OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is candida vulvovaginitis. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how candida vulvovaginitis will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a tradition question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable.
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
A 24 year old woman comes to the physician due to complaints of vulvar itching and vaginal discharge for the past 3 days. She has a history of asthma, and was recently hospitalized for a severe asthma exacerbation. The patient’s exacerbation was treated with inhaled bronchodilators, and system corticosteroids. She currently uses an inhaled beta agonist “as needed”. She has no other remarkable past medical history. A gynecological exam shows erthyema of the mucousa, edema, and thick discharge. A wet mouth is performed with the discharge, and an image from this microscope is shown below.
What is the diagnosis in this patient?
Explanation: wet mount shows budding yeast + psuedohyphae = candida vulvovaginitis
Question # 2
A 69 year old woman comes to the physician with complaints of persistent vulvar itching. She has been experiencing this itching for the past 8 months, and treatment with over the counter zinc oxide, vitamin E, and hydrocortisone cream without much relief. She has type 2 diabetes mellitus. Physical examination shows a erythematous and swollen vulva. There are pustules on the medial aspect of her thighs. A KOH preparation of the pustule shows psuedohyphae and budding yeast under the microscope. What is the likely diagnosis?
Explanation: wet mount shows budding yeast + psuedohyphae = candida vulvovaginitis
Question # 3
A 22 year old woman comes to the clinic because of a 2 week history of vaginal discharge and vulvar itching. These symptoms began right before her last menstrual period. She has had 3 sexual partners over the past 4 months, and uses an oral contraceptive. One month ago she had pain with urination, and received a 7 day course of cephalexin. A gynecological exam reveals a erythematous vulva and vaginal walls. The cervix and cervical discharge are not remarkable. Vaginal pH is 4.4. The addition of KOH to the vaginal discharge does not produce any odor. A wet mount prep of the discharge does not show any motile organisms. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Page Updated: 10.08.2016