If there are no allegations of sexual harassment, it is inappropriate to draw a firm judgment about the potential presence of STDs in a 6-year-old child in this case. As a result, several methods are employed to investigate the reason behind the yellow vaginal discharge. Little girls’ vaginal discharge may not be cause for great concern because it can be brought on by chemicals, detergents, lotions, and sprays that may irritate the vagina. It is common for young infants to occasionally experience odorless vaginal discharge that is white, clear, or slightly yellow. On the other hand, a prolonged vaginal discharge in a young child may suggest an infection.
What are the key points in the history and physical examination?
        Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are closely associated with yellow vaginal discharge, particularly in sexually active persons who do not engage in safe sexual activity. It is not very concerning if the discharge is odorless, pale yellow, and absent from other symptoms. A bacterial infection or symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can occasionally be the source of yellow vaginal discharge (Burns et al., 2017). Women may have a variety of vaginal discharges during the menstrual cycle. Certain discharges, based on their texture and odor along with other symptoms, are normal, while others point to a medical issue. Variations in vaginal consistency and odor help identify the type of vaginal discharge experienced depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle. The causes of the colorless, pale-yellow discharge may become apparent close to the time of menstruation. The vaginal discharge that appears brownish-yellow right after the menstrual period is very important. The hue is from the blood in menstruation. Vaginal discharge that is foamy, pungent, greenish, or yellowish is a sign of trichomoniasis (Fitzgerald, 2017). This is a sexually transmitted infection that may have additional symptoms. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two other STI causes that frequently result in yellow vaginal discharge but have no symptoms. According to Hasan and Ocviyanti (2015), the pelvic inflammatory illness results in yellow vaginal discharge, irregular periods, spotting all over, nausea, and a high fever. The yellowish and fishy odor associated with bacterial vaginosis is a result of an imbalance of natural bacteria in the vagina brought on by frequent intercourse or douche use.
How would your approach differ if the patient were a sexually active 16-year-old?
         A child with yellow vaginal discharge and a sexually active girl would undoubtedly require different examination techniques. The person who is sexually active offers a clear comprehension of the potential causes, such the STI contraction. To pinpoint the precise origin of the discharge, STI screening is crucial if the patient is exhibiting additional symptoms in addition to a smelly vaginal discharge. Since STIs will be ruled out if the child has not experienced sexual assault and the proper methods are utilized to determine the origin of the discharge, the juvenile girl’s approach has limited criteria to conclude on the precise cause of the yellow vaginal discharge.
What are similarities and differences in the approach?
         The similarity between the approaches is that both the youngsters and the sexually active female may experience vaginal discharge due to infection. The etiology of both cases can be ascertained by looking at the consistency, color, and smell of the vaginal discharge together with other symptoms. The female who engages in sexual activity is more likely to contract STIs than children, which is a substantial difference. The menstrual cycle stage should be closely examined to rule out this as the true source of the yellow vaginal discharge.