Childhood vaginal bleeding in Trinidad

Summary

Summary

In a review of 40 girls with vaginal bleeding in Trinidad, the predominant causes were accidental falls (45 per cent) and prolapsed urethral mucosa (36·5 per cent). All 3 cases of sexual abuse sustained solely vaginal (internal) lacerations compared to the other 18 with falls where only vulval (external) lacerations were discovered. Foreign bodies and worms found in the vagina, vulvo-vaginitis and a cavernous haemangioma were less common aetiological factors. These findings are in contrast to two previous British studies where precocious puberty and genital tumours were the major causes of vaginal bleeding in childhood.