What are the most common types of vaginitis?

Due to the anatomical and biochemical characteristics of normal healthy women, the vagina has a natural defense function against the invasion of pathogens. When the natural defense function of the vagina is damaged, pathogens can easily invade and cause vaginal inflammation. Due to estrogen deficiency, young girls and postmenopausal women have a thin vaginal epithelium, reduced intracellular glycogen content, and a vaginal pH of around 7. Therefore, the vaginal resistance is low and they are more susceptible to infection than adolescents and women of childbearing age. Classification of vaginitis

1. Infant vaginitis

It is more common in infants and young children aged 1-5 years. Vaginitis is often caused by sitting or crawling on the ground or the entry of foreign objects. The pathogen can also be transmitted through the sick child's mother or washing products. The basis for judging this type of vulvar inflammation is redness and swelling of the vulva, watery vaginal discharge, and vulvar itching.

Senile vaginitis, also known as atrophic vaginitis, is a nonspecific vaginitis. It often occurs in postmenopausal women, but it can also occur in women who have had bilateral oophorectomy or are breastfeeding.

The main symptoms are increased vaginal discharge, which is yellow watery or purulent and has a foul odor. When the infection is severe, vaginal bleeding may occur, as well as a heaving pain and a burning sensation in the vagina. If the vestibule and mucosa around the urethral orifice are affected, frequent urination and painful urination often occur.

The main reasons are the decline of ovarian function, decreased or lack of estrogen levels in the body, reduced glycogen in vaginal epithelial cells, alkaline pH in the vagina, and reduced ability to kill pathogens. At the same time, due to the atrophy of the vaginal mucosa, thin epithelium and insufficient blood supply, the resistance of the vagina is reduced, making it easier for bacteria to invade and multiply, causing inflammatory lesions. In addition, poor personal hygiene habits and nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiency of B vitamins, may be related to the onset of the disease.

Gardnerella vaginitis, also known as Haemophilus vaginitis, was previously classified as Corynebacterium vaginitis. It is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa caused by Gardnerella and can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Therefore, it is classified as a sexually transmitted disease.

Most infections caused by Gardnerella are mild and occur more frequently in sexually active women. In the acute phase, the amount of leucorrhea increases, and it has a fishy or ammonia odor. The vulva becomes damp and uncomfortable, often accompanied by a burning sensation in the vagina, pain during sexual intercourse, and vulvar itching.

The main symptoms are redness and swelling of the vulva, congestion of the vaginal mucosa, gray-red color, mild redness and swelling, and the secretions are mostly homogeneous, thin, gray-white, sometimes milky yellow or green, and have a fishy odor. The vaginal pH is usually 5-5.5. Sometimes the amount of leucorrhea is small, and there is only a thin layer, like a membrane covering the congested vaginal wall. A small number of patients have erythema or ecchymosis on the vaginal wall, which may cause miscarriage or postpartum endometritis in pregnant women. Severe infections may also lead to sepsis, urinary tract infection, perinephric abscess and cystitis.

It is mostly caused by not paying attention to menstrual hygiene during menstruation, especially using unclean menstrual products, which causes the vulva to be contaminated by unclean objects. Symptoms include a feeling of heaviness and burning in the perineum and increased vaginal discharge.

More common in newly married women. It is mainly caused by not paying attention to the hygiene of sexual organs and sexual life. Symptoms include increased leucorrhea, itching and pain inside and outside the vagina, and redness and swelling of the mucosa.

It is more common in women with vaginal tears or birth injuries. Symptoms include increased leucorrhea, which is yellow and pus-like with a fishy smell, burning and pain in the vagina, and redness and swelling of the mucosa.

The most likely causes of simple vaginitis are postpartum or abortion injuries, long-term use of pessaries and other mechanical stimulation, or infection with purulent bacteria. In addition, frequent irritation of the vaginal mucosa by infectious secretions from the uterus or cervix can also cause simple vaginitis.

Trichomonas vaginitis is a common gynecological disease caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellate. During pregnancy and before and after menstruation, the vaginal pH increases (pH is close to neutral), which can increase the infection rate and incidence of Trichomonas vaginalis. The most suitable pH value for the survival environment of Trichomonas vaginalis is 5.5-6. When the pH value is below 4.5 or above 7.5, its reproduction can be completely inhibited. It can be transmitted directly to women through male carriers during sexual intercourse, indirectly through baths and swimming pools, and indirectly through medical devices.

Candidal vaginitis is caused by infection with Candida albicans, a type of fungus. Unlike Trichomonas, this type of Candida grows particularly easily in an acidic environment and is generally transmitted through contact.

Atrophic vaginitis occurs because the epithelium becomes thinner, secretions decrease, and resistance decreases, which are insufficient to resist the invasion of vaginal bacilli (which change from normal bacilli to conditional pathogens due to environmental changes), resulting in bacterial inflammation.

It is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Streptococcus chancroid, which is transmitted through unclean sexual intercourse. After an incubation period of about 1-5 days, one or several small red papules appear on the labia majora and minora, which quickly rupture and expand into ulcers the size of soybeans or larger. The base is soft, dirty, and contains a lot of pus. There is obvious pain and it gradually expands.