Biomaterial Database

Chronic vulvitis in pre-pubertal girls. 2010

Gayle Fischer

Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. gayle.fischer@sydney.edu.au

Pre-pubertal girls with inflammatory chronic vulval disease excluding lichen sclerosus are often described as having 'non-specific vulvovaginitis'. The aim of this retrospective case series was to determine the aetiology of chronic vulvovaginitis in pre-pubertal (Tanner Stage 1) girls, with particular reference to candidiasis. A chart review recorded and compared the characteristics of 38 girls and 68 post-menarchal adolescents and pre-menopausal women with chronic vulvitis. Nineteen (50%) of the pre-pubertal children had been previously diagnosed with candidiasis and 21 (55%) had been treated unsuccessfully with topical antifungal agents. Candida albicans was isolated in two (5%) of the children and 37 (54%) of the adults (P < 0.001). A positive Candida culture was causally associated with chronic vulvovaginitis in 50% of the adults but in none of the children (P < 0.001). In 28 (74%) of the children and 28 (41%) of the adults, no pathogens were isolated on microbiological testing. General skin examination of the girls revealed signs of psoriasis in 27 (71%) and atopic dermatitis in nine (24%). Symptoms were controlled with topical anti-inflammatory treatment and environmental modification, including cessation of topical antifungals. Pre-pubertal girls with chronic vulvitis are likely to have either psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. Chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis is not seen in Tanner Stage 1 girls.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011565	Psoriasis	A common genetically determined, chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by rounded erythematous, dry, scaling patches. The lesions have a predilection for nails, scalp, genitalia, extensor surfaces, and the lumbosacral region. Accelerated epidermopoiesis is considered to be the fundamental pathologic feature in psoriasis.	Palmoplantaris Pustulosis,Pustular Psoriasis of Palms and Soles,Pustulosis Palmaris et Plantaris,Pustulosis of Palms and Soles,Psoriases
D011627	Puberty	A period in the human life in which the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system takes place and reaches full maturity. The onset of synchronized endocrine events in puberty lead to the capacity for reproduction (FERTILITY), development of secondary SEX CHARACTERISTICS, and other changes seen in ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT.	Puberties
D002176	Candida albicans	A unicellular budding fungus which is the principal pathogenic species causing CANDIDIASIS (moniliasis).	Candida albicans var. stellatoidea,Candida stellatoidea,Dematium albicans,Monilia albicans,Myceloblastanon albicans,Mycotorula albicans,Parasaccharomyces albicans,Procandida albicans,Procandida stellatoidea,Saccharomyces albicans,Syringospora albicans
D002181	Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal	Infection of the VULVA and VAGINA with a fungus of the genus CANDIDA.	Moniliasis, Vulvovaginal,Vaginitis, Monilial,Candidiasis, Genital,Genital Vulvovaginal Candidiasis,Vaginal Yeast Infection,Vaginal Yeast Infections,Candidiasis, Genital Vulvovaginal,Genital Candidiasis,Infection, Vaginal Yeast,Infections, Vaginal Yeast,Monilial Vaginitis,Vulvovaginal Candidiasis,Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Genital,Vulvovaginal Moniliasis,Yeast Infection, Vaginal,Yeast Infections, Vaginal
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005260	Female		Females