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Vaginal bleeding in childhood: a review of 51 patients
Insights
Vaginal bleeding in young children is often linked to precocious puberty. However, local lesions, including rare genital tract cancers, also cause bleeding in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gynecology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Vaginal bleeding in pre-pubertal children is uncommon.
- Causes range from benign conditions to serious malignancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causes of vaginal bleeding in children under 10 years old.
- To determine the prevalence of precocious puberty and local lesions as causes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 51 cases of vaginal bleeding in children under 10.
- Medical records analyzed from three London hospitals between 1962 and 1977.
Main Results:
- Precocious puberty accounted for 73% (37/51) of cases.
- Local lesions caused bleeding in 27% (14/51) of cases.
- Six of these 14 patients had malignant neoplasms of the genital tract.
Conclusions:
- Precocious puberty is the most common cause of vaginal bleeding in young girls.
- A significant minority of cases are due to local lesions, necessitating thorough investigation for malignancy.
Abstract:
A search of the medical records at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street and Chelsea Hospital for Women, London, revealed 51 cases of vaginal bleeding in children under the age of 10 occurring in the years 1962 through 1977. The bleeding was caused by some form of precocious puberty in 37 patients (73 per cent). Eight of these patients had cyclical vaginal bleeding in the absence of secondary sexual development or advanced bone age. Fourteen patients (27 per cent) bled because of a local lesion and six of these had a malignant neoplasm of the genital tract.