5 year old screaming in pain - vulva/vagina area

[Kimya]

My 5 year old daughter keeps having episodes of screaming in pain at night saying her privates are sore (yes she knows the anatomical names but this is what she is choosing to call them in this situation)

It doesn't look red or irritated, the pain seems to be around the vagina although she is complaining of "sore wees" and has now started saying her bottom hurts too. I haven't seen any sign of threadworms and no, there is no possibility of abuse.

It only seems to arise at night which is why I thought worms but as I say, I've seen no sign of them. I've no idea what to do to stop it as giving ibuprofen, sitting her in the bidet before bed, applying sudocrem don't seem to be helping.

You don’t say how long it’s been going on, but I’d treat for worms anyway. Have a look at the patient info sheets on paediatric vulvovaginitis. It’s common and there’s some advice

Sounds like it could be a bladder infection if it hurts when she wees, why on earth have you not consulted a doctor!?

the fact she’s saying “sore wees” may suggest a urine infection.

I'd see a gp to rule out infection but when we went through this, I was baffled. Days of pain, gp could find nothing and then on day 5, I saw threadworms in the loo after she'd used it.

Treated and problem solved.

Sounds like a UTI. Take her to the out of hours doctor tomorrow - you don't want this to turn into a kidney infection

Coming on to say treat as worms, one of my girls has this symptom (but no worms I was aware of) - tablet or medicine, sudocreme or Vaseline and tight fitting pants for bed, and wash /hoover everything.

If it’s only at night then yes worms. Surely a uti would be during the day too?

I had been playing in the park aged 7 a piece of dry grass apparently found its way in and dug in like an arrow. That was painful. Please see the GP. UTIs need treating

Anytime this has happened when my kids were small - threadworms. I would treat, whether I saw them or not.

Because a) this is the second spate we have had and the last one just went away of its own accord, b) she has no other symptoms and is not complaining of sore wees during the day c)it only started a couple of nights ago and d) every information source I've found online says consulting a doctor for this isn't usually necessary.

Treat for threadworms even though you’ve not seen them. That’ll rule that out and won’t do any harm.

If a UTI has been ruled out most likely vulvovaginitis

Wash her down below with plain water in morning and after wees.

In morning before school- use nappy cream- bepanthan/ metanium
When she comes from school change her undies wash her again. Use nappy cream.

On weekends use canestan 3 times a day.

Until she gets older and more proficient at cleaning herself this may keep occurring.

It’s likely to be either a UTI, worms or vulvovaginitis.

Vulvovaginitis is very common in girls - treat with (a lot) of bicarbonate of soda in the bath. I use 4 tablespoons. You can get big packs from Amazon. Then you can use a barrier scream or sudocrem. I read one NHS leaflet saying you could also use hydrocortisone for a week. I did with my daughter when she was very sore.

We keep on top of it now with the Bicarbonate in the bath and avoiding bubble bath.

Treat for worms. They come out at night and affect both areas. Full treatment, cool flannels in-between and if that doesn't work GP.

I'll get threadworm medicines tomorrow, it's Ovex or something isn't it?

I had them when I was a kid but I remember it being more itchy than painful. I'm glad we don't have to take the same stuff I had back then, it was a drink called Pripsen and my god was it revolting.

My daughter had same symptoms and it ended up it was threadworms. So treat anyway I’d suggest.

I've read this for the vulvovaginitis. I'm really not convinced on the UTI due to no other symptoms and it only being at night. From my experience of cystitis, it cannot tell them time!

I can't actually bath her at the moment as she has a broken arm which is why we are using the bidet but I could always put a bit of bicarb in there.

here you go! This is the advice that helped my daughter

www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/40708Pvulvitis.pdf

Thank you. I have looked up vulvovaginitis but hadn't found anything with quite this level of details re treatment. I think I'll try this and the worms treatment.

Have you treated for worms? Always, always treat for worms anyway. All of you.

Daughter has had threadworms several times with this as a symptom. Have you checked her vulva/vagina for worms when she’s upset as well as her stools. Horrendous but they often migrate there at night and it’s so sore. Definitely treat her in case.

Uti

Worms. Everyone says ‘oh it’s just itchy’ but not for every child it’s not. We’ve also had my ds screaming in pain.

I'd treat for worms.

I'm going to. I've looked for them and haven't seen any (also I'm helping her wipe her bottom at the moment as her dominant arm is broken and in a pot just now) when wiping but at the same time, I may have missed them.