Thrush
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (also known as vaginal thrush) can affect all types of women at any age, but many who have suffered more than once may opt for self-treatment with a pharmacy product. Therefore the patients that are likely to come to you with this problem may be first-time sufferers or patients with recurrent or persistent symptoms. They may also have associated risk factors such as pregnancy, poorly controlled diabetes, compromised immunity, or debilitation.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis may be classified as uncomplicated or complicated.
Uncomplicated vulvovaginal candidiasis is:1
- Sporadic or infrequent
- Mild to moderate
- Likely to be due to Candida albicans
- NOT associated with risk factors such as pregnancy, poorly controlled diabetes, compromised immunity, or debilitation.
Complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis includes:1
- Recurrent infection — four or more documented episodes in 1 year, with at least partial resolution of symptoms between episodes.
- Severe infection — extensive vulval erythema, oedema, excoriation, and fissure formation.
- Infection with yeasts other than Candida albicans.
- Infection during pregnancy.
- Infection in immunocompromised women — with debilitating medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, or who are taking systemic corticosteroid treatment.
Reference
- CDC (2006) Diseases characterized by vaginal discharge. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines 2006. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 55(RR-11), 49-56.