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Vaginal candidiasis
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
Vaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by the proliferation of the yeast-like fungus Candida. Normally, the opportunistic fungus is present in almost any microflora, its carriers are domestic animals, birds, and food products can be contaminated. Fungal infection settles on any surface of the body (nails, skin, mucous membranes), most often the mucous membranes are affected. Candidal stomatitis and candidal vaginitis occur.
[ Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis
In women, the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are most often discomfort and discharge. Discomfort is caused by the multiplying fungus. Which secretes waste products, which, in turn, irritate the mucous membrane and cause a burning sensation, itching. As a result of irritation of the mucous membrane, cheesy, abundant discharge appears, sometimes with an unpleasant odor, scratches with secondary infection may appear, and a burning sensation may be present in the urethra.
Vaginal candidiasis in children
Candidiasis affects all age groups, for example, vaginal candidiasis in children can be diagnosed at a very early age, which is associated with the transmission of the pathogenic strain from mother to child during birth. Also, childhood vaginal candidiasis manifests itself as a consequence of taking antibiotics and decreased immunity, can be the result of a child's allergy at 2-3 years old, sometimes candidiasis accompanies puberty due to hormonal instability. Vaginal candidiasis in children more often than in adults causes painful urination, itching and burning are felt more acutely, discharge may be absent or colorless with minor cheesy inclusions. In girls, asymptomatic candidiasis carriage, acute, chronic, recurrent and complicated candidiasis occur.
Vaginal candidiasis in women
Among the population, vaginal candidiasis in women is as common as candidiasis in men (the head and foreskin are affected). Fungal infection colonizes the mucous membranes only in the case of decreased immunity and is often a signal of hidden problems in the body. Sexual transmission is not the main route of spread for candidiasis. The provoking factors for the disease are: the presence of chronic infections (including HIV), long-term uncontrolled use of antibiotics, pregnancy, diabetes (and any systemic disease), hormonal instability, stress. As a rule, vaginal candidiasis in women is diagnosed by gynecologists, since many symptoms of the disease are similar to those of sexually transmitted diseases.
If a woman does not seek help and is treated unsystematically, the acute period of candidiasis turns into chronic vaginal candidiasis, which lasts for years. This diagnosis is made in the case of constant manifestations of the disease, which has 4 or more periods of exacerbation per year. Urogenital candidiasis is becoming increasingly difficult to treat, despite the abundance of antifungal agents. The reason may be the deteriorating quality of the habitat, which leads to a decrease in the immunity of entire generations, difficulties in restoring microflora due to the abundance of preservatives and passion for antibacterial agents, due to self-medication, an increase in the incidence of systemic diseases in the population. Chronic vaginal candidiasis changes the quality of life, leads to nervous exhaustion and is becoming increasingly difficult to treat.
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Treatment of vaginal candidiasis
The process of treating vaginal candidiasis must be systemic and consistent. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to establish the causes of the disease. Since with any unspecified cause, treatment of vaginal candidiasis will only lead to the removal of symptoms and the emergence of resistance (addiction) of the fungal culture to drugs. In the case of candidiasis in pregnant women, it is necessary to be aware of the level of risk to the fetus and use drugs only locally. If candidiasis is caused, for example, by HIV infection, then its treatment is impossible without the use of drugs that improve the quality of immunity of HIV-infected people (such as antiretroviral therapy).
If a patient is faced with a choice of how to treat vaginal candidiasis, he should pay attention to such drugs as clotrimazole, nystatin (analogue - polygynax), miconazole (analogue - clion), pimafucin, fluconazole (analogue - flucostat, diflucan, forcan). Almost all of these drugs have both tablet forms and forms for local use (creams, suppositories). It is necessary to remember the need to monitor the state of the intestinal flora and its constant colonization with acidum and bifidum bacteria. Good nutrition and rest, general strengthening treatment are extremely necessary.
Modern treatment of vaginal candidiasis involves the use of such an antifungal drug as fluconazole in a dosage of 150 mg. Taking just one capsule achieves a fairly high concentration of the drug in vaginal discharge for 3 days.
After the restoration of immunity, healthy intestinal microflora and the treated pathogenic strain of Candida fungi, the colonization of the vagina with the necessary lactobacilli can occur independently; in extreme cases, the necessary culture can be added.
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