Discharges in children are common and are observed in both sexes. In girls, discharge is more common, this is due to the anatomical structure of their genitourinary system. In the first days of a girl’s life, you may notice small vaginal discharge, caused by a hormonal imbalance that occurs in the child’s body after a break in communication with her mother (when mother’s hormones still “rage” in the child’s body). This is a temporary phenomenon that poses no danger.
Discharge in girls of 6 years of age often appears due to vaginosis, which is characterized by inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. The most common cause of the disease is a pathological activation of local microflora due to a decrease in immunity. Inflammation most often occurs due to hypothermia, especially when girls are in wet clothes for a long time or forced to sit on a cold surface. In children with a good immune system, such infections pass quickly, sometimes even on their own. The disease can occur with scanty or copious discharge.
A serious and dangerous infection, which requires treatment by a specialist, can also cause abundant and thick secretions from the vagina. A small inflammatory process most often goes away on its own within a few days, but the child should be shown to the doctor in order to find out all the causes and prevent possible complications.
Yellow discharge in girls (especially with an admixture of blood) can indicate damage to the mucosa by some object that the baby could place in the vagina. If this happened, then parents should not scold her and cause her guilt, it is necessary to contact a pediatric gynecologist as soon as possible. A yellow color indicates that the inflammation is caused by bacteria. With viral infections or hormonal imbalance, vaginal discharge is abundant, transparent, sometimes white.
Discharges in children can be associated with a variety of phenomena, so cystitis can develop in boys with hypothermia of the pelvic organs (in childhood, cystitis is characteristic of both boys and girls). This is an inflammation of the walls of the bladder, and if adequate treatment is not done, the discharge appears in the boys, usually yellow.
The clinical picture of cystitis in girls is more acute and painful, since they feel more pain and burning sensation when urinating, there are abundant yellow discharge with an unpleasant odor. Urination becomes frequent and unbearable for the child.
Discharges in children, especially in girls, may occur due to improper care. The fact is that the anus is very close to the urethra, and besides, the girl's urethra is much wider and shorter than that of boys, which allows microorganisms (from the intestine) to penetrate into it faster and initiate the inflammatory process. Therefore, it is important to teach every child to wash themselves after each act of defecation, to prevent infection with Escherichia coli.
Discharge in children can be associated with various fungal infections, especially the vaginal mucosa is affected by conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, such as candida. The source of infection can be parents, since this fungus sometimes lives in the oral cavity, and with a kiss it can be passed on to the child. In addition, candidiasis often appears after treatment with antibiotics and with a general weakening of the body. With candidiasis (thrush), girls develop discharge in the form of curd mass, which is accompanied by severe itching and a burning sensation.
Phimosis in boys can also be the cause of discharge from the penis, since with this disease the foreskin is narrowed, which leads to accumulation of smegma. In the future, an inflammatory process is formed, due to which the head becomes painful, pain appears when urinating. Moreover, discharge may sometimes have a purulent character. Phimosis is treated with antiseptic solutions and anti-inflammatory ointments. If necessary, doctors recommend surgery.
There are various types of excretion in children, so parents should not panic, but seek medical attention in time to prevent any complications.