Aphthous Vulvar Ulcers in Adolescent Girls: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Aphthous vulvar ulcers are painful ulcerations on the genital mucosa frequently accompanied by systemic symptoms. They are most commonly reported in young women and adolescents without a history of sexual contact. Diagnosis is made by exclusion of more common causes, and treatment for this self-limited condition is mainly symptomatic. Objective: Clinicians should be aware of this rare condition to avoid misdiagnoses and unwarranted investigations into sexual abuse or false accusations of sexual activity. Methods: We report a case of an 11-year-old girl with systemic symptoms and vulvar ulcers of unknown etiology. Results: The patient's illness was consistent with previous reports that vulvar ulcers can occur without sexual transmission or a documented infectious cause. Conclusion: A lack of general knowledge regarding this entity may lead to its exclusion from the differential diagnosis of vulvar ulcers in this patient population. Aphthous ulcers should be strongly considered in any adolescent with vulvar ulcers.