Synechia is a disease consisting in the formation of adhesions (accretions) between organs. Most often, this problem occurs in girls in the form of fusion of the labia minora, less often – large.
Causes of synechiae
The most common cause of adhesions is congenital pathology. In the maternal body of the mother during pregnancy, there is often a lack of the hormone estrogen, which causes underdevelopment of the external genitalia of the daughter.
Also , the causes of occurrence can be:
excessive care of the genitals. (If a little girl is washed several times a day with soap, then there is a high probability of damaging the mucous membrane). Soap causes redness and mild inflammation of the labia. When these seemingly minor irritations begin to heal, the labia grow together, thus synechiae are formed. But this does not mean that the hygiene of the genitals is not important for the child, on the contrary, unfair care can lead to serious bacterial infections.
tight diapers and diapers, as well as synthetic underwear. Poor-quality clothing composition can cause skin friction, their inflammation, and as a result, coalescence.
bacterial infection of the urinary tract. Most often, it is asymptomatic, or a slight redness may appear on the child’s skin, as a result of which synechiae may also occur.
infection of the genitals. Inflammation can provoke the fusion of the labia minora. This is possible while bathing in a public pond, or as a result of using someone else’s towel, linen, or washcloth – infections are often transmitted through household items. Therefore, it is necessary to teach your child to use their personal hygiene items as early as possible. Even parents can get infections as a result of washing the baby with unclean hands or when washing children’s and adult underwear together.
also, the infection could get at birth, in the process of contact of the child with the genitals of the mother.
Complications of synechiae
When the labia coalesce, a closed space is formed, deprived of air access, in which a large number of bacteria can accumulate. They begin to multiply not only on the external organs (genitals, inner thigh), but also on the internal (genitourinary tract).
The disease can acquire a chronic form. For the girl, these complications threaten infertility, the threat of termination of pregnancy.
Diagnostics
The problem of a baby under one year old and a younger child (up to 8 years old) is identical, but different specialists are engaged in its treatment. A newborn child should be monitored monthly by a pediatrician, an older girl by a pediatric gynecologist.
The doctor first conducts a visual examination, then can prescribe urine tests, take a smear for fungal and viral infections.
Treatment
The treatment is hormonal therapy (the use of drugs with elevated estrogen levels), the use of baths with chamomile, St. John’s wort and potassium permanganate as an antiseptic. Under their influence, the spikes diverge naturally.
If such therapy did not bring the expected results, then surgical intervention is used – the procedure is unpleasant, but effective.
The main thing is timely intervention, careful and careful, so a prolonged problem can become a psychological trauma for a child.
