CAUSE
Priapism can occur in all age groups, including newborns. Priapism in children are usually found in people with leukemia. White blood cells clog or block the flow of blood from the penis causing priapism. Children who suffer from sickle cell disease may also suffer from priapism.

Other causes of priapism in children is trauma, either on his penis alone or in the area below the penis (the perineum) and spinal cord injury.

In adults, the cause of priapism can be known or may not. One reason is sickle cell disease (as much as 30% of cases). Reported that 42% of adults who suffer from sickle cell disease and 64% of children who suffer from sickle cell disease, in the end will experience priapism. Blood clots can also cause priapism.

The most common cause of priapism in adults are drugs that are injected:
– Drug psychosis (torazin, chlorpromazine)
– Antihypertensive drugs (prazosin)
– Marijuana
– Drugs used to treat impotence
– Anticoagulants
– Cocaine
– Corticosteroids
– Tolbutamid
– Trazodon

Other causes are:
– Cancer that has infiltrated into the penis and prevents blood flow from the penis
– Infection of the genitals
– Abnormalities in blood vessels or nerves in the erectile tissue.

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include pain that occurs with an erection without sexual stimulation and lasts for 4 hours or more.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis based on symptoms. Blood gas examination of blood taken from the penis can provide clues for how long priapism has lasted and severity of the damage that has occurred.

TREATMENT
Treatment depends on the cause:

     If the cause is drugs, the drug is stopped immediately
     If the cause is nerve damage, is given through the spinal anesthetic
     If the cause is a blood clot, surgery to remove blood clots or to make a bypass so that the circulation of the penis back to normal.

In most cases carried excessive bloodletting of the penis with a needle (aspiration) and cleanse the blood vessel with liquid to get rid of the clot or other plug. If priapism lasts less than 4 hours may be given medication decongestants (eg pseudoephedrin and terbutaline), which work by reducing blood flow to the penis. After giving a new decongestant done aspirations.

If the erection starts again, can be given vasoactive drugs, such as epinephrine, which causes shrinkage of blood vessels and prevent the recurrence of priapism.