Three-day clotrimazole treatment in candidal vulvovaginitis.

Abstract

The accepted modern practice is to treat each sexually transmitted disease with the shortest possible course of treatment consistent with success. In candidal vulvovaginitis, 6 days is the minimum period that has so far been found to be successful, but a further reduction to 3 days is now reported. Patients were given 2 clotrimazole pessaries nightly for 3 consecutive nights; the overall success rate was 89.4% 1 mo. after treatment. This compares favorably with the 93% cure rate reported with the 6-day course of clotrimazole. With both the long and short courses, patients having their first attack of genital candidosis responded better than those with a history of previous infection. Short courses of clotrimazole treatment are particularly valuable in dealing with uncooperative women who stop treatment at the earliest possible moment. Clinical and laboratory diagnostic pitfalls and their possible influence upon the therapeutic outcome are also discussed.