Avoiding other sources of irritation can also help prevent vulvovaginitis in people with vaginas.
Infectious Vulvovaginitis
Approximately 25% of vulvovaginitis cases in children are from an infectious cause.
Yeast infectionsare fungal infections that can be problematic especially for infants with vaginas and for adolescents with vaginas.
“Some bacteria, such as the bacteria that cause chlamydia, are sexually transmitted.
Keep in mind that some vaginal discharge can be expected after puberty.
Diagnosis
For many cases of vulvovaginitis in children, a single cause may not be identified.
The good news is that it often gets better without treatment anyway.
If that isn’t sufficient, they may need to do tests to check for an infection.
Many of these tests can be done in the healthcare provider’s office.
If bleeding is present, your healthcare provider may order a pelvic ultrasound.
Pinworms can also cause similar symptoms.
Treatment
To treat vulvovaginitis, you first need to rule out infections.
If a pubertal teen has a vaginal yeast infection, they may need an oral medication like fluconazole.
Lastly, trichomoniasis is typically treated with oral metronidazole or tinidazole.
Herpes simplex virus infections can bemanagedwith antivirals, but infection is life-long.
As puberty approaches, symptoms usually improve.
This will set them up for a lifetime of positive health behaviors, including reproductive health.
Some hospitals have specialized pediatric and adolescent gynecology programs that treat recurrent vaginitis and other gynecological problems.
If the cause is an infection or a skin disorder, certain medications and creams may help.
Otherwise, the main way to treat vulvovaginitis in children is to prevent the irritation that causes it.
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