Vulvovaginitis: diagnosis and management

Successful treatment of vaginitis is based on a specific diagnosis and therapy (Table 2). The diagnostic category of nonspecific vaginitis is not helpful in therapy or in prevention and should be abandoned. In addition, sulfonamide creams and other broad-spectrum vaginal preparations have not been effective in treating vaginitis and should not be used for empiric treatment. The goal of therapy is not only to relieve symptoms, but also to achieve high cure rates and to prevent recurrence or transmission of the condition.