I think something is wrong with my 21 month old daughters vaginal area...?

Question

Just now I was changing her diaper I noticed she was very sensitive when I wiped her v****a, and I saw that it was a bit red and near her clitoris it seemed to be swollen, red, and irritated somehow...

I thought back and earlier today she was touching her v****a ( she usually does that, as she's in that curious stage where she's examining everything on)

I was thinking maybe she irritated it by touching it somehow or she scratched it...but that's just my guess...

Is that normal or should I take her to the emergency room?

Answer 1

I would put cream on it and if that doesn;t hurt her than she might have scrached herself.

Answer 2

Sounds like a yeast infection.  I would give her a bath with apple cider vinegar in it....not much but about a cup and half.  This helps correct the Ph balance.

Answer 3

Could be a yeast or staff infection. Easily cured and not uncommon. Call your ped. office. They'll call you back and tell you what you should do.

Answer 4

Good heavens -- what is wrong with some of the people in this country?  I think too many of the folks on this board have been watching the Nightline predator series.  I have 4 kids -- three of them girls.  First of all, many (if not most) kids that age touch themselves quite often -- you morons crying abuse should take a child psychology course.  And, as I'm sure you realize, most children do not maintain the best hand cleanliness.  I expect she's probably in the experimental stage, and just needs to be distracted when she gets in the "touchy" mood.  Disctraction is psychologically the best remedy, as discipline creates a very negative association with body self-image and sexuality.  For the rest of you rushing to call social services, the police, the FBI, and NIghtline, please do us all a favor and chill out -- not all human sexuality is the result of some depraved molester.

Answer 5

it could be she scratched herself, maybe her diaper irritated her. anything... BUT she hasn't been left alone anywhere by herself lately.. has she? daycare?  babysitter? hope nothing like that has happened to her. give her a bath and put some diaper ointment on her.

Answer 6

Try wiping her v****a gently with a warm cloth no soap  or anything, You might have to open her v****a  lips a bit to wipe out any dust and dirt, Then rub a little vaseline or diaper cream on the area and just watch her. My little one sometime has sand grit in her area and this is what I do,as long as she is not bleeding she most likely is just irritated..good luck

Answer 7

This sounds like Vaginitis/Thrush and is very normal and common in little girls this age.

Vaginitis/Thrush is caused by overgrowth of bacteria that is naturally found in your v****a.

There are things you can do to help your daughter cause if you do nothing it will last a long while.

Use unscented and mild soaps when you bathe your daughter.

You should wipe the vaginal part carefully and leave your daughter undressed for a while so that the air could circulate around her genitals.

Try to stop her touching herself as that will only help it spread.

You should take her to see a doctor but it is not an emergency.  

Good Luck

Answer 8

It's possible it's an infection of some type... infections thrive in dark warm wet areas....I'm sure she's in a diaper so that would account for the dampness... have her checked for a yeast infection. Make sure you wipe her with a baby wipe everytime you change her...her acidic urine could cause sensitivity there as well.

Answer 9

It is probably not a huge deal, but I can see where you would be concerned.  It is probably just a mild yeast infection.  It is not uncommon for children that age to get them, especially in the summer.  At that age they tend to produce a lot of urine and it can irritate the skin and cause an infection.  Just try to keep it dry and call your pediatrician (they should have someone on call) to see what the best over the counter medicine might be.

Answer 10

Sounds like a yeast infection or some other infection.  I'd say take her in first thing Monday morning.

Answer 11

She may have a diaper rash or maybe getting a yeast infection. I would assume she was touching it since it was hurting. I would call the doctor, and ask him or her and see what they say. I would not take to the emergency room unless doctor says so. That is just going to make her feel more uncomfortable just waiting.

Answer 12

I have a 4 yr old little girl and I notice sometimes if she drinks a strong juice or if you have changed soap it could be a reaction to that...my little girl gets it alot..Also the sand is a high possiblity as well or it could be something in the baby wipes stop using the wipes and try to get her to drink lots of water throughout the week-end and then take her in to the dr.

Answer 13

Hmmm...maybe not to an Emergency. But I would definitely take her to see a pediatrician. Does not sound normal. Hate to say it, but it almost sounds scary.

Answer 14

I'd keep an eye on that! Thats a sign of sexual abuse - of course it could just be irritated because shes touching it - or her diaper caused a reaction. I'd bring her in on Monday just to be sure, and to get that documented just in case the worst is true.

I'd just put diaper rash medicine on it for now -- also ask her if it hurts, itches, etc. Kids can get yeast infections and such same as we can.

Also - if there is any kind of sore with discharge - bring her in to the ER so they can culture the discharge and see what it is -- thats what my doc told me with a similar issue with my son.

Overall - It does not sound like any big deal, it's probably just diaper rash

Answer 15

If you suspect that she might have a yeast infection, you can call a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist to recommend an anti fungal  cream for a toddler. They might tell you that there is nothing available over the counter but they might not!

My daughter got a yeast infection when she was on antibiotics, and the doctor told me to get her the same stuff I would use if I had one!