Paper I
Question
Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis has the following criteria
Answer
- [x] c) Clue cells are seen
Clue cells (vaginal epithelial cells studded with adherent bacteria, giving a granular/stippled appearance and obscured cell borders on wet mount microscopy) are one of the key components of Amsel’s criteria for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis (along with a thin, homogeneous, greyish-white discharge; vaginal pH >4.5, not <4.5; and a positive “whiff test” — a fishy amine odour on adding KOH to the discharge). Greenish discharge is more characteristic of trichomoniasis; pH < 4.5 is the normal, healthy vaginal pH range and is the opposite of what is seen in bacterial vaginosis; “pain and itching” is a non-specific symptom rather than a diagnostic criterion.