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ABSTRACT
A 32-y-old married woman was admitted with intense vaginal discharge with foul odor, itching, groin pain, and infertility for the past 5 y. Candida albicans was isolated from the culture of vaginal swab. The patient was diagnosed with chronic vaginal candida infection. She failed to respond to integrative medicine methods prescribed. Recovery was achieved with the application of apple cider vinegar. Alternative treatment methods can be employed in patients unresponsive to medical therapies. As being one of these methods, application of apple cider vinegar can cure vaginal candida infection. (Altern Ther Health Med. 2019;25(5):57-59.)
Women aged between 15 and 49 years are at particular risk of developing reproductive health problems.1 Among other reproductive health problems, vaginal infections constitute one of the leading causes of hospital admissions.2
Approximately half of the vaginal infections annually worldwide are reported from Asian countries.3 Turkey is one of the countries in which vaginal infections commonly occur among women, and at least 75% of women have a previous history of a vaginal infection.4-7
Candida albicans is the most commonly isolated organism from women with vaginal infections and is associated with recurrent vaginal infections.8 As being the most pathogenic member of its genus, it accounts for 50% to 70% of systemic fungal infections.9-11 The candidemia-associated mortality rate ranges from 30% to 40%, depending on the severity of the underlying condition.12
Vaginal candida infection can be treated or prevented, or complications can be minimized with early diagnosis and treatment. However, this infection may result in an important health problem that requires prolonged treatment, and complications may develop.13 Herein, we report a case of chronic vaginal candidiasis successfully treated with apple cider vinegar.
CASE REPORT
A 32-year-old woman who was married for 5 years presented with intense vaginal discharge with foul odor, itching, groin pain, and infertility for the past 5 years. The patient had a regular menstrual cycle. She did not use any contraceptive method and, despite regular sexual intercourse, she suffered from infertility and dyspareunia. Candida albicans was isolated from the culture of a vaginal swab. The patient was diagnosed with chronic vaginal candidiasis due to recurrent infections.
A detailed history revealed that the patient was examined by 6 physicians and used 7 antifungal regimens previously. She reported that she...