Many people believe that gynecological diseases only affect adult women. However, girls can also develop gynecological infections; gynecological diseases are not exclusive to adults. What exactly are gynecological diseases in children? How should mothers care for their little girls?
Three-year-old Jiaojiao is a lively and active little girl, but recently she told her mother that her genital area was very itchy. Her mother felt something was wrong and looked at her under the light, discovering some redness and swelling in Jiaojiao's vulva, and what appeared to be some white discharge near the vaginal opening. The mother quickly took Jiaojiao to the doctor for a checkup, where she was diagnosed with a gynecological disease. Jiaojiao's mother was very surprised, "Aren't gynecological diseases more common in adults? How could Jiaojiao, at only three years old, have a gynecological infection?"
I. Gynecological diseases are not just a "patent" of adults.
Experts say that children's genitals are very immature before the age of ten, making them susceptible to external stimuli. Poor hygiene habits can easily lead to infections.
The symptoms of vulvovaginitis in children are similar to those in adults, including increased discharge on underwear, changes in color, and itching, redness, swelling, and sores on the vulva. Attentive mothers should check their children if they notice them frequently scratching their vulva unconsciously, or if their walking or sitting posture is different from usual.
II. Why do children also get vaginitis?
Vulvovaginitis is a common pediatric gynecological disease. It is most common in girls aged 3-8 years, and is more prevalent in summer. The course of the disease is approximately 1-6 months, but can sometimes last two years or more. The main causes of pediatric vaginitis are as follows:
The external genitalia are not yet fully developed
For adult women, to ensure that their internal reproductive organs are protected from external invasion, the labia minora of a fully developed adult close together, so that the urethral opening and vaginal vestibule are not directly exposed to the outside, making it difficult for bacteria to invade. In addition to the fact that the structure of the vagina has a certain self-defense function, it is mainly the sex hormones secreted by the ovaries that help.
Children's internal and external genitalia are not yet fully developed, they lack estrogen, their vaginal mucosa is thin and without folds, and they lack intracellular glycogen, resulting in low vaginal acidity and weak natural defenses. Therefore, they are easily invaded by various pathogens and irritants and become infected.
Poor vulvar hygiene
"The most common clinical conditions are vulvovaginitis and lesions, which are closely related to exposure to polluted environments and poor hygiene habits," said a pediatrician. "If you don't pay attention to keeping your vulva clean, especially after each bowel movement, wiping from back to front can transfer bacteria from the anus to the perineum, increasing the chance of infection. In young girls, vulvovaginitis usually starts with vaginitis, and then the secretions from the inflammation irritate the vulva, which lacks the protection of pubic hair, leading to vulvitis."
Some parents, including girls, habitually dress their children in open-crotch pants. When children play on the ground in open-crotch pants, they are easily exposed to contaminated environments and may be scratched by sharp objects, causing injury and infection. Furthermore, prolonged use of diapers creates a moist environment in the child's perineum, allowing bacteria and fungi to proliferate and cause infection.
Foreign body injury
Some children, without realizing it, might unknowingly insert small objects like paperclips or metal buttons into their vaginas while playing; we've seen this happen before. It's also possible for a child to sit naked on the ground and accidentally let a small toy slip into their vagina.
If a baby inserts foreign objects, such as peanuts, beans, hairpins, safety pins, or small stones, into their vagina while playing, it can easily cause damage to the vaginal epithelium and lead to secondary infections. Therefore, parents must pay close attention when their babies are playing with small objects.
III. Proper Care for Baby Girls' Private Parts
Many people believe that gynecological diseases only occur after menstruation, and therefore neglect the care of children in this regard. However, all women share the same physiological structure, and neglecting hygiene and protection can actually increase the risk of infection and injury for young girls. So, how should you care for a baby girl's private parts?
1. Wash it properly.
Some parents believe that girls' vulvas have a protective membrane and shouldn't be washed too often. However, children's vulvas produce urine and other excrement daily, and if diapers and underwear aren't changed promptly, infections can occur. While frequent washing isn't recommended, it should be done once a day. Simply washing the vulva isn't enough; the labia should be parted and the inside thoroughly cleaned. Pediatricians state that labial adhesions, common in infants and young children, are often caused by inadequate vulvar cleaning. Therefore, mothers should be extra careful when bathing their babies.
2. Wear the right clothes.
Items like jeans and high socks are not suitable for little girls. Tight jeans, in particular, can easily rub against a girl's vulva, which is not fully developed and has thin skin, making it prone to chafing and infection. Furthermore, avoid dressing baby girls in open-crotch pants. If they play naked on the floor or bed, bacteria from the ground or fungi from adults' feet can adhere to the surface, increasing the risk of vulvar infection.
3. Use it correctly.
Many parents like to bathe with their children, especially in a tub, which may increase the chances of girls contracting gynecological diseases, especially if the mother has a gynecological condition. Children's bathing utensils should be separate, and their underwear should not be washed with adults'. Mothers should also encourage their children to urinate independently from an early age, minimizing the use of diapers to avoid increasing the risk of infection.
4. Make sure to wipe it correctly.
When wiping your baby's bottom, wipe from front to back. Teach your child this method so that when she goes to kindergarten, she can clean her bottom herself without her mother's company.
In addition, mothers should also provide sex education for their children. Tell them not to insert foreign objects into their vagina out of curiosity. When playing outside, they should also learn to protect themselves, and not to take off their pants on muddy or sandy surfaces or scratch their genitals with dirty hands.
