Facing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Nursing Care in Women’s Health
Keywords:
Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal, Nursing, Nursing CareAbstract
Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection in women. It is currently one of the most frequent gynecological pathologies, to the point that in Spain, a prevalence of the infection of 27.6% has been observed.
Methodology: A literature search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The terms “candidiasis”, “vulvovaginal”, “nursing”, “nursing care”, and “pregnancy” were used to identify articles published in the last 10 years. The main objective of this review is to analyze the current situation in our country and provide an update on the risk factors, causes, and symptoms of this infection, as well as diagnostic and treatment options. Additionally, the role of nursing staff in the prevention and treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis is described.
Results and discussion: Risk factors for vulvovaginal candidiasis include the use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, diabetes, obesity, and immunosuppression. The most common symptoms are vulvar itching, pain when urinating, vaginal burning, and thick, white vaginal discharge. Diagnosis is based on the patient’s clinical presentation and the detection of yeasts in the vaginal sample. Treatment involves the administration of antifungal agents.
Conclusions: Adequate prevention and treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis are important for women’s health. Nursing staff have a fundamental role in educating and advising women, promoting good intimate hygiene, providing proper follow-up, and administering pharmacological treatment. Early detection and appropriate treatment are fundamental to prevent complications and recurrences of the infection.
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