Vaginitis (Child)

Your child has vaginitis. This means that the vagina is inflamed or infected. Symptoms can include redness, swelling, itching, or soreness in or around the vagina. Your child may also have pain or burning during urination.

Vaginitis has many possible causes. Some of the more common causes include:

• Infection from germs such as yeast or bacteria.
• Irritation from wearing tight clothing such as jeans or leggings. Underwear or pantyhose made of polyester or nylon may also cause irritation.
• Sensitivity to chemicals in scented soaps, shampoo, toilet paper, or other bath products.

Treatment will vary based on the cause of your child’s problem.

Home care

Follow these tips when caring for your child at home:

• If medicine is prescribed, be sure to give it to your child as directed. Make sure your child completes all of the medicine, even if she starts to feel better. Don’t use over-the-counter medicines without talking to your child’s healthcare provider first.
• To help relieve swelling, it may help to apply a cool compress to the affected area. Do this only as directed by the healthcare provider.
• To help soothe irritation, have your child soak in a bath with a few inches of warm water a few times a day. Don’t add any bath products to the water. Also, avoid washing the affected area with soap. Rinse the area and pat it dry instead.

Prevention

The tips below may help reduce your child’s risk of vaginitis in the future. For further advice, talk with the healthcare provider.

• Teach your child to wipe from front to back. This helps prevent germs in the stool from entering the vagina.
• Have your child use only plain soap and bath products.
• Have your child wear cotton underpants and less tight clothing. Also have your child change out of wet bathing suits or sports or workout clothing right away. These steps may help prevent irritation in the crotch area. They may also help prevent the buildup of heat and moisture, which can make infection more likely.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your child’s healthcare provider, or as directed.

When to seek medical advice

Call the provider right away if:

• Your child has a fever (see Fever in children, below).
• Your child’s symptoms worsen, or don’t go away with treatment or home care measures.
• Your child is having trouble urinating because of pain or burning.
• Your child has new pain in the lower belly or pelvic region.
• Your child has side effects that bother her or a reaction to any medicine prescribed.
• Your child has new symptoms such as a rash, joint pain, or sores in the genital area.