title: Treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis: a review of the literature.
abstract: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects around three-quarters of all women during their reproductive age, although the exact incidence of VVC is difficult to determine because many patients are self-treated. The infections are divided into complicated and uncomplicated. Uncomplicated VVC is most effectively treated with local azoles. Oral treatment with a single dose of fluconazole is also effective for treating uncomplicated VVC. Treatment of complicated VVC is prolonged and most commonly consists of multiple doses of oral fluconazole or at least 1 week of local azoles. The role of probiotics in treating VVC is still disputed. This article presents a review of the literature on the various treatment options for VVC. Treatment for the most common pathogens that cause complicated VVC is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Department of Gynecology and Perinatology, Maribor University Clinical Centre, Maribor, Slovenia. Corresponding author: andrazdovnik@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andraž
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dovnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Microbiology Center, National Laboratory of Health, Environment, and Food, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golle
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Microbiology Center, National Laboratory of Health, Environment, and Food, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Dušan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Department of Gynecology and Perinatology, Maribor University Clinical Centre, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Darja
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arko
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Department of Gynecology and Perinatology, Maribor University Clinical Centre, Maribor, Slovenia. Department of Gynecology and Perinatology, University of Maribor Faculty of Medicine, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Iztok
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takač
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole