My two year old daughter has been getting alot of rashes on her labia, and inside her vagina area, she won't let anyone touch her down there, even to clean her when bathing, or to wipe her after she goes potty. She is potty trained, she hates having underwear and pants on, and every time I look at her she seems to be playing with herself. Is it normal for a two year old to not let anyone touch her down there to this extent, she's been acting like this and started getting rashes around when she turned 18 months old. I'm concerned that somone may be doing this to her, but I'm hoping that its just normal 2 year old curiosity. Has any one else expierenced anything like this? Help!! Please. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Is there any other unusual behavior, i.e. behavior probs or personality changes? I can't tell you definitely no, no one has done something to her. However it is normal for her to enjoy nakedness and to touch herself--it's no different than when babies explore their hands and feet. Maybe she doesn't want anyone else to touch her because the rash is making it sore. Wiping with dry toilet paper may be irritating, and bathwater along with any soap or bublebath or whatever may make it painful to be cleaned. Could any detergents or soaps be causing the rash? Maybe she doesn't want anyone to touch her because you have taught her it's her body and no one else should touch her there, and she's protecting herself, but she doesn't understand that it's ok for her mommy and daddy to help her clean herself, or she's discovering independence and doesn't want help. I hope these explanations are close to the truth, but if you have ANY suspicions that something else may be going on, don't ignore them.

It sounds to me like your daughter has a yeast infection. It is not uncommon for children this age to get them, especially if they have been treated with antibiotics. The rashes are the big give away. Just like a baby with thrush, an older child can get candida rashes on their genitals. Add to the rashes the constant touching, and it sounds like a yeast infection. Get her doctor to check her. Diflucan oral has been approved for pediatric use, so you wont have to worry about trying to get cream in places you would rather not go.

In the mean time, you can try miconazole cream (like the stuff that comes with a yeast infection kit) and just gently put it on the area like you would diaper cream. If that helps, the it is almost positive that her problem is a yeast infection.

Just so you dont feel alone in this, My 20 month old recently developed a yeast infection (or perhaps she has had it for a while and I just recently noticed it) and she is always touching herself and saying "owie!"

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Angel, et al