Comparing the Effect of Garlic, Zatarria Multi Flora and Clotrimazole Vaginal Cream on Improvement of Fungal Vaginitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Candidal vaginitis is the second most common vaginal infection. Studies conducted in Iran have shown that 41.3% of women have vaginal infections and the most common cause of vaginitis was candida (47.4%). Since this infection causes problems such as depression, low self-esteem, life dis¬satisfaction, increased stress and decreased sexual relations in women; thus early treatment is important.There are many different therapeutic methods for it. Garlic and Zataria multiflora boiss are in herbal medicine used traditionally in treatment of infections including candidal vaginitis. Since there are limited studies on the effect of Garlic, Zataria multiflora boiss in humans, we have not found any study to follow up recurrence of candidial symptoms after application of the Garlic and Zataria multiflora boiss, this research was done in order to examine the effect of Zataria multiflora boiss or Garlic vaginal cream 2% in treatment and recurrence of candidal vaginitis.Method:This study was a randomized, double-blind clinical experiment conducted during October 2013 to October 2014 on 240 married women with candidal vaginitis admitted to Ardebil Alavi Hospital. The patients were divided through 3 and 6 each block and allocatedtion ratio of 1: 1: 1 in the three groups used vaginal creams (garlic, Azaria multiform boss and clotrimazole). The patients did not suffer from other vaginal infections and they received 5 grams Azaria multiform boss, Garlic or Clotrimazol vaginal cream 2% daily for 7 days. Complaints of the patients, clinical observations and laboratory parameters were studied before treatment, at 7 and 30 days after the end of treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS / 21 through chi-square, Fisher, ANCOVA, ANOVA with repeated measures, McNamara, Friedman and Kreskas-Wallis tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. Findings: Before treatment, all patients had positive candidiasis fungi culture in three groups (100%). The positive culture was 14.1%, 15.2%, and 10.3% at 7 days after treatment and 2.6%, 0, 0 at 30 days after treatment in garlic, Azaria multiform boss and clotrimazole groups respectively (P< 0.001). Significant differences weren't observed between groups at 7 days (P=0.69) and 30 days (P=0.21) after treatment in culture results. There were no significant difference between three groups in terms of patient complaints and clinical observations before intervention, at days 7 and 30 after treatment (P>0.05). There were no significant difference between three groups in candida symptoms at base line 7 days and 30 days after intervention (P>0.05). ANOVA with Repeated Measure was significant in the intervention stages in each group (p <0.001). Also, recovery process continued 30 days after the end of treatment in three groups and no recurrence was reported. There are no side effects of drugs. Conclusion: Garlic and Azaria multiform boss vaginal creams are effective in treatment of the candida vaginitis in terms of reduction of the patient complaints, improved clinical observations and laboratory measures to prevent recurrence without causing any serious side effects and it can be used as an effective treatment option in cases of drug resistance and also by the people who are interested in treating with herbal medicines.