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Long retained intravaginal foreign body: a case report
Pushpa Dahiya1, Umber Agarwal, Krishna Sangwan
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak-124001, Haryana, India. pushpadahiya@yahoo.com
Insights
Recurrent vaginal discharge in children can stem from various causes. A long-retained intravaginal foreign body may present as a diagnostic challenge, often leading to persistent, foul-smelling, bloody discharge.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gynecology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Foreign Body Management
Background:
- Recurrent vaginal discharge is a common pediatric complaint with diverse etiologies.
- Intravaginal foreign bodies are a known cause of persistent vaginal discharge in children.
- Delayed diagnosis of intravaginal foreign bodies can lead to significant morbidity.
Observation:
- This case report details a pediatric patient with a retained intravaginal foreign body.
- The foreign body was present for over four years.
- The patient presented with recurrent, unremitting, foul-smelling, and bloody vaginal discharge.
Findings:
- A retained intravaginal foreign body was identified as the cause of chronic vaginal discharge.
- The prolonged duration of foreign body retention presented a diagnostic dilemma.
- The characteristic symptoms of foul-smelling, bloody discharge were key indicators.
Implications:
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for retained vaginal foreign bodies in children with persistent, concerning discharge.
- Prompt diagnosis and removal of intravaginal foreign bodies are crucial to prevent complications.
- This case underscores the importance of thorough history taking and physical examination in pediatric gynecological complaints.
Abstract:
Recurrent vaginal discharge in children may be due to variety of causes. Intravaginal foreign body retained for long duration can be a diagnostic dilemma. This report presents the case of a girl who had an intravaginal foreign body for over four years duration. Recurrent, unremitting, foul-smelling, bloody vaginal discharge in a child should alert the clinician to the possibility of a retained vaginal foreign body.