Dear Colleagues,

Pediatric and adolescent gynecology is an emerging specialty at the intersection of pediatrics, pediatric endocrinology, gynecology, genetics, pediatric surgery, dermatology, public health medicine, psychiatry and sexology. It thus addresses a wide spectrum of diseases from the newborn period to adolescence.

From the point of view of child and adolescent gynecology, too, it is important to underscore that the protection of female genital organs against infections throughout a woman's life depends on the complementarity of the following local defense factors:

- mechanical (hymen, adherence of the vaginal walls in girls and non-comorbid women)
- biochemical (acidic pH in women throughout the menstrual cycle)
- biological (immune bodies, protein-zinc complexes, lysozyme)
- bacterial (lactobacilli producing acidic products from carbohydrates, especially glycogen)

Inflammations of the genitals affect both the lower and upper segment (vulva, vagina, lower cervix) and the uterus, appendages, and the parametrium.

Etiological factors of genital inflammation include:

a. endogenous factors:

- hypoestrogenism
- atrophic changes
- dermatosis
- avitaminosis
- psychosis
- systemic diseases (e.g. diabetes)

b. exogenous factors:

- abiotic (mechanical, thermal, chemical, hygiene)
- biotic (bacteria, viruses, fungi, chlamydia, protozoa, pinworms, etc.)

Adolescents appear to be a perfect target group for sexually transmitted diseases. Problems of vulvovaginal infections in girls during childhood and adolescence will be addressed in this Special Issue.

Dr. Grażyna Jarząbek-Bielecka and Dr. Katarzyna Plagens-Rotman
Guest Editors