Vaginal discharge: an approach to diagnosis and management

Vaginal discharge is a frequent presenting complaint in an office practice. The authors of this article review the most common causes of this condition, namely Candidiasis, Trichimoniasis, and Bacterial Vaginosis (Gardnerella), as well as the more serious causes, namely gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Herpes simplex. Symptoms and physical signs are generally insufficient to distinguish specific etiologic agents and, as treatment for each is different, diagnostic examination of smears in the office is critical to the management of these patients. A clinical approach and method of office diagnosis is described.