Symptom Definition

• Genital area pain, burning or itching.
• No pain or burning with urination, no vaginal discharge.
• Main cause in young girls: a soap irritation of the vulva or outer vagina (soap vulvitis) from bubble bath, shampoo or other soap.

See More Appropriate Topic

• If pain or burning with urination, see URINATION, PAIN WITH.
• If itching of the anus is main symptom, see PINWORMS.

(To go directly to these topics, click on the links following this document.)

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick.
• Could be from sexual abuse.

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• You think your child needs to be seen.
• Vaginal discharge.  
• Fever is present.

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns.
• Over age 10 (reason: soap vulvitis is unusual).
• Vaginal irritation persists after on treatment for 2 days.

Parent Care at Home

• Probable chemical/soap vulvitis and you don't think your child needs to be seen.

Home Care Advice for Soap Vulvitis

1. Baking Soda-Warm Water Soaks:  Soak for 20 minutes to remove irritants and to promote healing.
   
   Add 2 oz. baking soda per tub of warm water (reason: baking soda is better than vinegar for girls not into puberty).
   
   During soaks, be sure she spreads her legs and allows the water to cleanse the genital area.
   
   Repeat baking soda soaks treatment 4 times per day for 2 days.
   
   
2. Steroid Cream:  Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to the genital area after soaks for 1 or 2 days.
   
   
3. Avoid Soaps:  Avoid bubble bath, soap and shampoo to the vulva because they are irritants.  Only use warm water to cleanse the vulva or baby oil to remove secretions.
   
   
4. Expected Course:  If the symptoms are due to soap vulvitis, they should all clear within 1 to 2 days with proper treatment.
   
   
5. Call Your Doctor If:
   
   Irritation persists on treatment for more than 48 hours.
   
   Vaginal discharge or bleeding occurs.
   
   Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000. Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP

See related topics:

• Pinworms
• Urination, Pain with