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Management of Patients with Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

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Abstract

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is by no means uncommon and is a source of considerable physical discomfort in addition to serving as a major therapeutic challenge. The syndrome is multifactorial in aetiology and hence management strategies must recognise the complex aetiological pathways. Many women receiving the misplaced diagnosis of RVVC have a variety of other infectious and non-infectious entities presenting with identical symptoms. Hence the first step in management is confirming the diagnosis of RVVC including microbial confirmation and species identification. Efforts should be made to identify and correct a causal mechanism. Maintenance suppressive azole anti-fungal regimens are highly effective in controlling symptoms, although cure is less common. Further advances in achieving higher cure rates await the availabilityof non-azole fungicidal agents.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this manuscript. The author has no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jack D. Sobel.

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Sobel, J.D. Management of Patients with Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Drugs 63, 1059–1066 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200363110-00002

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