Candida albicans, a commensal fungal organism, can cause itchy, painful infections of the genitourinary tract. Around 75% of females experience infection due to C. Albicans, also known as vulvovaginal candidiasis, at least once in their lifetime. These infections pose a significant socio-economic burden on women living in low-resource settings, lacking access to healthcare services. As per a study published in the American Chemical Society, researchers have now produced color-changing threads that turn bright pink in the presence of C.
Albicans. When inserted in sanitary napkins or tampons, the threads can easily help in the self-diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Furthermore, in certain resource-limited settings, cultural taboos make women feel ashamed or embarrassed about their symptoms, preventing them from obtaining medical attention. To address this concern, researchers sought…
