Objective:
To describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with Candida spp. vaginitis at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology.
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study using consecutive sampling was conducted on 206 women from August 2025 to May 2026. Diagnosis was confirmed based on clinical symptoms and positive wet mount results. Laboratory tests included wet mount microscopy, Gram staining for Nugent scoring, and species identification via culture on specialized media.
Results:
The mean age was 33.5 ± 10.7 years. A history of vaginitis was reported in 96.1% of cases. The most common symptoms were abnormal vaginal discharge (82.0%), vulvovaginal itching (81.6%), and vaginal burning (70.4%). Milky-white discharge was the most frequently observed sign (71.6%). The mean Nugent score was 4.8 ± 1.6, with the intermediate group accounting for 64.1%. Candida albicans was the predominant species (70.4%), followed by Candida glabrata (13.6%).
Conclusion:
Candida vaginitis mainly affects reproductive-aged women, presenting predominantly with itching and abnormal discharge. While C. albicans remains the leading cause, the significant proportion of non-albicans species warrants consideration in practice.