Question

A 21-year-old woman who is a college student went to the pharmacy and reports having a history of pain when urinating, itching in the vagina, and a white thick discharge for 2 days. She does not have any known allergies to medications nor have known medical conditions. She also present a thick white coating on her tongue. She admits that she is sexually active with one partner and uses latex condoms to prevent getting pregnant. She once have a yeast infection a few years ago and was taking a medication to treat it. She has know known allergies. She reported finishing a 7 days course of antibiotics 3 days before she had been taking treatment for urinary tract infection that was diagnosed over a week ago. In order to skip another doctor's appointment, she used a Vagisil Screening Kit and got a result of 4.0 vaginal pH.

What is the microbe responsible for her condition based on the results of the test and her current symptoms?

What is the diagnosis based on the symptoms?

To confirm a diagnosis in this case, what lab tests needs to be done?

Why are the symptoms also appearing in her mouth?

How did the woman acquire this infection?

Is there changes in the body that allowed the condition to arise on this case?

Is there any precautions need to be taken with the patient's blood?

How can the woman avoid this infection to reoccur?

Answer 1

• The microbe responsible for her condition is Candida fungi (Candida Albicans). Her current symptoms are pain on urination, itching in the vagina, white thick discharge for 2 days and thick white coating on her tongue.
• Diagnosis - Candidiasis
• To confirm a diagnosis, the blood sample from the area should be sent to the lab and check if candida grows on culture.
• Symptoms appeared in her mouth due to the increased growth of Candida Albicans as a result weakening of the immune system. This can also happen because of the antibiotics which she took for Urinary Tract Infection.