title: Odorous vaginal discharge - a case study for thorough investigation.
abstract: Odorous vaginal discharge is a common presentation to general practitioners, and a frequent presentation for bacterial infections and sexually transmissible diseases. Busy GPs may be tempted to make a diagnosis from the clinical history and symptoms, and prescribe antibiotics as a first line treatment. This case highlights an unusual cause of persistent odorous vaginal discharge. If a thorough examination had not been conducted, the cause would have been overlooked, first line antibiotics would most likely have been ineffective, and potentially life threatening consequences may have occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. geta@cernat.com
authors.forename: Geta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cernat
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058869:Gynecological Examination; D006801:Humans; D052576:Menstrual Hygiene Products; D009812:Odorants; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000209:etiology*