Mycotic vulvitis

　　Candidal vulvitis is an inflammatory disease of the vulva caused by a type of yeast. The most common pathogen is Candida albicans.

　　1, Inadequate hygiene work

　　Most women do not pay attention to their personal hygiene, leading to vulvitis infections, such as using unclean toilet paper, sanitary napkins. Sharing washbasins and utensils with others. Often sitting in public bathhouses or swimming pools, etc., can lead to vulvitis infections in women.

　　2, Improper use of antibiotics

　　Most women are prone to vulvitis due to the improper use of antibiotics or long-term use of antibiotics, or the use of detergents, which can disrupt the balance between bacteria, making women more susceptible to vulvitis.

　　3, Sexual transmission

　　One partner in a couple may carry Candida albicans, and it can also be transmitted to the other through sexual contact.

　　4, Decreased body resistance

　　They reproduce in large numbers when they encounter a suitable environment, causing candidal vaginitis and vulvitis. For example, oral adrenal cortical hormones can reduce the body's immunity or alter glucose metabolism.

　　5, Vulvar injury

　　Can promote the occurrence of vulvitis and vaginitis caused by Candida.

　　Candidal vulvitis is prone to complications such as urethritis, vaginitis, cervicitis, and dermatitis. Dermatitis can cause shallow vesicular papules that occur in clusters; they can also form eczema-like erosions, confined to the vulva or spreading around to the perineum, anal area, and perineal folds, extending to the inner side of the thigh. The appearance is completely similar to acute or subacute eczema. The mucosa between the labia and around the clitoris thickens, and the skin surfaces in contact become red and eroded; individually, they can cause small white pustules, and in severe cases, ulcers may occur, with pain at the affected site and inflammation of local lymph nodes.

　　The clinical symptoms of candidal vulvitis include itching, burning sensation, and urinary pain (complicated with urethritis). Many women report pain during sexual intercourse, the vulvar area often becomes red and swollen, with a variety of skin changes: shallow vesicular papules may occur singly; they can also form eczema-like erosions, confined to the vulva or spreading around to the perineum, anal area, and perineal folds, extending to the inner side of the thigh. The appearance is completely similar to acute or subacute eczema. The mucosa between the labia and around the clitoris thickens, and the skin surfaces in contact become red and eroded; individually, they can cause small white pustules, and in severe cases, ulcers may occur, with pain at the affected site and inflammation of local lymph nodes.

　　How to prevent candidal vulvitis:

　　The normal human body is a carrier of Candida, and Candida, as a symbiotic bacterium of the human body, can only cause disease under certain conditions. Therefore, by eliminating the pathogenic conditions that may cause candidal vulvitis, the purpose of prevention can be achieved.

　　1. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and avoid eating high-sugar foods.

　　2. Develop good hygiene habits: Wash your hands before using the toilet; do not abuse unclean toilet paper; when wiping the vulva after defecation, wipe from front to back; wash the vulva daily, change and wash underwear, and dry them in a ventilated place; use your own basin and towel; do not wash underwear and socks in the same basin.

　　3. Wear clothing reasonably: Do not wear synthetic underwear, do not borrow others' underwear, and do not share underwear and swimming suits.

　　4. When using public toilets, try to avoid sitting on the toilet seat; advocate showering, do not bathe in a bathtub; do not sit directly on the bathroom chair after bathing; do not swim in swimming pools that are not strictly disinfected.

　　5. Do not overdo hygiene: Some patients say when they come to the clinic that they are very attentive to hygiene, washing the vulva 2-3 times a day, and even using a douching device or hand to clean the vagina. In fact, this practice is wrong because the vaginal environment is slightly acidic and there are many bacterial flora coexisting. The mutual restraint between flora can inhibit the excessive growth of a certain genus and cause disease, which is a natural defense system of the human body. Washing the vagina undoubtedly destroys the slightly acidic environment of the vagina and the mutual restraint between flora, reduces the resistance of the vaginal epithelium, and causes vulvitis caused by Candida or other bacteria.

　　6. Do not abuse antibiotics: Long-term and excessive use of antibiotics will destroy the inhibitory relationship between vaginal bacteria, causing candidiasis to lose its inhibition of excessive growth and become pathogenic.

　　7. Actively treat diabetes: Diabetics can use baking soda water to clean the vulva and increase the vaginal pH value to inhibit the growth of fungi.

　　8. For women using oral contraceptives who repeatedly develop candidal vaginitis, they should discontinue the oral contraceptives and switch to other methods of contraception.

