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How can you care for your child's labial adhesion?
- Don't try to separate the labia yourself.
- Keep the groin area clean and dry. If your child is old enough, teach your child to wipe front-to-back after going to the bathroom.
- Protect the skin in your child's groin area:
- Have your child wear cotton underpants during the day.
- Wash your child's underpants in nondetergent laundry soap. Don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets.
- Don't give your child bubble baths. The soap can irritate the skin.
- If your doctor has prescribed a prescription cream, follow the doctor's directions about how often to apply it and how long to use it.
- After the labia separate, use petroleum jelly or a diaper rash cream for 1 to 2 months. This helps keep the labia lips from joining again. For infants and toddlers, use the jelly or cream with each diaper change. For older children, use it once a day.
Labial adhesion in children: When to call
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has symptoms of a urinary infection, such as:
- Blood or pus in the urine.
- Pain (for example, constant squirming and irritability, complaining of burning or pain when urinating).
- A fever.
- Your child has vaginal discharge. This can be a sign of infection.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- There is no change in the adhesion after several weeks.
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