Lita Setyowatie, Nanda Shaskia Larasaty
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Dequalinium Chloride (DQC) in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida albicans during pregnancy. Methods: A twenty-seven-year-old primigravida woman in her third trimester presented with odorless, thick, curd-like vaginal discharge accompanied by severe itching (VAS 9/10) and pain for three months. Clinical examination revealed erythema of the labia majora and abundant thick discharge on the labia minora, vagina, and cervix. Microscopic examination of vaginal discharge with 10% KOH showed pseudohyphae. Gram staining demonstrated pseudohyphae and more than 30 polymorphonuclear cells in vaginal samples, as well as pseudohyphae in cervical discharge. VITEK-2 culture confirmed fluconazole-sensitive C. albicans. The patient was treated with intravaginal DQC tablets for 10 days. Results: The patient showed marked clinical improvement and complete microscopic resolution of infection following DQC treatment. Discussion: Intravaginal DQC appears to be effective in treating VVC during pregnancy. Early and appropriate management of VVC is essential to prevent potential adverse perinatal outcomes. Conclusion: Dequalinium Chloride vaginal tablets demonstrated effective clinical and microbiological resolution of Candida albicans VVC in pregnancy, supporting their role as a safe therapeutic option for pregnant patients. © 2025, Indonesian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. All rights reserved.
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya, Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Malang, Indonesia
