Abstract: Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC)in 113 children. Methods The data of 113 children with VVC were analyzed retrospectively for the last 5 years. The clinical characteristics, mycological examination results and in vitro sensitivity of strains to amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole were analyzed. Results The age distribution of 113 children ranged from 3 months to 16 years old, with an average age of 10.96 years old, and 76.1% of them were 10-12 years old. The main clinical symptoms were pruritus vulvae (47.8%) and increased secretion of vulva (36.3%). A total of 108 Candida strains were isolated and identified, with the highest isolation rate of Candida albicans, (91.7%), followed by Candida glabrata (5.6%), C. parapsilosis (1%), C. krusei (1%) and C. tropicalis (1%). All Candida albicans were sensitive to amphotericin B. The resistance rates to itraconazole, fluconazole and voriconazole were 11.1%, 10.1% and 8.1% respectively, and the resistance rate to flucytosine was 1%. The external antifungal drug was mainly used to treatment. Conclusion The 113 cases of VVC in children were mainly caused by Candida albicans. The drug resistance of different Candida strains was different, and the standard treatment needs to be further discussed.

Key words: vulvovaginal candidiasis, children, clinical characteristics, drug resistance