1ST CITY CLINICAL HOSPITAL

“Only when everyday hygiene becomes a self-evident part of human life and an integral quality of life will there also be motivation for a preventative lifestyle and with it “healthy” behavior” Bergler, 1989.

Hygiene in general and girls’ hygiene in particular are aimed at strengthening and maintaining health. Hygienic measures must be carried out taking into account the physiological characteristics of the growing female body.

Hygienic procedures are necessary for little girls not only to prevent inflammatory processes in the genital organs at a particular point in time, but also to prevent disturbances in the formation of the functions of the female body, aimed at the continuation of the human race in the future.

When maintaining a hygienic regime, it is necessary to remember the fact that each period of life has its own characteristics.

Newborn girl

Delicate sensitive skin of the perineum requires special attention. The genital area must be protected from contamination, irritation and infection. To do this, the girl is washed every time she is swaddled (diapers are changed).

Under running water (from front to back), gently, without force or friction, wash the delicate skin. In case of defecation, it is recommended to carefully clean the skin with cotton swabs or wet wipes before washing. It is not recommended to use soap daily (even those specifically intended for intimate hygiene), because the alkali they contain has a degreasing effect and leads to dryness and irritation of the skin. Frequent use of herbal decoctions (chamomile, eucalyptus, sage) is also not justified, because they also contribute to dryness of delicate skin, and the use of potassium permanganate on the genital area is unacceptable.

After washing, dry the skin by carefully applying an easily absorbent cloth to it. The toilet ends by lubricating the skin of the external genitalia and inguinal folds with baby cream or sterile vegetable oil (olive, peach, almond).

In addition to washing with each diaper change, a newborn girl should be bathed daily, using soap no more than 2 times a week. The total duration of bathing is up to 10 minutes. After hygiene procedures, the skin is dried with a soft towel, special attention should be paid to all skin folds.

Diapers are changed when soiled, but at least once every 4 hours. To wash children's clothes, use only baby soap or special washing powders.

Infancy

Caring for girls under one year old, in fact, is no different from caring for newborns, with the only difference being that now it must be even more thorough. The main task is to prevent the development of diaper dermatitis - an inflammatory process of the skin in the area of ​​​​its contact with the diaper. It occurs against the background of increased skin moisture with prolonged contact with urine and feces. Keeping a child in wet diapers for a long time is unacceptable! The use of disposable diapers that do not contain gel-forming, moisture-absorbing material does not reduce the likelihood of developing diaper dermatitis.

Children under 12 months are recommended to use a diaper cream containing dexpanthenol.

Preschool girls

Girls in this age group are at high risk of developing vulvitis and vulvovaginitis, which is due to a decrease in the protective biological function of the genitals.

Anatomical and physiological features of the structure of the external genitalia, causing a high frequency of inflammatory processes in girls under 7 years of age:

• weak folding of the mucous membranes;
• incomplete closure of the labia in the posterior regions;
• low estrogen levels;
• neutral or alkaline vaginal environment;
• decreased local immunity;
• predominantly coccal flora of the vagina.

Daily washing should become a habitual ritual for a girl. Up to 5-6 years of age, the procedure is performed by the mother, using a shower (with a soft, diffused beam of water) or a jug. It is recommended to use detergents no more than once a week.

A daily change of underwear is required; physiological leucorrhoea, together with urine, gets on the underwear, irritates delicate skin, provoking the development of inflammatory processes. Be sure to teach the girl to use toilet paper after every trip to the toilet.

Regular bathing continues. In the hot season, regardless of age, the baby needs to be bathed every day, in the winter – once every 2-3 days. The total duration of bathing is up to 10 minutes, soap – 2 times a week. The girl must have individual towels that are washed separately.

In addition to poor personal hygiene, tight underwear and rough toilet paper, pinworms can cause the development of inflammatory processes in the genital area. These are small helminths that parasitize the lower part of the large intestine; at night they crawl out of the intestines and lay eggs in the anus; sometimes they can crawl into the vagina. Antihelminthic therapy is carried out for all girls according to indications.

In girls of any age, special attention should be paid to timely bowel and bladder emptying. A constantly full bladder and chronic constipation also increase the risk of developing vulvitis and vulvovaginitis.