Understanding Vaginitis
What is it? Vaginitis is a general term for inflammation of the vagina, often causing symptoms like discharge, itching, redness in the area and/or pain. It can be caused by bacteria, yeast, allergic reactions or sensitivity or hormonal changes.
Common Types
- Non-specific Vaginitis: redness, sometimes scant whitish discharge, external itching, child has not reached adolescence
- ALL of the following can have the same symptoms as above but also
- Bacterial: greenish or purulent discharge
- Pinworms: more anal itching, especially at night
- Yeast: cottage cheese like discharge, adolescence age
When to Manage at Home
✅ You can manage your child's Vaginitis at home when:
- They are not having fevers, belly pain, vomiting, or pain with urination or urinary urgency/frequency (symptoms more consistent with a urinary tract infection).
- There are no vaginal lesions or bleeding
- There is no greyish thin odorous discharge (concern for a foreign body)
- Your child is NOT adolescent age - often times adolescent infections can have many other causes besides irritation (which is most common in young girls) and may need an exam or treatment
How to Treat at Home
🏠 Home remedies for non-specific irritant vaginitis:
- Sitz baths with plain warm water, avoid sitting in bubble baths
- Avoid soaps/dyes/fragrances in any body products or detergents used on clothing
- Cotton underwear, loose clothing
- Double-rinse underwear after washing to avoid residual irritants. Do not use fabric softeners for underwear and swimsuits.
- Avoid tights, leotards, leggings and sleeper pajamas and avoid letting children sit in wet swimsuits for long periods of time
- If the vulvar area is tender or swollen, cool compresses may relieve the discomfort. Emollients (like aquaphor or vaseline) may help protect skin
- Children younger than 5 should be supervised or assisted in hygiene
- Have child sit with knees apart to reduce reflux of urine into the vagina - sometimes sitting backwards on the toilet seat is an easy position to obtain this in
- Emphasize wiping front to back!
- Wet wipes can be used instead of toilet paper as long as they do not cause a ‘stinging’ sensation and can help avoid TP debris
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again when:
- Symptoms are not improving after a few days or resolved after 2-3 weeks
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- Your child is having dysuria
- Your child has discharge that is not scant and whitish at most
- Your child has any fever, belly pain, or vomiting
- Your child has an anal rash
- Your child has any vaginal lesions or bleeding
- Your child is adolescent age
If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out. Need help? Reconnect with our on-demand team of medical staff available 24/7.
