Vaginal Candidiasis

Women are more prone for getting candidiasis as the mucosa of the vagina and the secretions produced  by it provide an ideal environment for the growth of candida. Virtually all the sexually active women's may have candidial infection in there life time. In roughly about 13% of all women's candida albicans will be a part of healthy vagina
The most common causes of having this infection are:

• Sexual Intercourse- As women's vagina provide a wider surface area as compered to men.
• Pregnancy predispose candidial infecion.
• Hospitalization- It could occur as nosocomial infection that is acquired infection as a result of hospital stay.
• Use of intrauterine devices such as loops, copper T etc.
• Use of Oral Contraceptives.

Diagnosis- The diagnosis is mainly done by history of itching and physical examination by either a gynaecologist or a dermatologist.
Alternatively one slide is prepared by taking a specimen from vagina and either a KOH mount is done or a Grams staining is done and candida is demonstrated.
Treatment:

• A single dose of 150mg of Fluconazole is effective, or
• Cotrimazole could be used 
• Along with this Cotrimazole vaginal gel could be used.
• Topical corticosteroids like betamethasone could be used for control of itching and burning
• Pheneramine could be used in pregnancy for control of itching safely 
• Topical Tacrolimas can be used for treatment of pruritis.