Diphtheric vaginitis in children

Abstract

Coldstream,1 reports a case of apparently primary diphtheria of the vulva in a girl 12 years old; there was high fever with swollen labia and discharge. The source of infection could not be determined. The throat was clear, and there was no paralysis, although the cardiac action continued feeble for a long time. No mention is made of nose or other cultures. mentions a case of possible primary diphtheria of the genitals in a child 4 years old. The skin of the groins, labia and vulva were chafed by the discharge, and the vulva was covered with a diphtheric membrane. No mention is made of any cultures. The child died of paralysis of the throat and palate. The urine contained albumin. Gayton says that cases of genital infection occur infrequently?in 2,733 hospital patients he had about 6 cases in 6 years. Hewlett and Nolan3 mention a case of diphtheria of the fauces and vagina, but no special account is given of it. Apparently no cultures were made. Pearce,4 in a study of 157 cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever, gives an account of a case of diphtheric vaginitis with extensive diphtheria of the respiratory tract. Diphtheria bacilli were present in large numbers in the membranes.