Genital thrush in women: the attitudes and practice patterns of General Practitioners in Teesside and North Yorkshire

Abstract

This study was performed in order to determine the attitudes and practice patterns of some of the GPs on Teesside and North Yorkshire in the management of their female patients complaining of genital thrush, a term often used to mean vulvo-vaginal candidosis an extremely common condition (Tobin, 1995; Elliott, 1998; Lopez-Martinez et al, 1984). Postal questionnaires were sent to 65 GPs on Teesside and the bordering areas of North Yorkshire. There were 45(69%) completed replies. Nearly all the GP's believed that antibiotic usage was associated with the development of this disorder; less than half (44%) of the patients seen had a confirmatory microbiological test in the form of examination of a high vaginal swab (HVS). The most frequently prescribed antifungal compound was found to be clotrimazole.