title: Vulvovaginitis during childhood and adolescence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate cases of vulvovaginitis treated in our institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up of 1,778 cases of vulvovaginitis to investigate the prevalence of various pathogens involved in the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Divisions of pediatric and adolescent gynecology, university hospitals of Crete and Athens, Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Girls 1-18 years old seen at the clinics of the above institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaginal culture, cytology, and vaginoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vulvovaginitis was encountered in 61.8% of the gynecological problems seen during childhood and adolescence. Infections were usually located in both the vulva and the vagina (56.9%). The main symptoms were vaginal discharge (53%), erythema (33%), and pruritus (27%). Candida spp (23.0%), beta-hemolytic Streptococci group B (15.0%), and Enterococci spp (10.0%) were the most frequent pathogens involved in the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vulvovaginitis is a common disease during childhood and adolescence. Effective treatment, reassurance, and appropriate consultation based on the prevention of relapses are the most important steps for the management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Koumantakis
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Deligeoroglou
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014848:Vulvovaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy