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Vaginitis
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva leading to vulvovaginitis. It is a common problem. Additional recommended knowledge
SignificanceVaginitis may be asymptomatic, but usually leads to significant vaginal itching and irritation so that the patient self-medicates or seeks professional help. If it is caused by an infectious organism such as chlamydia, the infection progress throughout the uterus into the fallopian tubes and ovaries and could lead to infertility. An infection via human papillomavirus (HPV) can eventually increase the risk of cervical carcinoma. SymptomsA woman with this condition may have itching or burning and may notice a discharge. In general, these are symptoms of vaginitis:
CausesVulvovaginitis can affect women of all ages and is very common. Specific forms of vaginitis are: InfectionInfectious vaginitis accounts for 90% of all cases in reproductive age women and is represented by the triad:
Other less common infections are caused by gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, herpes, campylobacter and some parasites.[1] HormonalHormonal vaginitis includes atrophic vaginitis usually found in postmenopausal or postpartum women. Sometimes it can occur in young girls before puberty. In these situations the estrogen support of the vagina is poor. Irritation/allergyIrritant vaginitis can be caused by allergies to condoms, spermicides, soaps, perfumes, douches, lubricants and semen. It can also be caused by hot tubs, abrasion, tissue, tampons or topical medications. Foreign bodyForeign Body Vaginitis: Foreign bodies (most commonly retained tampons or condoms) cause extremely malodorous vaginal discharges. Treatment consists of removal, for which ring forceps may be useful. Further treatment is generally not necessary. Role of STD'sSexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can be a cause of vaginal discharge. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing should be done whenever a sexually active adolescent complains of vaginal discharge even when the cervix appears normal. DischargeThe color of the discharge may be predictive of the causative agent. (ICD-10 codes for causative agents listed below.)
Women who have diabetes frequently develop vaginitis, often Candida Candida albicans more often than women who do not. DiagnosisIt may be useful to measure the PH value as with infections vaginal pH increases. Diagnosis is made with microscopy and culture of the discharge after a careful history and physical examination have been completed. Complications
TreatmentThe cause of the infection determines the appropriate treatment. It may include oral or topical antibiotics and/or antifungal creams, antibacterial creams, or similar medications. A cream containing cortisone may also be used to relieve some of the irritation. If an allergic reaction is involved, an antihistamine may also be prescribed. For women who have irritation and inflammation caused by low levels of estrogen (postmenopausal), a topical estrogen cream might be prescribed. References
See alsoCategories: General practice | Gynecology | Inflammations |
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vaginitis". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |