CHRONIC VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS: AN OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis represents the second most common cause of vaginal disease. It is estimated that around 75% of women of reproductive age have had an episode of candidal vulvovaginitis and 40-45% have had it recurrently, of which 10-20% have the complicated form. The type of candida most frequently isolated in the vagina of symptomatic women is Candida albicans, however cases of non-albicans Candida have also been identified, particularly the tropicalis and glabrata types, which are generally resistant to common therapies. The classification of vulvovaginal candidiasis proposed by Sobel, and already universally approved, provides for 2 clinical forms of vulvovaginal candidiasis, uncomplicated candidal vulvovaginitis (VVC) and complicated candidal vulvovaginitis (VVCC), which differ by pathogenesis, clinical picture elapsed time, symptoms and frequency. This study will address the main characteristics of this disease, in addition to its management.