Candida vaginitis is a problem for women of childbearing age.

Unfortunately, most women (about 75%) in childbearing age are suffering candidal vaginitis (thrush), which is caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. The disease occurs with severe symptoms of vaginitis or vulvovaginitis. It should be noted that this type of fungi normally lives on the surface of the skin, the mucous membrane of the oral and nasal cavity, the intestines and the vagina. Therefore, approximately 20% of healthy women in the genital tract find fungi of the genus Candida. The pathological increase in the number of fungi is accompanied by inflammation in the vagina. Candida vaginitis is most often diagnosed in young and sexually active girls. Factors that provoke the growth of fungi can be stresses, emotional overexcitation, hypothermia, antibiotics, decreased immunity and pregnancy.

Many specialists do not classify candidal vaginitis in a group of infections that are sexually transmitted. However, you can catch candidal vaginitis from partners whose fungi are localized in the genital tract or in the oral cavity. As a rule, in men, candidal infection does not appear clinically.

Causes of Candidiasis

This pathology is associated with risk factors that provoke vaginal dysbiosis, resulting in intensive growth of yeast fungi. The risk factors include: dysbacteriosis of the genital tract (long-term use of local anesthetics, antibiotics, the use of condoms that contain spermicides, the presence of sexual infections); Violation of the hormonal background (pregnancy, the use of hormonal contraceptives and drugs); Increased blood sugar (excessive consumption of foods containing significant amounts of sugar, diabetes mellitus); Secondary immunodeficiency (long-term use of immunosuppressants, HIV infection, chronic inflammatory diseases, tuberculosis, malignant neoplasms, radioactive irradiation).

Vaginitis candidiasis: symptoms

The acute form of the disease is characterized by pronounced symptoms. Clinical symptoms of the disease manifest in the form of abundant cheesy vaginal discharge. On the surface of the skin and the mucosa of the vulva and vagina, rashes, edema and hyperemia are formed. Patients often complain that in the external genital area they are concerned about the itching and burning sensation that intensifies after sexual intercourse, water procedures or during sleep.

The diagnosis is based on anamnestic data, laboratory tests and clinical examination. Laboratory diagnostics includes microscopy (the smear should be fresh, no more than two hours from taking, the correctness of the method depends on the correctness of selection and preparation of the smear to the study); PH-metry (determination of acidity of vaginal contents). Bacteriological culture of vaginal contents is the most sensitive method of diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis. Using a polymerase chain reaction , yeast fungi can be detected in the smear.

Candida vaginitis: treatment

Gynecologists recommend to follow the rules of personal hygiene, underwear should be cotton, from tight synthetic underwear should be discarded. In the period of menstruation it is better to use hygiene pads, not tampons. Treatment of candidiasis is carried out with the help of antimycotics (antifungal antibiotics: Polizinaks, Klotrimazol, Terzhinan, Flukostat, Kansidas, Flukoral, Klotrimazol), they are applied topically or inward. Before prescribing the drugs, a test for the susceptibility of yeast fungi to antimycotics is mandatory. After 7-10 days, it is necessary to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.