Vaginal discharge resident survival guide

Vaginal discharge Resident Survival Guide Microchapters
Overview
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Dos
Don'ts

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rinky Agnes Botleroo, M.B.B.S.

Synonyms and keywords:

Overview

This section provides a short and straight to the point overview of the disease or symptom. The first sentence of the overview must contain the name of the disease.

Causes

Non-sexually transmitted infection

• Bacterial vaginosisis mostly happens during the reproductive age of women characterized by a shift in the vaginal flora from the dominant Lactobacillus to a polymicrobial flora.
• Vaginal yeast infection

Sexually transmitted infection

• Chlamydia,sexually transmitted infections.
• Gonorrhea,sexually transmitted infections
• Herpes
• Trichomoniasis,a parasitic infection typically contracted and caused by having unprotected sex

Non-infective causes

Physiological:

• Puberty
• Menstrual Cycle
• Sexual Activity
• Pregnancy
• Menopause

Non-physiological:

• Foreign body vaginitis
• Cervical cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Diabetes
• Drug side effect as antibiotic or steroid use as, Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid , Butoconazole Vaginal Cream , Clotrimazole , Combined oral contraceptive pill, Estradiol Topical , Estradiol Transdermal , Estrogen and Progestin (Oral Contraceptives) ,Estrogen Injection , Estrogen Vaginal , Etonogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring , Glatiramer Injection ,Hormone replacement therapy (trans), Letrozole, Leuprolide , Medroxyprogesterone Injection , Metronidazole Topical ,Miconazole , Nafarelin , Natalizumab injection , Norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system , Ospemifene, Oxcarbazepine , Pramipexole, Progesterone, Tamoxifen , Terconazole Vaginal Cream, Vaginal Suppositories , Toremifene, Zoledronic Acid Injection
• Gynaeocological causes:
  • Atrophic vaginitis or senile vaginitis, it as a result of estrogen deficiency lead to vaginal dryness, itching, irritation, discharge, and dyspareunia.
  • Vulval dermatitis
  • Cervical ectopy

Diagnosis

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the diagnosis of Vaginal discharge.

Patient with history of Vaginal discharge

Take complete history

Record the vitals: ❑ Blood pressure ❑ Temperature ❑ Respiratory rate ❑ Heart rate

Ask the following questions about menstrual history : ❑ Age of menarche ❑Last menstrual period ❑Is the menstrual flow normal? How many pads she has to use in a day? ❑Is there any foul smell or colour change? ❑How many days does the menstrual period stay? ❑Contraceptive history for example oral contraceptives, intrauterine device

Ask the following questions about general health : ❑ Ask about medical and drug history including recent antibiotic use and type of contraceptive use ❑ Assess for the possibility of a foreign body in situ ❑Ask if there was any surgery or instrumentation to the genital region recently ❑Is there any other health conditions like Diabetes Mellitus? ❑ Is there any history of fever, lower abdominal pain?

Ask the following questions about colour, appearance of the discharge

Is the discharge white or cream coloured, resembling cottage cheese?

Yes

No

Check if they have the following complains : ❑ Pruritus ❑ Vaginal Burning, usually with increased vaginal discharge ❑Vague but inoffensive odour ❑Dysuria, dyspareunia in patients with intense scratching and itching that led to skin excoriations ❑ Presence of vulval erythema, fissures

Yes

Ask if the following factors are present

Associated factors: ❑Glycosuria ❑Diabetes Mellitus ❑Obesity ❑Pregnancy ❑Recent use of steroids/ antibiotics/ immunosuppressive agents ❑

Examination of direct vaginal secretions or scrapping from vaginal wall via direct microscopy

When a drop of 10% potassium hydroxide is added, typical myecelis or pseudo hyphae is seen

Candidiasis

Is the discharge greenish?

Yes

No

Check if they have the following complains : ❑ Purulent, frothy discharge ❑ Foul smelling discharge with vulval soreness and irritation, if severe vulval oedema ❑Punctate hemorrhagic area or strawberry cervix is path gnomic ❑Lower abdominal pain anddyspareunia may be seen in patients with long standing infection ❑ Male partners are usually asymptomatic except having penile pruritus after coitus

Associated factors: ❑Multiple sexual partners ❑Increased level sexual activity

Trichomoniasis

Is the discharge thin, homogenous, bubbly?

Yes

No

Check if they have the following complains : ❑ Malodorous, fishy discharge ❑ No itching or discomfort ❑No inflammation of vulva

Associated factors: ❑Vary in intensity during menstrual cycle, worse at mid-cycle and especially after intercourse ❑Partner and children of the patient may complain of odour that may need the use of frequent douches or perfumed bath

Bacterial vaginosis (Gardnerella vaginosis)

Treatment

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the treatment of Vaginal discharge.

Organisms	Recommended Drugs	Alternative drugs
Candidiasis	Clotrimazole/Miconazole 100 mg vaginally QHS for 7 days Or 200 mg vaginally QHS for 3 days Or Clotrimazole 500 mg tab vaginally single dose	Nystatin 1,00,000 unit tab vaginally QHS for 2 weeks
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Dos

• The use of topical azole formulations can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms. This risk should be mentioned to the woman prior to starting these medications.
• Referral to a gynaecologist should be considered if there is a history of recent instrumentation or surgery of the genital tract, retained foreign body, cervical ectopy or polyp, or suspicion of tumour on examination; or in women with symptoms of upper genital tract infection or recurrent vulvovaginal candida infections, pregnant women with abnormal vaginal discharge, or women who have failed routine treatment strategies.

Don'ts

• Patient should be advised to avoid tight-fitting synthetic clothing.
• Patient should be told to avoid local irritants such as perfumed products and soap gels, and vaginal douching.
• There is no clear and consistent evidence across currently published studies regarding the role of probiotics for vaginal health.

References

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