Vaginal discharge in girls, outside the neonatal or pubertal period, is abnormal, and may indicate the presence of vulvovaginitis. Vulvovaginitis is the infection of the external genital organs and the vagina. It is manifested by itching, stinging or redness of the area.
Mild cases are very common in girls, in fact it constitutes 25% of consultations in Pediatric Gynecology. This type of infection has a maximum incidence between three and six years due to the anatomical-physiological characteristics of these ages.
As the composition of the name indicates, there is a combination of vaginitis (an inflammation of the mucosa of the vagina) and vulvitis (an inflammation of the vulva, the external female genital organs).
Symptoms of vulvovaginitis in girls
Under these conditions, the tissues become inflamed and a vaginal discharge occurs, which as we have said is abnormal in girls. We must differentiate abnormal secretions in girls from other habitual ones, which are not indicative of vulvovaginitis: newborns may have a vaginal discharge due to estrogen that comes from the mother before birth. In general, it disappears within two weeks.
An abnormal vaginal discharge It is the one that occurs in large quantities, gives off a strong smell or is accompanied by itching, discomfort or vaginal pain. The vulva may feel irritated, with a slight itching or more intense burning. The skin becomes reddish and is rough to the touch.
Often the abnormal secretion is thicker than normal and the color and consistency is variable, depending on the agent that causes the infection (consistency similar to cottage cheese, yellowish, cloudy white, grayish, greenish or blood stained ...).
A bacterial infection of the vagina tends to produce a white, gray or yellowish cloudy discharge with a foul smell or similar to fish.
Causes of vulvovagiitis in girls and how to prevent
The most frequent causes include infections, irritating substances or objects (soaps ...), tumors or other abnormal tissue, radiotherapy, drugs and hormonal changes (after menopause). In addition, feces can pass from the intestine to the vagina through an abnormal path (fistula) and cause vaginitis.
Typically, the infection arises due to poor intimate hygiene of the little ones when they leave the diaper and begin to have some autonomy when going to the bathroom. And is that insufficient personal hygiene It can favor the growth of bacteria and fungi as well as cause irritation. Hence the importance of teaching girls to clean themselves from front to back, vulva-anus.
When the girl is cleaned from back to front every time she goes to the bathroom, a proliferation of a type of bacteria that is found in the stool and can reach the vaginal area can occur. Once girls reach puberty, the vagina becomes more acidic and this condition reduces the risk of infections.
As we have pointed out, the maximum incidence occurs among girls aged three to six years, due to certain anatomical characteristics that predispose to vulvovaginitis:
- Anal Proximity
- Underdeveloped and minor lips.
- Thin hymen
- Fragile vulvo-vaginal mucosa without defenses due to lack of estrogenization ...
Proper hygiene after defecation and during bathing, as well as the usual change of underwear are appropriate measures to prevent vulvovaginitis in girls.
The clinical examination will determine what type of disorder the girl has and the appropriate treatment. The resulting erythema, which affects the vulva and the anal region, may remit spontaneously, or hygienic measures would suffice to relieve the process in many cases.
We conclude by remembering that young girls should not have vaginal secretions such as those described, so before the symptoms we must go to the specialist. The pediatrician is the one who will make the correct diagnosis of vulvovaginitis in girls and will prescribe the necessary treatment if necessary.
