VAGINA, FOREIGN BODY IN |
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DESCRIPTIONA foreign body in the vagina refers to any kind of foreign material introduced into the vagina that remains there. These can include safety pins, sticks, and other materials in very young girls or retained tampons in girls who have begun menstruating.
Appropriate health care includes:
Doctor's care for diagnosis and treatment. Foreign bodies occasionally must be removed with the child under anesthesia.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Unpleasant-smelling or blood-stained vaginal discharge.
Soreness or tenderness around the vagina.
CAUSES
Accidental or intentional introduction of a foreign body into the vagina.
RISK FACTORS
Mental retardation.
Unusually inquisitive children.
An older child or adult molesting your daughter.
PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OR RECURRENCEDiscourage your child from using any instruments when playing "nurse and doctor."
BASIC INFORMATION
MEDICAL TESTS
Your own observation of symptoms.
Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
Self-care after diagnosis.
Physician's monitoring of general condition and medications.
X-rays of the pelvis to identify and locate the foreign body.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Bacterial infection of the genital area.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
PROBABLE OUTCOME
Complete cure with timely treatment.
TREATMENT
HOME CARE
Don't attempt to remove the foreign body from your daughter yourself unless it has been in only a short while and is unlikely to cause injury if you try.
After removal, give your daughter warm, soapy baths twice a day until all symptoms clear.
Have your daughter wear absorbent cotton panties--not nylon or any man-made fiber.
Don't make too much fuss about the incident if you think your daughter did it to herself. A little girl is naturally curious about her vagina and she will investigate it with her fingers or perhaps objects.
If you suspect that an older child or an adult has molested your daughter, pursue the matter with health care or social workers or with the police.
MEDICATION
Antibiotics prescribed by your physician if needed to treat any secondary infection.
See Medications section for information regarding medicines your doctor may prescribe.
ACTIVITY
No restrictions after the foreign body has been removed.
DIET & FLUIDS
No restrictions.
OK TO GO TO SCHOOL?Yes.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
Your daughter has symptoms of a foreign body in the vagina.
New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.
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