　　Candidal vulvitis can be diagnosed by gynecological examination and direct smear and culture of local secretions. Under the microscope, it is easy to see the hyphae branching and spores of Candida. Candida albicans is oval, Gram-negative, but the staining is often uneven, about 3-5μm (several times larger than Staphylococcus), often producing long buds that do not fall off (spores), leading to pseudohyphae. Diagnosis can also be made by combining clinical manifestations, medical history, and related examinations.

　　One, therapeutic diet for candidal vulvitis

　　1.扁蓄、川萆解、粳米、a little rock sugar. First, decoct the herba epimedii and rhizoma cyperiis in appropriate amounts of water, remove the dregs, and then cook the rice porridge with glutinous rice. Add a little rock sugar when eating.

　　2.椿白皮、白藓皮、黄柏。Add the appropriate amount of water and decoct. This recipe can clear heat and remove dampness.

　　3. Appropriate amounts of white dolichos lablab, white atractylodes, and rock sugar. Boil white atractylodes with white dolichos lablab in a bag, remove the bag, add rock sugar, and drink the soup while eating the beans.

　　4. Appropriate amounts of dolichos lablab flowers and Chinese yam. Dry the unopened dolichos lablab flowers in the sun, grind them into powder, and cook a rice porridge with appropriate amounts of Chinese yam every morning and evening. Add the flower powder to the porridge and boil it again.

　　Two, what foods are good for the body with candidal vulvitis?

　　1. It is best to eat more light and nutritious foods, mainly high in protein and low in fat.

　　2. Drink more yogurt, as yogurt can prevent gynecological inflammation and is a very good food for women.

　　3. If there are symptoms of itching, you can eat some foods such as amaranth, cabbage, mustard greens, taro, kelp, nori, chicken blood, and snake meat, etc.

　　4. If there are symptoms of increased leukorrhea, you can eat more foods such as millet, tofu, chives, white bean seeds, lotus seeds, walnuts, etc.

　　5. Eating more vegetables and fruits such as bananas, sweet potatoes, celery, etc., can be helpful for the condition.

　　Three, what foods should be avoided for candidal vulvitis?

　　1. Patients are best not to drink alcohol. Many women have the habit of drinking, but alcohol is a warm and stimulating food. Drinking alcohol after it can exacerbate damp-heat in the body, which is not helpful for the improvement of the condition but may lead to recurrence.

　　2. It is best to avoid spicy foods such as chili, Sichuan pepper, raw scallions, raw garlic, white wine, and beverages, etc.

　　3. Patients should also avoid eating fried, moldy, greasy, and salted foods, as these are not helpful for the condition.

　　4. Do not eat too sweet foods, as these foods may increase dampness in women's bodies, which may hinder treatment. Examples of such foods include candy, cream cakes, eight-treasure rice, glutinous rice dumplings, etc.

　　5. Seafood taboo should also be avoided by patients with candidal vulvitis. Foods such as sea fish, crabs, shrimps, clams, and uncinaria are not suitable for patients, as these foods are not conducive to the regression of inflammation and may result in poor efficacy.

　　Prevention:

　　1. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and avoid eating high-sugar foods.

　　2. Develop good hygiene habits: Wash your hands before using the toilet; do not abuse dirty toilet paper; when wiping the vulva after defecation, wipe from front to back; clean the vulva daily, change and wash underwear, and dry them in a ventilated place; use your own basin and towel; wash underwear and socks in different basins.

　　3. Dress properly: Do not wear synthetic underwear, and do not borrow others' underwear, pants, or swimsuits.

　　4. When using public toilets, try to avoid sitting on the toilet seat; advocate showering, do not bathe in a bathtub; do not sit directly on the bathroom chair after bathing; do not swim in swimming pools that are not strictly disinfected.

　　5. Do not overemphasize hygiene: Some patients say when they come to the doctor that they are very concerned about hygiene, cleaning the vulva 2-3 times a day, and even using a douche or hand to clean the vagina each time. In fact, this practice is wrong. Because the vaginal environment is slightly acidic, and there are many flora coexisting, the mutual inhibitory effect of flora can inhibit the excessive growth of a certain genus and cause disease, which is a natural defense system of the human body. Cleaning the vagina undoubtedly destroys the slightly acidic environment of the vagina and the mutual inhibitory relationship between flora, reducing the resistance of the vaginal epithelium and causing vaginitis caused by candidiasis or other bacteria.

　　6. Do not abuse antibiotics: Long-term and excessive use of antibiotics will destroy the inhibitory relationship between vaginal bacteria, causing candidiasis to lose its inhibition of excessive growth and become pathogenic.

　　7. Actively treat diabetes: Diabetics can use baking soda water to clean the vulva and increase the vaginal pH value to inhibit the growth of fungi.

　　8. For women using oral contraceptives who repeatedly develop candidal vaginitis, they should discontinue the oral contraceptives and switch to other methods of contraception.