Vaginitis: Trichomoniasis, Candidiasis, Bacterial Vaginosis Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis

Vaginitis Trichomoniasis, Candidiasis, Bacterial Vaginosis_Differential DiagnosisVaginitis Trichomoniasis, Candidiasis, Bacterial Vaginosis_Differential Diagnosis




Consider ruling out the following conditions in the diagnosis of vaginitis:

  • Pediatric: Vaginal foreign body, poor hygiene, intestinal infections
  • Peri/post menopause: Hypotrophy or atrophy, neoplasm
  • Reproductive age: Cervicitis

Less frequent causes of vaginitis include the following:

  • Atrophic vaginitis: Pap smear shows parabasal cells and “blue blobs”
  • Cytolytic vaginosis: Gram stain shows cytolysis without inflammation
  • Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis or aerobic vaginitis (AV): Gram stain shows increased inflammatory cells and parabasal epithelial cells