack,” explains Dr. Maina. 

Usually, the undescended testis could be stuck in the upper, middle or lower abdomen or urinal canal. 

They noted such cases were on the rise as rarely a week passes without it being reported in health facilities.

“We had many cases of undescended testis in children. It is a concern to us because it has been noted that Nyandarua and Laikipia counties have the highest prevalence of undescended testis in Kenya,” adds Dr. Maina. 

They spoke at Nyahururu’s Pearl Hospital during a free medical camp organized for Hernia and undescended testis patients.

Dr. Kazimoto noted that undescended testis is normally as a result of premature birth but there were other possibilities that they are yet to find out.

His sentiments were echoed by Dr. Maina who warned that if untreated, the undescended testis posed a risk of one developing cancer of the testis and also trauma to the child.

She said that a child should be treated before he gets to the age of two. Dr. Maina urged mothers to always palpate the testis area to establish its exact position whenever they are bathing the child.