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Section 2
Section 3
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Section 5
Appendices

The following text is from an archived Red Book® edition and may not reflect current recommendations or information. To view the current edition, click here.

Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis

Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests
Treatment
Isolation of the Hospitalized Patient
Control Measures

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CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a syndrome primarily occurring in sexually active adolescent and adult females, is characterized by changes in vaginal flora. Symptoms may include a white, homogenous, adherent vaginal discharge with a fishy odor. Bacterial vaginosis may be asymptomatic and is not associated with abdominal pain, significant pruritus, or dysuria.

Vaginitis and vulvitis in prepubertal girls usually have a nonspecific cause and rarely are manifestations of BV. In prepubertal girls, other predisposing causes for vaginal discharge include foreign bodies or infections attributable to group A streptococci, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes simplex virus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae,Chlamydia trachomatis, or Shigella species.


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ETIOLOGY: The microbiologic cause of BV has not been delineated clearly. Typical microbiologic findings of specimens obtained from the vagina include an increase in concentrations of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma species, and anaerobic bacteria and a marked decrease in the concentration of Lactobacillus species.


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EPIDEMIOLOGY: . . . [Go to Full Text]


Related text in Red Book:

Summary of Major Changes in the 2003 Red Book

Red Book 2003: xxv. [Extract] [Full Version]