Book contents
- The Vulva
- The Vulva
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Glossary
- Chapter 1 The Basics
- Chapter 2 Using Topical Steroids on the Vulva
- Chapter 3 Red Vulval Rashes
- Chapter 4 Things That Look White
- Chapter 5 Things That Ulcerate, Blister and Erode
- Chapter 6 Persistent Vaginitis
- Chapter 7 Lumps: Benign and Malignant
- Chapter 8 Vulval Pain and Dyspareunia
- Chapter 9 Vulval Disease in Children
- Chapter 10 Myths and Pearls
- Index
Chapter 10 - Myths and Pearls
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 August 2023
- The Vulva
- The Vulva
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Glossary
- Chapter 1 The Basics
- Chapter 2 Using Topical Steroids on the Vulva
- Chapter 3 Red Vulval Rashes
- Chapter 4 Things That Look White
- Chapter 5 Things That Ulcerate, Blister and Erode
- Chapter 6 Persistent Vaginitis
- Chapter 7 Lumps: Benign and Malignant
- Chapter 8 Vulval Pain and Dyspareunia
- Chapter 9 Vulval Disease in Children
- Chapter 10 Myths and Pearls
- Index
Summary
In chronic vulvitis, chronic thrush represents the minority (about 20%) of all cases. Many patients tell us that their doctor prescribed anti-fungal medication without either examining them or taking a vaginal swab.
Multiple courses of anti-fungals should not be given without confirmation of candidiasis on vaginal culture. Particularly for patients with chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis, the length of time that the patient needs to be withdrawn from such agents before vaginal culture is positive again can be many weeks. We therefore strongly recommend that patients always have a vaginal swab before any treatment is commenced.
The complication is that in many cases of genuine candidiasis, swabs are negative, mostly due to anti-fungal use. In this scenario, history taking is key.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The VulvaA Practical Handbook for Clinicians, pp. 147 - 158Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023