Anaerobic vaginosis. Clinical and diagnostic aspects

Anaerobic vaginosis (non-specific vaginitis) is a common vaginal infection in patients attending departments of genito-urinary medicine. Clinical features, including signs and symptoms, are described, as also are the simple tests which can be used in the clinic to confirm the diagnosis. It is suggested that greater agreement on the precise nature of these clinical features will facilitate comparison of results from different centres. The close correlation between the results of in-clinic tests (microscopy, amine-testing and pH measurement) and laboratory investigations shows these latter, expensive tests to be unnecessary.