Yeast infection

About Yeast infection

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is an overgrowth of Candida species — most often C. albicans — in the vagina. It causes itching, burning, external irritation, dyspareunia, and thick white discharge. Risk factors include recent antibiotic use, pregnancy, diabetes, immunosuppression, and hormonal contraception. Diagnosis is often clinical but confirmation with microscopy or PCR is preferred for recurrent or atypical cases. Treatment is a short course of an oral fluconazole or a topical azole; recurrent infection (≥4 per year) warrants longer suppressive therapy and a search for contributing factors.