[On the role of virus infection in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginitis in young girls].

The antigens of a number of widely prevalent viruses and changes typical of the cytopathic effect of these viruses were found in the epithelial cells of vaginal secretes in 44 out of 49 examined young girls with protracted forms of vulvovaginite. Mixed virus infection of the vaginal mucosa was diagnosed in 22 girls. More frequently than others, parainfluenza (57.1%) and adenovirus (59.2%) infections were detected in the patients. In girls of the control group, parainfluenza infection was diagnosed in 5.9% and adenovirus infection in 32.3%. Antigens of Coxsackie A and B (16.3%), influenza A2 and B (6.1%) and respiratory syncytial (6.1%) viruses were found in the vaginal mucosa in patients with vulvovaginitis only. A possible role of virus infection in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginitis in childhood is discussed.