Vaginitis is characterized by itching or burning, an abnormal vaginal discharge and, often, an unusual odor. The inflammation also may affect parts of the vulva, the female external reproductive organs.
Vaginitis occurs most frequently during the childbearing years of women.
Most cases of vaginitis result from infection by certain bacteria, fungi, and protozoans. The infectious organisms produce waste material that irritates the vagina and vulva, causing swelling and itching. One of the most common of the various bacteria that cause vaginitis is Gardnerella vaginalis. These bacteria cause the whitish, filmy fluid normally present in the vagina to thicken and turn gray or yellow. A fungus called Candida, also known as Monilia, turns the vaginal fluid thick and white.