What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis?

Patient's question:

What are the differences between trichomoniasis and candidiasis?

Doctor's answer:

Hello, please refer to: Trichomoniasis
Clinical manifestations］
This disease has a higher incidence in young and middle-aged women. Symptoms of vaginitis and vulvitis appear after a latent period of 4 to 28 days.
1) Increased vaginal discharge, which is the most prominent symptom. The discharge is usually yellowish-white, creamy-white, or grayish-yellow, occasionally purulent yellow-green, often foamy, thin in consistency, with a foul odor, and may contain blood streaks when the condition is severe.
2) Examination reveals congestion, inflammation, swelling, and a bright red appearance of the vaginal and cervical mucosa, with pseudomembranous spots, bleeding points, and strawberry-like elevations. A large amount of purulent foamy discharge can be observed in the posterior fornix.
3) The discharge spreads from the vaginal opening to the vulva, irritating the vulvar area and causing trichomoniasis-related vulvitis, characterized by itching and burning sensation in the vulva and vaginal opening. Sometimes, the irritation is unbearable, even leading to pain in the vaginal opening. Patients may scratch the vulva, resulting in secondary eczematous changes, with local erosion, exudation, crusting, and scratch marks.
4) Lower abdominal pain often accompanies the condition, and pain during intercourse may occur.
5) If the vaginal trichomonads in the female urethra or bladder, symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, and hematuria may appear.
6) A small number of women with trichomonads in the vagina but without symptoms are called carriers (accounting for 10%); some patients may gradually lose symptoms over time and become carriers. Therefore, checking for vaginal trichomonads should be a routine procedure in STD clinics.
7) Trichomoniasis-related vaginitis can lead to infertility.
The clinical manifestations of candidal vaginitis mainly include the following two aspects:
　　1) Increased vaginal discharge: The discharge is white, yellowish-water-like, or purulent, containing white clumps.