VULVOVAGINITIS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

For two years and a half, under the direction of Dr. William P. Lucas, the cases of vaginitis at the Children's Hospital in Boston have been treated at a special clinic. During the two years the individual cases have been studied and the attempt has been made to gain some progress in the treatment and knowledge of this very intractable disease. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the following five things, which stand out clearly as the result of our experience and the experience of others: 1. The prevalence of the gonococcus as the etiologic factor in cases of vaginitis, and the unreliability of bacteriologic examination in all stages. 2. The total duration of the disease, including the long periods of latency. 3. The importance of the disease on account of its serious complications and sequelae. 4. Inefficiency of treatment at best. 5. The consequent importance of prophylaxis,