What is acute vaginitis?

Gynecological diseases are common diseases among women, and they are relatively serious problems. In life, we should pay attention to the use of medication for treatment, or we should prevent the occurrence of this disease. Well, vaginitis is an inflammatory infection inside the female vagina, which can occur for many reasons. For example, when women wear underwear, they should pay attention to the quality. It is best to wear pure cotton underwear regularly. Acute vaginitis is more difficult to occur. So what is acute vaginitis?

Acute vaginitis refers to acute inflammation caused by infection with certain pathogens. There are many pathogens that cause infection, such as Candida, Trichomonas, bacteria, viruses, etc., which can lead to candidal vaginitis, Trichomonas vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, senile vaginitis, etc.

Clinical manifestations

Clinically, the main clinical features are changes in the nature of leucorrhea and itching and burning pain in the vulva. Pain during sexual intercourse is also common. When the infection involves the urethra, there may be symptoms such as urinary pain and urgency. Common clinical manifestations of different vaginitis are as follows:

1. Bacterial vaginosis

Also known as Gardnerella vaginitis, Haemophilus vaginitis, and Corynebacterium vaginitis, it is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa caused by multiple pathogenic bacteria such as Gardnerella. Pregnant women may experience miscarriage or postpartum endometritis. Severe infection can also lead to sepsis, urinary tract infection, perinephric abscess and cystitis.

(1) Symptoms are more common in sexually active women. 10% to 50% of patients with this disease are asymptomatic, while those with symptoms often complain of gray-yellow leucorrhea with a fishy odor, vaginal burning sensation, and itching.

(2) Physical signs: 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 to 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.

2. Trichomonas vaginitis

(1) Symptoms: Increased leucorrhea, which may be a thin serous fluid, grayish yellow or yellow-green, sometimes mixed with blood, and 20% of leucorrhea contains foam. There is obvious itching and burning in the vulva, and pain during sexual intercourse is also common. When the infection involves the urethral opening, there may be urinary pain, urgency, and even hematuria.

(2) Physical signs Examination of this disease may reveal congestion and edema of the vaginal and cervical mucosa, often with scattered red spots or strawberry-shaped protrusions, and a large amount of leucorrhea in the posterior fornix.

3. Candidal vaginitis

Candidal vaginitis is also known as candidal vaginitis. It is mainly caused by Candida albicans infection. This bacteria normally lives in the vagina, and when the local environmental conditions change, it is easy to get sick and cause inflammation. It is common in pregnant women, diabetic patients and those receiving large amounts of glucocorticoid treatment.

(1) Symptoms The most common symptoms are excessive vaginal discharge and severe burning and itching of the vulva and vagina. If the urethra is affected, there may also be symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating.

(2) Typical signs include curd-like or flaky leucorrhea, severe edema of the vaginal and vestibular mucosa, and a white curd-like film that is distributed in dots or flakes and is easily peeled off. Underneath is a damaged, flushed base that may form ulcers or bruises. In severe cases, the labia minora may swell and become adherent. However, not all leucorrhea has the above typical characteristics. It can range from watery to curd-like leucorrhea. Some are completely thin and clear serous exudates, which often contain white flakes.

4. Senile vaginitis

(1) The main symptoms are increased leucorrhea, which is mostly yellow watery. In severe cases, it may be purulent and have a foul odor, sometimes light blood, and even a small amount of vaginal bleeding may occur. It is often accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and vagina or the vaginal skin is affected by inflammatory secretions, which may cause mild itching.

(2) Physical signs show that the vagina shows senile changes, with disappearance of wrinkles, thinning of the epithelium, and congestion of the mucosa. There are often scattered punctate congestion on the surface. In severe cases, the epithelium may peel off to form superficial ulcers, and the cervix may also have punctate congestion. If senile vaginitis does not heal for a long time, the submucosal connective tissue will become fibrotic, the vaginal elasticity will disappear, and the vagina will become narrow, especially the vault area, making it difficult to expose the cervix.

5. Childhood vaginitis

Purulent discharge may be seen at the vaginal opening. The child cries incessantly due to pain and itching in the vulva, becomes irritable and restless, and often scratches the vulva with his hands. Inspection revealed that the mucous membranes of the vulva, clitoris, urethral orifice, and vaginal orifice were congested and edematous, and purulent secretions were flowing out of the vaginal orifice. In severe cases, ulcers can be seen on the surface of the vulva and adhesions can be seen on the labia minora. The adhered labia minora cover the vaginal opening and urethral opening, leaving only a small hole above and below, through which urine is discharged.

6. Vaginitis during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the body's resistance decreases and the vaginal sugar content increases, making vaginitis more likely to occur, especially Candidal vaginitis. Patients are afraid to take medication for fear of affecting the fetus, which can cause the inflammation to worsen quickly and may cause harm to the fetus or newborns during delivery. Vaginitis during pregnancy must be treated actively.

7. Menstrual vaginitis

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.

8. Honeymoon vaginitis

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 in the vagina and vulva, and redness and swelling of the mucosa.

9. Purulent vaginitis

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.

10. Simple vaginitis

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.

11. Chancroid vaginitis

It is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Streptococcus chancroid, which is transmitted through unclean sexual intercourse. After an incubation period of 1 to 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.

12. Vaginitis during menarche

When adolescent girls have their first menstruation, they abuse unclean sanitary paper, causing the perineum to be contaminated by unclean toilet paper, menstrual belts and tampons, which leads to the breeding and invasion of bacteria and causes vaginitis. The main symptoms of this "menarche" vaginitis are a feeling of heaviness and burning in the perineum, increased vaginal discharge, and even a thin, purulent discharge. Due to the overflow of vaginal secretions, the urethra opening is stimulated, and symptoms such as frequent urination and painful urination may occur. Before going to bed, the patient can wash the perineum and vaginal opening, wipe them dry, and use clean fingers to gently push the sulfamethoxazole into the vagina. It has a good anti-inflammatory effect and generally does not damage the hymen.

13. Allergic vaginitis

The chemical components contained in powder and perfume are very irritating to the vulva and vaginal mucosa, and are more likely to cause allergic reactions and vaginitis and vulvitis. Using foams and bath oils when bathing, these chemicals can easily cause allergic vaginitis. The main symptoms of this type of vaginitis are vaginal itching, redness and swelling of the vaginal and vulvar mucosa, and increased vaginal discharge. Therefore, patients should tell their doctors truthfully about their hidden pains, and doctors can make a correct diagnosis through desensitization tests to avoid misdiagnosis. To treat allergic vaginitis, oral antihistamines are often given, and instructions are given not to use bath oils and foams inside and outside the vagina, and not to apply powder or spray perfume on the vulva to prevent the disease before it occurs.