ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Vulvovaginitisis the most common gynecological problem of childhood. The aim of the study was to determine and compare clinical and microbiological features of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal and adolescent girls. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the records of patients who were diagnosed with vulvovaginitis between January 2005 and December 2010 in the pediatric outpatient clinic at Fatih University Hospital were retrieved. Information regarding age, symptoms, history of antibiotic use within 1 month prior to presentation, findings on urinalysis, serum antistreptolysin-O levels, and results of urine/vaginal cultures was collected. RESULTS: The records of 112 patients were evaluated, 72 of which were prepubertal (64.2%) and 40 were pubertal (35.7%) at the time of diagnosis. Thirty-eight prepubertal patients (52.7%) had a positive result on vaginal culture, the most commonly encountered microorganism being group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (15.2%). Culture positivity rate in the pubertal group was 47.5% (19 patients), with Candida albicans being the most frequently isolated microorganism (27.5%). CONCLUSION: The etiopathogenesis and culture results differ between prepubertal and adolescent girls with vulvovaginitis, which should be taken into consideration in the treatment approach of this disorder.
Subject(s)
Vulvovaginitis/microbiology , Adolescent , Age Factors , Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/microbiology , Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Escherichia coli Infections/pathology , Female , Haemophilus Infections/microbiology , Haemophilus Infections/pathology , Haemophilus influenzae , Humans , Puberty , Retrospective Studies , Streptococcal Infections/microbiology , Streptococcal Infections/pathology , Vagina/microbiology , Vagina/pathology , Vulva/microbiology , Vulva/pathology , Vulvovaginitis/pathologyABSTRACT
AIM: To compare the clinical and microbiological results between patients with infectious vaginitis receiving vaginal irrigation with saline or no irrigation before standard antibiotic therapy. METHODS: Women with vaginitis (n = 109) were randomized to receive vaginal irrigation with saline or no irrigation before standard antibiotic therapy. The vaginal symptoms perceived by subjects and clinical findings were assessed with a standardized scale during four follow-up visits, and Gram stain Nugent scores and vaginal fluid cultures were analyzed at each visit. RESULTS: Vaginal discharge (z = 7.159; p < 0.001), pruritus (z = 5.169; p < 0.001), itching (z = 2.969; p < 0.003) and odor scores (z = 2.303; p < 0.021) were significantly reduced in the study group compared to the control group between the first visit and 3-5 days after irrigation, before the start of antibiotic therapy. The second and third visits (15 and 30-45 days after antibiotic therapy) showed that the patients' symptoms and amounts of visible vaginal discharge did not differ between the two groups. Moreover, the microbiological cures of patients in each group did not differ at these visits (z = 0.447; p = 0.655). CONCLUSION: Vaginal irrigation with saline significantly reduces self-reported symptoms in the short term but has no effect on long-term clinical and laboratory results in women with infectious vaginitis.
