I don't know what to do

[TheOriginalFAB]

Just discovered my 8 year old has been playing out in the garden in a skirt and no knickers. When I asked why she said her vagina stings. She has said it before, usually later at night when I can't do anything about it. I have suggested she drink more, go to the toilet properly and to go and have a bath now but she has stormed off in a huff complaining about her verruca.

Is there anything I can do or does she need a doctor?

If it's her vagina that stings she could have something like thrush
Will she let you have a quick look to see if she's red or just show you exactly where it hurts?

I will go and see if I can see. She should have calmed down by now.

There is no discharge. It looked like it had been cut but tbh she sorts herself out in the loo so not sure what a child should look like. I felt unsure what I was looking for to be honest.

I don't think it is cut but I will put some cream on as it won't do any harm.

If it stings when she pees, get her to pee in a bath of water or in the shower. Try to explain to her that she needs to drink more to make the wee less stingy even though she wants to drink less so she needs to pee less.

Does she have any idea how or if she might have hurt herself?

If you can get her to point to or describe where it hurts, you'll at least have an idea whether it's external soreness on her skin or thrush.
Older girls do sometimes get sore 'down there.' I always treated it light nappy rash when DD was younger.

Also, best to wear pure cotton undies.

I have had another look. It is all the same colour with no redness or white discharge. Have persuaded her to have a bath and hopefully that will help. Knickers on or off at bedtime?

Sometimes it can sting with a UTI. Does she have a tummy ache at all?

No tummy ache but she said she had had a funny feeling in her side.

I suggest you get a urine sample and get it tested as soon as possible. UTIs have very serious implications and should never be ignored.

She has gone to bed so I will take her tomorrow. Thanks.

The problem has been she only tells me at night and it isn't every day.

Good luck. Do let us know how you get on.

Thanks.

Last time she was at the GP for something else she wouldn't let them look at her vagina.

If it is a UTI they won't ask to look at it. They will just test the urine.

Always knickers off in bed. Knickers in bed are unsanitary.

I agree.

She choses to wear knickers in bed. She has just come down saying it stings and she can't sleep. I suggested sudocrem but dh said I can't put that inside her. Definitely docs tomorrow.

Did you ask her where does it sting i.e. her urethra or her vagina or labia?

She pointed to below where the lips are.

But you can use Sudocrem externally, if it's only her skin that's stinging. You do need to know where the sting is, obviously. I always found Vaseline did the trick for dry/sore skin.

She's 8. You are in charge of what she wears.

Vaseline won't do her labia/vagina any harm and will act as a barrier against urine.