Bacterial Vaginosis in Children

Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, is a common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age, but some of the circumstances believed to contribute to BV can also occur in adolescent girls---including girls who are not sexually active---and, in rarer cases, in younger girls and infants.

Definition

• BV is a type of vaginitis caused by imbalance in the bacteria that exist naturally in the vagina. Beneficial flora becomes weakened or outnumbered and undesirable bacteria flourishes.

Symptoms

• BV sufferers may experience itching or burning sensations and there may be a watery white or grey vaginal discharge with a fishy odor. Half of adult women with BV, however, have no symptoms.

Causes

• The exact causes of BV are not known, but the condition has been linked in adult women and teens to other medical conditions or treatments, new or multiple sex partners, use of perfumed cosmetic products in the vaginal area and tight pants. In children, BV might stem from bubble baths, non-porous diapers, foreign objects in the vagina, trauma, congenital abnormalities or poor hygiene.

Treatment

• As of 2009, oral or topical metronidazole is the standard pharmaceutical treatment for adult women and adolescents with BV. All women and girls with bacterial vaginosis should avoid perfumed soaps and bubble baths, wear loose-fitting, porous clothes and keep the vaginal area clean and dry. Girls should be taught to wipe away from the vaginal area after a bowel movement. Sexually active young women should use condoms to minimize trauma and protect the vagina against sexually transmitted illness.

Warning

• Although bacterial vaginosis is treatable, it can be serious if not treated properly. BV can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility problems, premature labor and a higher risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, BV as well as other vaginal infections in young women and girls may be a sign of sexual abuse.