The term "vulva" includes the female external genitalia, which include small and large labia, vestibule, the external opening of the urethra and clitoris.
About vulvitis say when developing inflammation of the vulva, that is, all of these anatomical structures.
Vulvitis is more common in premenopausal women and menopausal age and girls, usually up to 10 years.
Kinds
Adrift distinguish
- acute vulvitis, which lasts for one month,
- vulvitis subacute, lasting up to three months,
- chronic process that lasts more than three months.
Also, the disease can be contagious, that is caused by pathogenic microorganisms, and non-infectious (allergic, atopic, traumatic vulva). In turn, infectious vulvitis may be nonspecific and specific (of trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, candidiasis).
Furthermore, vulvitis classified into primary and secondary. On the Prime vulvitis say when the process has developed against the background of non-compliance with personal hygiene, injuries and other factors. Secondary vulvitis - a disease that appears in the background of any other (helminthiasis endometritis, diabetes).
Causes
The causes of vulvitis in girls and women are very similar. These include:
- failure to comply with the rules of personal hygiene (frequent, using soap caving, neglect of hygiene);
- diseases of internal genitalia (vulva irritation abnormal leucorrhea);
- genital infections;
- allergic reactions (diaper dermatitis, diaper use with perfumes, and deodorant pads use personal care);
- endocrine pathology (diabetes, hypothyroidism);
- wearing tight underwear and tight pants;
- injury genitals (masturbation, foreign bodies, rough sexual intercourse);
- lack of vitamins;
- hormonal changes (during pregnancy and menopause);
- a weakened immune system;
- incorrect lure (in infants);
- helminth infections;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics;
- urinary tract infections;
- urinary incontinence;
- anatomical features: absence of the posterior commissure, gaping pudendal cleft (girls);
- childhood infections;
- obesity;
- vegetative neurosis (raschesy vulva).
Infectious disease pathogens can act E. coli, fungi, viruses and specific microorganisms (chlamydia, Gonococci, trichomonas).
symptoms of vulvitis
The clinical picture of the disease is similar in girls and women.
On examination, there is edema of the labia and the clitoris, their color changes to bright red. Older girls and women inflamed clitoris often interferes with walking and cause pain. Constant scratching of the vulva (the girls) lead to its ulceration. In some cases, the process applied to the skin and internal pubic labia.
Girls are getting restless, moody, they have disturbed sleep. In children up to a year marked anxiety, crying, especially when urinating, the abandonment of the chest. Sometimes the process is so pronounced that the girl's temperature rises and increased inguinal lymph nodes. Women besides itching and burning of the vulva, complain of pain during intimacy, urinating and walking.
Another characteristic of vulvitis are leucorrhoea. The girls, they tend to be abundant, clear or watery, but can change their color and character, depending on the pathogen.
Diagnostics
The differential diagnosis should be made with vulvitis herpes infection, Diabetes, internal genital diseases, childhood infections (measles, scarlet fever), Genital infections.
Diagnosis is based on characteristic complaints and clinical picture.
It is mandatory performed vaginal microscopy (for girls) and cervical smear, smear from the urethra.
In addition, it is shown holding bacteriological examination whiter to establish the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics.
Also performed a PCR diagnosis of genital infections, blood count and urine, feces on eggs of worms and blood glucose.
treatment vulvitis
Treatment of vulvitis in girls engaged in pediatric gynecologist, female gynecologist.
First of all, before starting therapy, you need to install and remove the cause that led to the disease. For example, changing diapers, failure of intimate hygiene, revision feeding, removal of foreign body from the vagina and other. This step is critical in disease therapy.
Further treatment is prescribed depending on the specific pathogen (for fungal etiology vulvitis shows the reception antifungals, when the infectious nature of the disease appointed antibiotics).
Children usually antibiotics are not appointed, but if the disease difficult, and even more so if vulvitis caused by specific microflora, antibiotic treatment is needed.
As shown symptomatic therapy warm baths with decoctions of herbs (calendula, chamomile, St. John's Wort), and antiseptic solutions (furatsillin, chlorhexidine, boric acid).
With strong itching appointed ointment for external application with anestezin, painkillers.
When restless sleep prescribe sleeping pills.
Girls at the time of treatment is shown to bed, women ban on sex life.
Treatment of acute vulvitis takes 7-10 days, while chronic treatment can last for a month or more.
Consequences and outlook
One consequence of the disease is a chronic process (with substandard or incomplete treatment).
Girls acute vulvitis dangerous development of adhesions (adhesions) of the labia, vaginal narrowing, deformation of the external genitals, impede the intimate life in the future, urethritis, cervical erosion.
In women, the infection of the vulva can penetrate higher into the cervix, uterus and appendages with the development of inflammatory diseases.
The prognosis for timely treatment of vulvitis favorable.
