Idiopathic neonatal priapism presenting as persistent penile erection: A case report from a low-resource setting

Abstract

Neonatal priapism is an exceptionally rare condition, most often non-ischemic and self-limiting. We report a 13-day-old Somali neonate presenting with a painless penile erection lasting 32 hours. The infant was clinically stable, with normal laboratory findings and preserved penile perfusion. In the absence of identifiable secondary causes, a diagnosis of idiopathic non-ischemic priapism was made. Due to reassuring clinical features, conservative observation was undertaken. Spontaneous detumescence occurred without pharmacologic or surgical intervention, and follow-up showed no recurrence or complications. This case underscores the importance of clinical assessment and supports conservative management of neonatal high-flow priapism, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: Idiopathic neonatal priapism; Neonatal priapism; Newborn male; Non-ischemic (high-flow) priapism; Persistent penile erection.

Fig. 1

Clinical image showing persistent, well-perfused penile erection at presentation, consistent with non-ischemic neonatal priapism.