Multiple and Recurrent Vaginal Foreign Bodies in an 8-Year-Old Child: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Vaginal foreign bodies (VFBs) are an uncommon but under-recognized cause of recurrent vaginal discharge in children. Evidence on the management of multiple and recurrent VFBs is limited.

CASE: An 8-year-old girl with mild intellectual disability presented with foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Vaginoscopy under general anesthesia revealed multiple toy screws, magnetic pieces, and plastic beads, all of which were removed. She was evaluated for child sexual abuse (CSA). Four months later, she re-presented with recurrent VFBs that were successfully removed using warm saline flushing, and she was again evaluated for CSA. She remained symptom-free during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

There are various child-friendly methods that can be applied in out-patient care settings to remove VFBs with reasonable effectiveness. CSA must be considered in every case of VFB, even if the self-insertion of the VFB is reported by the patient.