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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Female -- Vaginal Discharge/Infections > Thrush at 12?
Posted on: 06/16/2010
Question
My Daughter Georgina is 12 and is complaining of an itchy vagina, quite deep. She is not sexualy active and is very clean. Is it possible for her to have thrush at this age?
Answer
You are probably asking if a 12 year old can get a yeast infection in the vagina, like older females. The answer is yes. Girls even younger can. It has nothing to do with sexual activity or touching, etc. It has everything to do with the vaginal environment. The same things that can cause vaginal yeast infections in women can happen in girls -- physical stressors, illness.
But in young girls, often the most common cause is cleanliness. Sometimes girls just don't wipe well when they use the bathroom. Also things like taking bubble baths or overcleaning the area with soap can cause irritation or strip the good bacteria. The best way to clean the outside genital area in any female (young or old) is just plain water! Soap is too harsh for this sensitive area.
The good thing about the yeast infections in younger girls is that they to tend to clear up on their own. If you are concerned that it's not going away, take your child to her doctor to get checked out. And FYI: we typically use the term "thrush" for oral yeast/fungal infections but not other sites in the body...
But in young girls, often the most common cause is cleanliness. Sometimes girls just don't wipe well when they use the bathroom. Also things like taking bubble baths or overcleaning the area with soap can cause irritation or strip the good bacteria. The best way to clean the outside genital area in any female (young or old) is just plain water! Soap is too harsh for this sensitive area.
The good thing about the yeast infections in younger girls is that they to tend to clear up on their own. If you are concerned that it's not going away, take your child to her doctor to get checked out. And FYI: we typically use the term "thrush" for oral yeast/fungal infections but not other sites in the body...