Differential Diagnosis for Vaginal Bleeding in a 5-Day-Old
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Vaginal bleeding due to hormonal withdrawal: This condition occurs due to the withdrawal of maternal hormones (estrogen and progesterone) after birth, which the baby was exposed to in utero. It's a common and usually benign condition in newborns.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Physical trauma: Accidental injury during delivery or postnatal handling could cause vaginal bleeding.
- Infection: Bacterial or fungal infections can lead to inflammation and bleeding in the vaginal area.
- Urogenital anomalies: Congenital abnormalities of the urogenital tract might cause bleeding.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Child abuse: Although rare, it's crucial to consider non-accidental injury as a cause of vaginal bleeding in a newborn.
- Tumor or cyst: Rarely, a tumor or cyst in the genital area could cause bleeding.
- Coagulopathy: Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia or vitamin K deficiency bleeding, could present with vaginal bleeding, among other symptoms.
Rare Diagnoses
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: This is a group of inherited disorders that affect the adrenal glands, potentially leading to hormonal imbalances and, in some cases, genital bleeding.
- Vaginal foreign body: Although extremely rare in a 5-day-old, the presence of a foreign object in the vagina could cause bleeding.
- Genital tract malformations with complications: Certain malformations might lead to complications such as bleeding, though these are rare and often associated with other symptoms.