Abstract. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the most common infection of the vulvovagina. Some infections have been reported to be tolerant to conventional treatments, especially in immunosuppressed patients. This study intended to compare the effects of ozononated olive oil and clotrimazole in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
As a result of this study, ozone and clotrimazole both reduced symptoms significantly and led to a negative culture for vaginal candidiasis. No significant differences existed between both groups in their effects on the symptom of itching and leucorrhea and on the results of the culture. Considering the potential efficacy of ozonated olive oil in the improvement of the clinical and para-clinical aspects, the research team suggests that ozonated olive oil can be an effective topical treatment for those patients.
Introduction. Vulvovaginal infections caused by different types of Candida are the most common infections of women’s genital systems. Because of Candida drug tolerance, offering a treatment for removing the fungal infection that (a) is low in cost, (b) has no side effects, and (c) significantly affects the infection, can have benefits for a society’s health.
Because of the antifungal effects of ozone and its cost, effectiveness and lack of side effects, the research team performed the current study with the aim of comparing the efficacies of ozonated olive oil and clotrimazole cream for treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Methods. The study’s outcomes were (1) measures of the changes in the clinical symptoms of itching, burning, and leucorrhea, which were obtained using a questionnaire; and (2) the results of a culture for vaginal candidiasis.
Results. No significant differences existed between the ozone and the clotrimazole groups in their treatment of itching, either at baseline or postintervention. In burning, significant differences were observed between both groups at baseline and postintervention; ozone decreased the burning sensation significantly more than clotrimazole did. In leucorrhea, the two groups were not significantly different at baseline or postintervention.
No significant difference existed between the two groups in terms of the results for the culture postintervention.
Discussion. The present study has shown that the 3 symptoms significantly improved after treatment for the group receiving the ozonated olive oil. The ozone was as effective as clotrimazole in reducing the severity of both the itching and leucorrhea, as well as reducing the number of women with a positive culture for Candida; however, the ozone decreased the burning sensation significantly more than did the clotrimazole. No side effects occurred during the study for either group.
Conclusions. Ozone appears to be as e!ective as clotrimazole for treatment of Candida vulvovaginitis, both clinically (ie, resulting in reduced symptoms) and in terms of a laboratory culture.
Because the efficacy of ozone has been confirmed in the current study, because recent reports have indicated the tolerance of the infection to new antifungal drugs, because ozone is a common drug that is widely used in most developed countries, and because no side effects have been recorded so far, the current research team suggests the introduction of ozone as an alternative and cost-effective treatment.
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