Vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls

Arch Dis Child. 2003 Apr;88(4):324-6. doi: 10.1136/adc.88.4.324.

Abstract

This retrospective study evaluated the clinical features and findings in bacterial cultures and in microscopic examination of vaginal secretions in 80 prepubertal girls, aged 2-12 years, with vulvovaginitis. Vaginal secretions were obtained directly from the vagina with a sterile catheter carefully inserted into the vagina. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated in 36% of cases. In 59% of these cases the isolated pathogen was group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus. Candida was not found in any of the patients. The finding of leucocytes in vaginal secretions as an indicator for growth of pathogenic bacteria had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 59%. Antimicrobial treatment should therefore be based on bacteriological findings of vaginal secretions and not on the presence of leucocytes alone.

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seasons
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / isolation & purification
  • Vaginal Discharge / microbiology*
  • Vaginal Discharge / pathology
  • Vulvovaginitis / microbiology*