Hello and welcome to the zero to finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be

talking to you about candidiasis. And you can find written notes on this topic at zero definals.com

slash candidiasis or in the genitone urinary medicine section of the zero definals obstetrics and gynecology book.

So let's get straight into it.

Viginal candidiasis is commonly referred to as thrush.

It refers to a vaginal infection with a yeast of the candida family.

The most common is candida albacans.

Candida may colonize the vagina without causing any symptoms. It then progresses to infection when

the right environment occurs, for example during pregnancy or after treatment with broad

spectrum antibiotics that alter the vaginal flora.

Let's talk about the risk factors for vaginal candidiasis. These include pregnancy, poorly controlled

diabetes, immunosuppression, for example using corticosteroids, and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Let's talk about the presentation.

The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are a thick white discharge that does not typically smell,

and vulval and vaginal itching, irritation or discomfort.

More severe infection can lead to erythema or redness, fissures, which are small cracks or

breaks in the skin, edema, pain during sex, which is called dysparanunia, disuria which is painful urination,

and excoriation, which is scratches from itching.

Next let's talk about the investigations.

Often treatment for candidiasis can be started empirically based on the presentation without any investigations.

Testing the vaginal pH using a swab and pH paper can be helpful in differentiating between bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, where the pH will be above 4.5, and

candidiasis, where the pH will be less than 4.5. A charcoal swab with microscopy can confirm the

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