Return-path: [log in to unmask]
From: [log in to unmask]
Full-name: LoganPeds
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 20:56:00 EDT
Subject: recurrent vaginal redness
To: [log in to unmask]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 9

Recurrant vaginal redness can be due to a number of factors:

1)  irritation from bubble bath, wet bathing suits, fabric softener in
underwear, etc.
2)  yeast, but this is uncommon in prepubertal females, since the vaginal pH
is less hospitable to yeast than in postpubertal females.
3)  diabetes (can be an early sign)
4)  urinary tract infection (needs to be ruled out in ALL cases of vaginal
irritation)
5)  pinworms  (check for nighttime itching)
6)  foreign body in the vagina (toilet paper, toys, etc.)--may also be the
result of molest.
7)  and especially, child abuse/molestation  (I've seen many kids in which
recurrant vaginal irritation was a recurrant complaint who were being
molested; you have to rule this out.)

If there is a vaginal discharge, a vaginal culture, urinalysis/urine culture,
and good genital exam are mandatory, as well as a sensitive questioning about
molest.

Linda L Shaw MD FAAP
Altoona PA