gynecology and obstetrics
Candidal Vaginitis
Diagnosis of Candidal Vaginitis
Pelvic examination Vaginal pH and microscopy Culture, if vaginitis is persistent or recurrent Criteria for diagnosing candidal vaginitis include Typical discharge (a thick, white, curd-like vaginal discharge) Vaginal pH is<4.5 Budding yeast, pseudohyphae, or mycelia visible on a wet mount, especially with potassium hydroxide (KOH) If symptoms suggest candidal vaginitis but signs (including vulvar irritation) are absent and microscopy does not detect fungal elements, fungal culture is done. Women with frequent recurrences require culture to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out non-albicansCandida. Also, some diagnostic tests are commercially available for clinical use ( Diagnosis reference ). 1.Schwebke JR, Gaydos CA, Nyirjesy P, et al: Diagnostic performance of a molecular test versus clinician assessment of vaginitis.J Clin Microbiol56 (6):e00252-18, 2018. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00252-18 