Role of vaginal candidosis in abnormal discharge

ABSTRACT

255 women were recruited in this study; 225 presented with abnormal vaginal discharge and/or pruritis, burning and dysparuenia, the rest were asymptomatic and clinically free. High vaginal swabs taken and streaked immediately on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Vaginal candidosis ascertained by culture morphology and biochemical tests, was detected in 40.8% of symptomatic cases and in 16.6% of asymptomatic cases, the difference was statistically significant [P < 0.01]. The group of vaginal candidosis did not differ significantly from the whole symptomatic group in age or parity distribution. But they presented more in the luteal phase [66.1%] than in the follicular phase [P < 0.05]. The typical picture of candidal vulvo-vaginitis was detected in only 5.22% of patients. Candida albicans was the commonest species isolated from both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Torulopsis glabrata was isolated from 4.3% of symptomataic cases but not from asymptomatic cases