Comparison of the Effects of Nika Vaginal Cream with Clotrimazole Cream on Vaginal Candidiasis Symptoms: A Randomized Single-Blind Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vaginal candidiasis is high in women and proper treatment is essential in this regard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 120 women who were referred to Hamadan health centers in 2019. The patients were randomly divided into Clotrimazole cream and Nika vaginal cream groups each including 60 cases. The intervention group received Nika vaginal cream once a day for a week and those in the control group were given Clotrimazole vaginal cream in the same way. The clinical symptoms were studied by clinical examinations and the culture of vaginal discharge before and 7 days after the treatment to confirm the diagnosis of Candida albicans. The results were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 using an independent t test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests, the significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Most patients in both groups reported no clinical symptoms after the intervention, and no significant difference was observed between the two groups in this regard (χ(2) = 2.23, p = 0.566). Conversely, a significant difference was found in Nika and Clotrimazole groups before and after the intervention regarding improving Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) symptoms χ(2) = 86.01, χ(2) = 99.41, respectively (p < 0.001). Finally, 84.48% and 75.86% of women in the Nika χ(2) = 45.02 (p < 0.001) and Clotrimazole cream χ(2) = 40.02 (p < 0.001) groups had negative culture results after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the Nika and Clotrimazole vaginal creams have the same effects concerning improving the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis and thus can be used to treat VVC.