title: Vulvovaginitis in a pediatric population: relationship among etiologic agents, age and Tanner staging of breast development.
abstract: Vulvovaginitis accounts for 25% of all pediatric gynecology consultations.
  
  
  
  To assess the etiology of vulvovaginitis based on age and Tanner staging of breast development.
  
  
  
  Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted between January 1st and December 31st, 2011. Patients with vulvovaginitis were assessed based on two outcome measures: age group (GI: 0 to 8.9 years old, GII: 9 to 15.9 years old, and GIII: 16 to 18 years old), and the Tanner staging of breast development (I, II-III, IV-V). Results. Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were included, 78 girls in the GI group, 134 in the GII group, and 17 in the GIII group; 81 girls were classified as TI, 36 as TII-III, and 112 as TIV-V based on Tanner staging. Shigella and Oxyuris were the most commonly found etiologic agents in younger girls. Candida albicans, other Candida species, Gardnerella and Ureaplasma urealyticum were the germs most commonly observed in older patients. Oxyuris was predominant in prepubertal girls, while Candida albicans, in postpubertal girls.
  
  
  
  Hormonal influence was more relevant than the patient's age in terms of vulvovaginitis etiology.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Ginecología Infanto-Juvenil, Hospital Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Ginecología Infanto-Juvenil, Hospital Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Gisel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giugno
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Bioestadística Bayesiana y Clásica de la Carrera de Microbiología Clínica e Industrial, Departamento de Epizootiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Risso
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Ginecología Infanto-Juvenil, Hospital Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Anahí V.
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D046468:Sexual Development; D014848:Vulvovaginitis / Q000209:etiology*