Patient's question:
A 4-year-old girl has an odor in her groin area and slightly red external genitalia. What should be done? She is washed daily, but the odor persists. How should it be treated?Doctor's answer:
A 3-year-old child should also be wiped with warm water daily to clean the external genitalia. The external genitalia of girls are tightly wrapped by the thick labia majora, covering the vaginal vestibule. Since the urethral opening is located in the vaginal vestibule, the child's external genitalia are prone to bacterial infections due to frequent urination if not properly cleaned. Warm water can be used to clean the external genitalia. During cleaning, gently separate the labia with your hands and clean the vaginal vestibule. If there is redness, applying a small amount of ofloxacin eye drops can be sufficient.