Prevalence of HIV among women with vaginal discharge in a gynecological clinic.
OBJECTIVE
Vaginal discharge is a common complaint among women with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Nigeria. Given the association between STDs and HIV and the alarming rise in the prevalence of HIV in Nigeria, we performed this study to determine the prevalence of HIV in patients with vaginal discharge.


METHODS
Between April 2000 and August 2000, women who attended the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and complained of vaginal discharge were adequately counseled for HIV serotest. High vaginal/endocervical swabs and venous blood were taken for microbiological studies and HIV serotest, respectively.


RESULTS
Out of the 230 women counseled for HIV serotest 140 (60.9%) consented. The mean age of the 140 was 31.1+/-6.9 years (range 18-50 years). In 31 (22.1%), Candida albicans was isolated, in 26 Gardnerella vaginalis (18.8%), in 17 Staphylococcal spp. (12.1%); and E. coli, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Neisseria gonococcus in 7.9%, 4.3%, and 1.4%, respectively. Four (2.9%) of the 140 patients were HIV seropositive, and all had Candida albicans isolated. The prevalence of HIV among patients with Candida albicans was 12.9%. Association between HIV seropositivity and Candida albicans infection is significant (X2=14.48; p=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Candida albicans is a common cause of vaginal discharge among HIV-seropositive women in Lagos.
Anorlu
Rose
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Surulere-Lagos, Nigeria. roseanorlu@hotmail.com
Imosemi
Donald
D
Odunukwe
Nkiru
N
Abudu
Olalekan
O
Otuonye
Mirable
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology