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Vaginitis
Vaginitis is an infection of the vagina usually caused by a fungus. 90
percent of these infections are caused by Candida albicans.. Women who have diabetes may develop vaginitis more often
than women who do not have diabetes. Please see
candidiasis for more
information.
Symptoms and diagnosis
A woman with this condition may have itching or burning and may notice
a discharge.
- Itching
- Irritation
- Burning
- Dypareunia
- Abnormal discharge
Findings include:
- Erythema of vulva and/or vagina
- Swelling of labia minora
- Vaginal thrush
- Normal pH
- Hyphae/blastospores on microscopy
- Positive fungal culture
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis
It is not known why some women experience recurrent infections.
Chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis is term denoting more than four
episodes a year. Several theories exist as to why this happens in
some women. One theory proposes that re-infection of the vagina
occurs from an intestinal reservoir, another theory assumes that
small numbers of the organism remain in the vagina. The sexual
transmission theory views an untreated partner as the source of the
reinfection.
Treatment
Candidiasis should be treated with
antifungal medication.
If indicated, an underlying reason should be looked for. Following the health tips at vulvovaginal health can help prevent
vaginal candidiasis. Local treatment may include vaginal suppositories or medicated
douches.
In patients with recurrent candidiasis, treatment consists of
therapy based on a positive fungal culture, corroborated by a
negative follow-up culture. This results in resolution of symptoms
approximately 90 percent of the time.
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