Vaginal bleeding in an infant secondary to sliding inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND

Vaginal bleeding in infancy is rare and, to our knowledge, has not been reported in association with an inguinal hernia.

CASE

A premature infant with a known reducible inguinal hernia developed vaginal bleeding at 8 months. Work-up revealed no coagulopathy and no endocrine abnormality. Physical examination and ultrasound found no anatomic lesion responsible for her bleeding. At surgery, she was found to have an indirect hernia in which the uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary were sliding components. Her vaginal bleeding ceased after herniorrhaphy.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal bleeding in a child with an inguinal hernia may occur when the uterus is a sliding component of the hernia.