Question
Dear Doctor,
My daughter just turned 3 years old and she has a vaginal odor like an adult, and sometimes there's even white discharge. Doctor, could you please tell me what condition this could be? How should I take care of her private area? I would appreciate your advice. Thank you, doctor.
Phương Đặng (1990)
Answered by Dr. Tran Thi Thu Ha, Specialist level I in Obstetrics and Gynecology - Women's Health Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital
Dear Phương Đặng,
Regarding your question " What disease causes a 3-year-old girl to have a vaginal odor with white discharge?", I would like to provide the following explanation:
Vaginitis in children is a condition in which the vagina becomes infected, causing inflammation. Many parents mistakenly believe that young children cannot get vaginitis. This is completely wrong.
In children, the ovaries are not yet developed, and the external reproductive organs are not fully formed. The labia majora and minora are not fully developed, and the mucous membrane and hymen are thin. A child's vagina is easily irritated by bacteria from the environment. Additionally, the vaginal environment in girls is alkaline, unlike in adult women where it is acidic, making it easier for bacteria to invade and cause disease.
You should clean your child's private area with clean water. Absolutely do not clean from back to front to avoid contaminating the vagina with bacteria from the anus. Your daughter should bathe and change her underwear daily or twice a day in hot weather when she sweats a lot. For babies under 3 years old, if they wear diapers, you should wash their private area with clean water and change their diapers frequently. Diapers contain a lot of urine and feces, which can irritate the private area and be a source of bacteria that cause vaginitis in children.
Parents should teach their daughters to wear underwear before putting on pants or skirts from an early age. Underwear helps protect private areas from external influences. However, parents should choose underwear made of breathable cotton, that fits well, and change their child's underwear frequently. Additionally, do not wash your child's underwear with your own, to avoid cross-contamination of bacteria.
Do not let your child sit on the ground, in unsanitary places, especially when only wearing diapers or underwear or skirts, to avoid pinworm infection. Although pinworms do not live in the vagina, they often move from the anus to the outside at night and can carry bacteria from the anus to the vagina, causing vaginitis in children.
In addition, parents should ensure that their children have a diverse and nutritious diet, especially eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to strengthen the body's overall resistance and fight disease. Children also need to exercise to improve their health. However, it is necessary to note that children should clean their bodies, especially the private area, after exercising to avoid sweat accumulation and create a favorable environment for bacteria to grow.
When your children reach the de-worming age, they should be de-wormed regularly to prevent pinworm infection from the anus to the vagina.
If you have further questions about a 3-year-old girl having a vaginal odor with white discharge, you can bring your child to a Vinmec International Healthcare System hospital for examination and further advice. Thank you for trusting and sending your question to Vinmec. I wish you good health.
Sincerely,
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