DIV medical refers to Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis (DIV), an uncommon type of chronic inflammation affecting the vagina.
Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis (DIV) is characterized as a chronic form of purulent vaginitis. This means it involves persistent inflammation of the vagina often accompanied by a discharge containing pus.
Key Characteristics of DIV
Based on medical understanding, including information from the provided reference, DIV has several notable characteristics:
- Uncommon Condition: DIV is not a frequently encountered form of vaginitis.
- Chronic Nature: It is a condition that persists over a long period rather than being acute and short-lived.
- Purulent Vaginitis: The inflammation is associated with a pus-like discharge.
- Demographics: It occurs mainly in Caucasians, with a peak incidence observed during the perimenopause period.
- Nonspecific Symptoms and Signs: The symptoms and physical signs of DIV are not unique to this condition, making diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms can include vaginal discharge, burning, irritation, and pain during intercourse, but these can also be present in many other vaginal infections.
- Diagnosis of Exclusion: Due to its nonspecific presentation, DIV is typically diagnosed only after other potential causes of purulent vaginitis have been ruled out.
How is DIV Diagnosed?
Because the symptoms are nonspecific, diagnosing DIV requires a process of elimination. A healthcare provider will need to:
- Take a thorough medical history and perform a physical examination.
- Perform tests to exclude more common causes of vaginitis with purulent discharge, such as:
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Trichomoniasis
- Candidiasis (yeast infection)
- Other infections or conditions
- If these other causes are ruled out, further evaluation looking for findings consistent with DIV (often involving microscopic examination of vaginal fluid) may lead to the diagnosis.
Understanding that DIV is a diagnosis of exclusion highlights the importance of comprehensive testing when symptoms of chronic purulent vaginitis are present.
Summary Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| What it is | Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis |
| Type | Uncommon, chronic purulent vaginitis |
| Primary Demographics | Mainly Caucasians, peak in perimenopause |
| Symptoms/Signs | Nonspecific (discharge, burning, irritation, etc.) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis of exclusion (other causes must be ruled out) |
In conclusion, DIV medical refers to Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis, an uncommon chronic condition primarily affecting perimenopausal Caucasian women, characterized by purulent discharge and nonspecific symptoms, requiring other causes of vaginitis to be excluded for diagnosis.
