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Vaginitis is the condition when a woman experiences painful vaginal mucosa inflammation that is mostly associated with irritation and candidiasis, which is an infection caused by fungi of the Candida or Monilia genus. The infection takes place in the vulva of the woman and leads to vulvovaginitis. This is quite a common problem amongst women. Vaginitis can be asymptomatic in nature, but generally it leads to significant vaginal irritation and itching. So, the patient needs to seek professional help or try out self-medication.
If the cause of Vaginitis is any infectious organism like Chlamydia, then the infection advances throughout the uterus of the patient, reaches the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and can give rise to infertility.
Symptoms of Vaginitis
A woman suffering from vaginitis will experience itching or burning sensation and may notice a discharge. The other general symptoms of vaginitis are as follows:
- Inflammation like irritation, swelling, and redness can be caused by the presence of extra immune cells in the perineal, labia minora, or labia majora area.
- Itching and/or irritation may be caused in the genital area
- Foul vaginal odor
- vaginal discharge
- may experience pain or irritation during sexual intercourse
- burning sensation or discomfort when urinating
Causes of Vaginitis
Vaginitis may affect women of all ages and is a very common complication. There are specific forms of Vaginitis that are as follows:
- Infection: 90% of all cases of vaginitis in women of reproductive age is caused due to infectious vaginitis, which can well be represented by the triad: Candidiasis, Trichomoniasis, and Bacterial vaginosis.
- Hormonal: This includes atrophic vaginitis, which is usually found in postpartum or postmenopausal women. It can also occur to young girls before puberty where the estrogen support of the vagina is poor.
- Irritation/Allergy: Irritant vaginitis may be caused by allergies due to the spermicides, condoms, soaps, douches, semen, perfumes, and lubricants. It can also rise from hot tubs, topical medications, tampons, or tissue.
- Foreign Body: This type of vaginitis is caused by foreign bodies like condoms or tampons, causing extremely malodorous discharge from the vagina.
Complications of Vaginitis
The vaginitis complications can be:
- Superficial skin infection caused from scratching
- persistent discomfort
- Complications of the causative condition like candida infection and gonorrhea.
Diagnosis of Vaginitis
Vaginitis can be diagnosed by measuring the pH value because a vaginal infection increases the pH level.
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| Diagnosis can also be made with microscopy and culture of the vaginal discharge of the patient after conducting a careful history and physical examination.
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