Vaginal candidiasis

• Infection of the vagina caused by the yeastlike fungus Candida, more specifically candida albicans.
• Symptoms include, pain, itching, redness, and white patches in the vaginal wall.
• It can occur in all women, but it is especially common in women with HIV infection.
• The usual treatment is a cream applied locally to the vagina.
• Women with HIV infection may experience frequent re=occurrence of symptoms and may require systemic medications in order to treat these symptoms successfully.

Vaginal wet mount of candidal vulvovaginitis

Pathophysiology

• Candida normally lives inside the body (in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina) and on skin without causing any problems.
• Sometimes Candida can multiply and cause an infection if the environment inside the vagina changes in a way that encourages its growth. Candidiasis in the vagina is commonly called a “vaginal yeast infection.” Other names for this infection are “vaginal candidiasis,” “vulvovaginal candidiasis,” or “candidal vaginitis.”

Symptoms

Candida albicans

The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis include:

• Vaginal itching or soreness
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain or discomfort when urinating
• Abnormal vaginal discharge

Although most vaginal candidiasis is mild, some women can develop severe infections involving redness, swelling, and cracks in the wall of the vagina.

Risk & Prevention

Vaginal candidiasis is common, though more research is needed to understand how many women are affected. Women who are more likely to get vaginal candidiasis include those who:

• Are pregnant
• Use hormonal contraceptives
• Have diabetes
• Have a weakened immune system
• Are taking or have recently taken antibiotics

Prevention

• Wearing cotton underwear might help reduce the chances of getting a yeast infection.
• Because taking antibiotics can lead to vaginal candidiasis, take these medicines only when prescribed and exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.

Sources

• Scientists estimate that about 20% of women normally have Candida in the vagina without having any symptoms.
• Sometimes, Candida can multiply and cause an infection if the environment inside the vagina changes in a way that encourages its growth.
• This can happen because of hormones, medicines, or changes in the immune system.

Diagnosis & Testing

• It is usually diagnosed by taking a small sample of vaginal discharge to be examined under a microscope in the medical office or sent to a laboratory for a fungal culture.
• However, a positive fungal culture does not always mean that Candida is causing symptoms because some women can have Candida in the vagina without having any symptoms.

Treatment

• Vaginal candidiasis is usually treated with antifungal medicine.3 For most infections, the treatment is an antifungal medicine applied inside the vagina or a single dose of fluconazole taken by mouth.
• Other treatments may be needed for infections that are more severe, that don’t get better, or that keep coming back after getting better.
• These treatments include more doses of fluconazole taken by mouth or other medicines applied inside the vagina, such as boric acid, nystatin, or flucytosine.

Statistics

• Vaginal candidiasis is common.
• In the United States, it is the second most common type of vaginal infection after bacterial vaginal infections.
• An estimated 1.4 million outpatient visits for vaginal candidiasis occur annually in the United States.
• The number of vaginal candidiasis cases in the United States is unknown.

Also see

• Candidiasis.

Vaginal candidiasis Resources
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