PREVALENCE OF HIV AMONG WOMEN WITH VAGINAL DISCHARGE: RESULTS
Two-hundred-thirty patients were informed about the purpose of the study, and 90 (39.1%) refused to be included in the study. A total of 140 women were therefore studied. The mean age was 31.1 ±6.9 years (range 18-50 years) with the majority (83.0%) in the 20-39-year age group. The mean parity was 1.76±2.1 (range 0-8), and more than one-third (39.3%) were nulliparous. One-hundred-fourteen (81.4%) of the patients were married, and 25 (18.9%) were single. Nine (6.4%) of the 140 patients gave a history of having more than one sexual partner. Table 1 shows the prevalence of the various isolates identified in the vaginal discharge of the 140 patients studied. In 31 patients (22.1%), Candida spp. (predominantly Candida albicans) were isolated. This was followed by Gardnerella vaginalis, 26 (18.8%). Staphylococcal spp. were isolated in 17 (12.1%). E. coli, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Neisseria gonococ-cus were in 7.9%, 4.3%, and 1.4%, respectively. In 40 (28.6%), no organisms were isolated. Four of the 140 patients were HIV seropositive, giving an HlV-sero-prevalence rate of 2.9%. Table 2 shows the sociode-mographic characteristics of the patients who were HIV seropositive. All the four of them were married. The mean age was 36.8±5.2 years (range 29-40 years) with a mean parity of 3.3±1.7 (range 1-5). All of them were petty traders. They were all sexually active, one of them admitting to having three sexual partners at a time. Their vaginal discharge was thick and white in color; nonoffensive and Candida albicans organism was isolated in all of them. They all had pruritus vulvae. Four of 31 patients (12.9%) with candidiasis were HIV positive, while none of the 109 women without candidiasis were HIV positive. This was statistically significant (p=0.002). canadian antibiotics
Table1. Causative Organisms Identified in Vaginal Discharge
| Organism | Frequency | Percentage |
| Gardnerella vaginalis |
26 |
18.6 |
| Neisseria gonococcus |
2 |
1.4 |
| Trichomonas vaginalis |
6 |
4.3 |
| Gardnerella + Candida |
4 |
2.9 |
| Staphylococcal spp. |
17 |
12.1 |
| E. coli |
11 |
7.9 |
| Others |
6 |
4.3 |
| Candida spp. |
31 |
22.1 |
| Nil isolate |
40 |
28.6 |
| Total |
*145 |
|
| *Some patients had more than one type of infection. | ||
Table 2. Characteristics of Patients With HIV Positivity
|
Age (Years) |
Marital Status |
Parity |
Occupation |
Vaginal Infection |
|
39 |
Married |
1 |
Trading |
Candida |
|
29 |
Married |
4 |
Trading |
Candida |
|
39 |
Married |
5 |
Trading |
Candida |
|
40 |
Married |
3 |
Trading |
Candida |
Vaginal discharge is very common among women. It plays an important role in woman’s life. Quantity and color of it, differs in every women depending on the part of menstrual cycle the women is in. Sometimes there can be variations in color and odour of it. One needs to be alert in such case, it can be due to various reasons. It can affect health, can be infection, so one should consult doctor immediately. Different color indicates different causes and problems.