Comparison of Laboratory Diagnosis and Syndromic Approach in the Management of Symptomatic Vaginal Discharge

Abnormal vaginal discharge is the common complaint by the patients attending gynecology outpatient departments. It can be physiological or pathological. Etiological diagnosis in the laboratory will help the physician in giving proper treatment compared to syndromic approach. This study was conducted to know the etiology of symptomatic vaginal discharge among reproductive age group women. This study was conducted on reproductive age group women i. e.15-45 years of age. For diagnosing bacterial vaginosis Amsels and Nugents criteria were used. Trichomoniasis cases were detected by observing the characteristic motility in wet mount. Candidiasis was diagnosed by KOH mount, Gram stain and culture on Sabourauds dextrose agar. Among 100 cases studied bacterial vaginosis (27 %) was predominant cause for vaginal discharge followed by candidiasis (19 %) and trichomoniasis (9 %). Predominant age group affected with vaginal infections was 26-30 years. By using Nugents criteria 27 % of cases were diagnosed as having bacterial vaginosis and by using Amsels criteria 20 % were diagnosed as having bacterial vaginosis. The prevalence of vaginal infections diagnosed clinically was 65 % and those diagnosed in laboratory was 52 %. Etiological diagnosis is much useful for better management of vaginal infections and also to avoid unnecessary use of antimicrobials and development of microbial drug resistance.