Is this your symptom?
- Itching or dryness of external female genital area (vulva)
- Rashes of vulva, like sores, redness, blisters, or lumps
Some Basics...
- Vulvar symptoms include rash, itching, and dryness.
- These symptoms can have many different causes.
Causes of Vulvar Symptoms
- Bartholin's cyst
- Contact dermatitis (soaps or feminine products)
- Irritation after sex (lack of lubrication or a latex-condom allergy)
- Poison ivy
- Skin cancer
- Skin problems (lichen sclerosis, squamous hyperplasia)
- STIs (Herpes simplex, Syphilis, pubic lice, genital warts)
- Vaginal yeast infection
Common Causes of Vulvar Itching
- Skin Irritation: this can be caused by products like soaps, detergents, and douches. Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) can cause irritation from too much moisture. Do not use products that cause irritation and keep the area clean and dry. Good genital hygiene will help to prevent this.
- Allergic Skin Reaction: this can be caused by many products. These may be benzocaine (in Vagisil anti-itch cream) and antibiotic ointments. Latex condoms, nail polish, and perfumes may also cause a reaction. Stop using products that cause the allergic reaction. Keep the area clean and dry. Good genital hygiene can help prevent this.
- Menopause: during this time, the ovaries stop functioning. As a result, the body makes less estrogen. The skin in the genital area can become thinner. Women also note more dryness and itching. There are estrogen creams that can help these problems. A doctor will have more information about these medicines.
- Vaginal Yeast Infection: these can sometimes cause itching. Often, there is also a new or increased vaginal discharge. It is often thick, white, cottage cheese-like, and does not smell. There are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat yeast infections.
When to Call for Female Genital Symptoms
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Severe pain
- Fever and genital area looks infected (draining sore or rash is painful)
- Fever and pain or burning when passing urine
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Genital area looks infected (draining sore, ulcer, or rash is painful to touch)
- Rash with painful tiny water blisters
- Pain or burning when passing urine
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You are worried you might have an STI (sexually transmitted infection)
- Itching that is moderate to severe (keeps you from working or going to school or sleeping)
- Yellow, green, or gray vaginal discharge
- Antibiotics for 3 or more days for an STI and symptoms are not better
- Symptoms of a yeast infection (white, thick, cottage-cheese-like, itchy discharge) and you have not seen a doctor for this in the past
- Yeast infection treated at home for more than 3 days and not better
- All other female genital symptoms
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Symptoms that are like a past yeast infection (white, thick, cottage-cheese-like, itchy discharge)
- Painless redness, tiny bumps, or sores on genitals for less than 24 hours
- Mildly itchy
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
