What does vulvitis look like in girls?

Young girls that have vulvitis experience pain and irritation in the external genital area. Despite the frightening title, many parents deal with this problem with their daughters, particularly in their early years when skin is more sensitive. Early symptom recognition can aid in effective treatment.

Parents may report pain or itching, as well as any redness, swelling, or rash in the affected area. Girls may occasionally shy away from activities like playing or sitting because they are uncomfortable. Knowing what vulvitis looks like will help you get the care you need when it’s needed.

You can stop vulvitis from getting worse by being aware of the symptoms and learning what causes it. Often, prompt medical attention and minor hygienic changes are sufficient to maintain your child’s comfort and well-being.

What is it?

Vulvitis is the term for an acute inflammatory process that affects a girl’s external reproductive organs. In pediatric gynecology, this pathology is rather common. The age range of two to ten is when the incidence peaks. Adolescent vulvitis cases are essentially nonexistent. The vagina, labia majora and minora, clitoris, and the outer portion of the urethra are examples of external genitalia. The mucous membranes surrounding these organs are lined with epithelial cells. Numerous factors can lead to inflammation, which in turn aggravates the illness. It sets off a series of inflammatory reactions that cause the baby’s uncomfortable symptoms to manifest.

• Incorrect or excessively active hygiene procedures. Daily washing with antiseptics can lead to a change in the pH of the vaginal environment. With regular use of such products, the mucous membrane of the external genitalia dries out excessively and becomes very susceptible to the penetration of any infection.
• Infection with various helminths. When reproducing, these parasites release a large amount of toxic products that can cause various irritations and redness in the genital area.
• Severe hypothermia. This leads to a decrease in the level of local immunity. Too low a body temperature contributes to the disruption of blood flow in the genitals, which causes the inflammatory process.
• Chronic diseases. Most often, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system provoke inflammation in the reproductive organs. To eliminate adverse symptoms, it is necessary to prescribe treatment for the underlying chronic disease, which also provoked inflammation in the genitals.
• Traumatic. Babies in the first years of life often explore their bodies. During this, they can inadvertently injure themselves. In adolescents, vulvitis can occur after using tampons during menstruation.

Types

Numerous disease variants emerge as a result of the diversity of causes that lead to vulvitis development. This categorization is crucial. Accurately identifying the disease’s form is helpful in establishing the necessary treatment regimen and diagnostic measure algorithm.

Multiple varieties of vulvitis exist:

• Allergic. Occurs with various types of allergies. In infants, an atopic variant may occur. In some cases, it occurs as a result of prolonged wearing of diapers. Their prolonged use leads to a violation of the vaginal pH and a more rapid development of various irritations.
• Bacterial. Occurs as a result of infection with bacteria. Most often these are staphylococci, streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, as well as aerobic microorganisms. They cause mainly purulent forms of the disease. Treatment requires the appointment of antibiotics.
• Viral. Develops as a result of infection with various types of viruses. Most often, the culprits of the disease are herpes. With a decrease in immunity, the baby develops inflammatory changes in the area of ​​the external genitalia.
• Fungal. Most often develop as a result of a candidal infection. Can also occur in frequently ill and weakened children. Quite often registered in girls suffering from diabetes. To eliminate adverse symptoms, it is necessary to prescribe antifungal drugs, mainly in the form of ointments or creams.
• Traumatic. Occur after various injuries. The mucous membranes of the external genitalia in childhood are very loose and easily injured. When a bacterial infection enters through various microdamages, a secondary infection can develop.
• Adhesive. Occur with chronic vulvitis. Occurs only in cases where timely treatment was not provided. With this form, the labia grow together. Doctors consider urination problems to be one of the first symptoms of this variant of the disease.

Symptoms

Vulvitis can manifest as a variety of detrimental symptoms. When the illness progresses slowly, they don’t show symptoms well enough. In these situations, the disease can only be identified by a pediatric gynecologist. A wider range of unfavorable symptoms that are challenging to treat appear along with a more severe course of the disease.

The following are the primary clinical signs of vulvitis:

• Swelling and inflammation of the external genitalia.
• Redness in the vagina and genitals.
• Severe discomfort in the anogenital area.
• Appearance of discharge. They can be of different colors and consistencies. With bacterial infections, purulent discharge of yellow or green color appears. With viral vulvitis, a gray discharge is formed, of a fairly liquid consistency. Fungal infections are accompanied by the appearance of abundant whitish discharge that crumbles easily.
• Urination disorders. The urge to urinate becomes more frequent. The urine portions decrease, but the total amount per day does not change.
• Pain in the area of ​​the external genitalia. Inflammation provokes an increase in pain during urination.
• Increased body temperature. In severe cases, fever may develop. A sluggish disease is not accompanied by a change in body temperature. It may not exceed the norm throughout the acute period of the disease.
• Changes in behavior and general condition. Girls become more nervous and capricious. In some cases, sleep is disturbed. The baby"s mood becomes very depressed.

In girls, vulvitis typically manifests as genital area redness, swelling, and irritation. It can hurt, itch, or cause discomfort—especially when urinating. Unusual discharges can also result from this condition. It’s critical to identify these symptoms as soon as possible and see a physician to ensure appropriate care and prevent complications.

What it looks like?

The external genitalia enlarge and turn a vivid red color as vulvitis progresses. Examining the anogenital region reveals extreme redness and irritation. The inflammatory process can even extend to the inner thighs in certain situations. There may be evidence of scratching in allergic forms of vulvitis.

The labia enlarge considerably and multiply multiple times. The vaginal opening shuts in moderate cases of the illness. By feeling the inguinal lymph nodes, you can feel some mild discomfort as well as enlargement. They can sometimes reach a height of 1-1.5 cm.

The onset of a copious white discharge is typical for fungal variants of the disease. The entire surface of the labia majora and minora is covered with them. Mucous membrane bleeding may worsen when cleaning the external genitalia hygienically and eliminating discharge. There is a disagreeable smell to the discharge.

The labia are fused together in adhesive vulvitis. This particular form of the illness typically strikes infants during their first two years of life. Fusion of the labia starts at the clitoris level. The degree of the disease determines how severe the symptom is. After some time, if the fusion was not detected in the early stages, this causes the lumen to narrow and the vaginal entrance to shrink.

Knowing the symptoms of vulvitis in girls can help parents recognize the early warning signs and get treatment as soon as possible. It’s critical to identify genital symptoms such as redness, swelling, and discomfort in order to receive the appropriate care.

Along with taking precautions to avoid them, parents should be aware of common causes, which include infections, irritants like soap, and poor hygiene. The risk can be decreased with easy steps like wearing comfortable clothing, cleaning properly, and using gentle products.

To ensure the right diagnosis and treatment, it’s best to speak with a healthcare provider if you experience any strange symptoms or ongoing discomfort. Early intervention can help prevent problems and guarantee your child’s continued comfort and well-being.

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