Patient's question:
Recently, the doctor confirmed that I have candidiasis. But when I looked up the information about trichomoniasis, I found that my symptoms are quite similar to it. My vaginal discharge doesn't have a foul odor, but it is abundant and yellow. Is there a foul odor in candidiasis? What is the most fundamental difference between candidiasis and trichomoniasis?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The most common symptoms of candidal vulvovaginitis are external genital itching and a significant increase in vaginal discharge. The itching in patients can vary in intensity, occurring intermittently. The itching caused by candidal vulvovaginitis is generally more pronounced than that caused by trichomoniasis. Severe itching can make it difficult for patients to sit or lie down, causing restlessness and disturbed sleep and appetite. Patients may also experience a burning sensation in the vagina, which is particularly noticeable during urination. In more severe cases, symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination, and dyspareunia (pain during intercourse) may also occur. An increased amount of vaginal discharge is another major symptom of this condition. The discharge is usually viscous and may be white or yellow, or sometimes thin. A typical candidal vulvovaginitis discharge appears like cottage cheese or curd-like. During gynecological examinations, depending on the severity of the condition, the labia minora and vaginal mucosa may show varying degrees of congestion, and the labia minora may be swollen. The vagina may contain a significant amount of viscous discharge, or the vaginal mucosa may be covered with a white membrane. If the membrane is wiped away, the exposed mucosa may appear red, swollen, eroded, or have superficial ulcers.If the symptoms are typical, the diagnosis is not difficult, but laboratory tests should still be conducted for confirmation. The commonly used method is the wet mount test: place a drop of physiological saline or 10% potassium hydroxide solution on a microscope slide, add a small amount of discharge to it, and examine it under a microscope. If pseudohyphae and blastospores are found, it indicates that the Candida is in a pathogenic state, confirming the diagnosis of candidal vulvovaginitis. If the patient's symptoms are suspicious but pseudohyphae are not found on multiple direct microscopic examinations, bacterial culture should be performed.
Trichomoniasis
Some young women may experience itching in the external genitalia and vagina, similar to the sensation of crawling insects, accompanied by a burning or painful sensation. Sometimes, the vaginal discharge may contain blood-stained or purulent secretions. In severe cases, symptoms such as frequent urination may also appear.