Background/Objective: Candidiasis is a very common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge all over the world. Some of the affected patients may be asymptomatic. The symptoms range from mild to severe clinical manifestations. Most of the affected symptomatic patients present with abnormal vaginal discharge, pruritus and dyspareunia. Although it is considered a sexually transmitted disease because it is sexually transmissible, it can also affect those who have no sexual experience. There is no record of the prevalence and clinical manifestations of Candidiasis among patients with Vulvovaginitis that have visited our hospital previously; we decided to put the records straight by researching on it.
Material and methods: One hundred female patients who presented to various clinics in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with symptoms suggestive of Vulvovaginitis were sent for high vaginal swab test in our Medical Microbiology laboratory. The swabs were collected; microscopy, culture and gram staining were done using standardized methods.
Results: Out of the 100 patients with Vulvovaginitis, 30(30%) had Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Majority of the patients had abnormal vaginal discharge and pruritus while the least number reported symptoms consistent with dyspareunia.
Conclusion: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis is a common infection among women. Some of the affected women may be asymptomatic but may still transmit the infection. Though lower than what obtains in some other settings the prevalence of 30%, is still significant.
Key words: Candidiasis, Vulvovaginitis, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Dyspareunia
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