ABSTRACT
Background: Premenarcheal vaginal bleeding is not a common complaint. This study was undertaken to outline the major causes in our environment.Method: A retrospective study of 68 cases managed in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH) over a 20-year period was studied. Simple percentages were used to analyse the results.Results: Sixty-eight cases of premenarcheal vaginal bleeding out of a total of 9;876 gynaecological admissions between January 1985 and December 2005 in UPTH were reviewed. The major causes were urethral prolapse in 34 girls (50); straddle injuries in 11(16.2); foreign bodies 10 in (14.7); rape/sexual abuse 9 (13.2); female genital mutilation 3 (4.4); unknown in 1 (1.5).In some cases; presentation in the clinic occurred days to weeks after onset of symptoms.The ages ranged between 0 and 8 years. Associated presenting complaints were mass protruding from the vagina; pelvic pain; dysuria; foul smelling discharge and fever. Laboratory investigations; examination under anaesthesia; abdominal and pelvic ultrasound scans aided the management. Treatment options were individualized to the causes. They were satisfactory except in one case lost to follow-up.Two of the girls had blood transfusion.There was no mortality in this series.Conclusion: Good care of young girls; early presentation to hospital and competent treatment of presenting cases give satisfactory outcome