Journal Information
Vol. 92. Issue 1.
Pages 55-56 (01 January 2020)
Vol. 92. Issue 1.
Pages 55-56 (01 January 2020)
Images in Paediatrics
Open Access
Occult foreign body: A rare cause of recurrent vulvovaginitis
Vulvovaginitis recurrente por cuerpo extraño oculto
Visits
8051
Pedro Mantas
Corresponding author
pedromantas@gmail.com

Corresponding author.
, Sara Rocha, Elisabete Oliveira, Aldina Lopes
Serviço de Pediatria, Hospital de Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
This item has received

Under a Creative Commons license
Article information
Full Text
Bibliography
Download PDF
Statistics
Figures (2)
Full Text

Vaginal discharge is a common gynaecological complaint in prepubertal girls that is frequently caused by vulvovaginitis.1,2 In most cases, the aetiology is nonspecific and the problem resolves with hygiene measures.1,2 However, other possible causes should be considered when symptoms persist or relapse, such as infection, congenital abnormalities, trauma, allergic reactions, dermatologic conditions or the presence of foreign bodies.1,2

We present the case of a girl aged 5 years, otherwise healthy, that presented to the emergency department complaining of recurrent purulent vaginal discharge and intermittent bleeding of 8 months’ duration.

There was no history of trauma, sexual abuse, soreness, urinary or rectal complaints. The symptoms did not respond to hygiene measures and appropriate antibiotic therapy. The physical examination revealed no abdominal tenderness and normal external genitalia, with no lesions or active discharge. However, there was a bloody and foul-smelling discharge on the sanitary pad. A pelvic ultrasound scan (Fig. 1) and a pelvic radiograph (Fig. 2) revealed the presence of a foreign body measuring 40×10mm. The patient underwent vaginoscopy under anaesthesia for removal of a hair clip.

Figure 1.

Pelvic ultrasound image showing a hyperechoic linear structure in the vaginal lumen (blue arrow).

(0.15MB).
Figure 2.

Plain pelvic radiograph showing the foreign body.

(0.09MB).

Vaginal foreign bodies are a rare cause of relapsing or treatment-resistant vulvovaginitis, accounting for only 4% of cases in prepubertal girls.3 Their presence usually manifests with a purulent, foul-smelling vaginal discharge and/or intermittent bleeding.1,2 Potential complications include ulceration of the vaginal wall with formation of fistulae and infection.3 Almost all cases reported in the literature occurred in the paediatric age group, which presents a diagnostic challenge and highlights the importance of imaging tests in the approach to diagnosis.3

References
[1]
M. Laufer, S.J. Emans.
Overview of vulvovaginal complaints in the prepubertal child.
UpToDate, (2018),
[2]
S. Mcgreal, P. Wood.
Recurrent vaginal discharge in children.
J Pediatric Adolesc Gynecol, 26 (2013), pp. 205-208
[3]
I. Kyrgios, E. Emmanouilidou, T. Theodoridis, A. Galli-Tsinopoulou.
An unexpected cause of vaginal bleeding: the role of pelvic radiography.
BMJ Case Rep, (2014),

Please cite this article as: Mantas P, Rocha S, Oliveira E, Lopes A. Vulvovaginitis recurrente por cuerpo extraño oculto. An Pediatr (Barc). 2020;92:55–56.

Previous presentation: this study was presented as a poster at the 17 Congresso Nacional de Pediatria; November 2–4, 2016; Porto, Portugal.

Copyright © 2019. Asociación Española de Pediatría
Idiomas
Anales de Pediatría (English Edition)
Article options
Tools
es en

¿Es usted profesional sanitario apto para prescribir o dispensar medicamentos?

Are you a health professional able to prescribe or dispense drugs?