Frequency of vaginal candidiasis in symptomatic pregnant women attending routine antenatal clinic

Aim: to determine the frequency of vaginal candidiasis in clinically symptomatic pregnant women attending routine antenatal clinic. methods: the present cross sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology in association with microbiology laboratory of pathology,nishtar hospital,multan from september 2014 dated may 2015. a total of 288 women were included in the study. results: among 288 patients presented with symptoms of vaginal candidiasis,the frequency of vaginal candidiasis was 31.6%. the majority of women were multigravida and in the age group 31-40 years. most of them presented in the third trimester of pregnancy and vaginal discharge was the most frequent finding i.e. in 45% of cases. 17.6% of cases were belonging to low socio-economic class and 15.4% of cases were having previous history of vaginal candidiasis. conclusion:- continuous antenatal screening should be an ongoing exercise for pregnant women with history of itching and vaginal discomfort. © 2016,lahore medical and dental college. all rights reserved.