BLUE WAFFLE DISEASE: IS IT REAL? SYMPTOMS, CAUSES - MEDICINE - 2025

The disease of blue waffles or blue waffle is a term that began to circulate on the Internet around the year 2010 referring to a supposed incurable sexually transmitted disease, which affects only women and that apparently produces a blue or bluish-green color. of the vagina.

Undoubtedly, this term generated panic, although unfounded, since neither the ICD-9 nor the ICD-10 -compendiums that include the description of all known diseases to date- include this term or any description similar to it.

So more than a disease, it is possible that it was a viral content that spread like wildfire on the Internet, but did not actually endanger anyone's life. The term "blue waffles disease" came to rank first in Google searches.

Is it a real disease?

The international medical community, especially gynecology specialists, have not reported a single clinically well substantiated case that supports the existence of this disease.

On the other hand, there is no description of any entity that resembles it neither in the compendia of diseases such as the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) nor in the semiology texts. Nor is there any publication in serious scientific journals that suggests that it is a real disease.

Considering the above, the answer to whether it is a real disease is a categorical no.

General symptoms associated with vaginal infections

The most common symptoms of vaginal infections (which are not necessarily sexually transmitted diseases) are pathological vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, and, in some cases, bad odor.

On the other hand, there are sexually transmitted infections such as HPV, syphilis and gonorrhea, which in most cases are asymptomatic and go undetected unless special tests are done.

Regarding vaginal discharge, the classic description includes three main types of discharge:

- White, lumpy discharge, like milk cut and odorless.

- Dark brown to brown discharge, with the smell of decomposed fish.

- Yellow-greenish discharge, generally itchy.

What could the symptoms of blue waffle disease be due to?

At this point, it falls into the realm of speculation, since no case has been documented in a serious way and adhering to the rules of clinical research, it is not known very well what is being described. So determining a cause is almost an exercise in empirical guessing for a fictitious nosological entity.

The truth is that there are no descriptions to date that the vagina takes a blue color due to any type of infection.

Trauma

However, it is not unreasonable to think that due to trauma, very energetic sexual relations, rape or some other type of aggression in the genital area, a woman may present bruises in the area of ​​the vagina and perineum.

Even so, if this were the case, it is hard to believe that an experienced doctor has mistaken a bruise for a new infectious disease.

Tincture

There is a possibility that a genital wart has been stained with gentian violet, which would explain this type of coloration; however, once again we fall into the territory of speculation.

Flow

And the flow? Between 40 and 50% of women present with abnormal vaginal discharge, so it is not surprising that the suspected disease is associated with pathological vaginal discharge, although this is most likely due to well-known infections such as vaginal yeast infection, trichomoniasis or even bacterial vaginosis.

Causes

Depending on the characteristics of the flow, a diagnostic approach to the etiological agent can be made:

White, lumpy discharge, like cut milk and no odor

This discharge is usually a consequence of vaginal yeast infection. Candida is a fungus that lives in the vagina without causing discomfort, but in certain conditions it grows more than normal, generating a fungal infection. In these cases the cardinal symptom is the presence of abnormal flow.

Dark brown to brown discharge, with a rotten fish odor

This type of discharge is usually due to an infection by a protozoan known as vaginal trichomonads, which causes an infection called trichomoniasis.

The discharge is usually very annoying and the smell is penetrating, in some cases being associated with dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse).

Sometimes cervical cancer can also generate dark discharge, with traces of blood and a bad smell, although in those cases it is not more penetrating and does not remember the smell of decomposed fish.

Yellow-green discharge, usually itchy

This type of discharge is usually due to bacterial infections of the polymicrobial type (multiple causative agents).

Once known as nonspecific vaginosis and now known as bacterial vaginosis, this infection is quite common. Although the characteristics of the flow can be alarming, it does not represent any danger to the life of the affected person.

Blue flow

In the case of the blue coloration of the vaginal mucosa, there is no well-established nosological entity where a discharge with such characteristics is described.

However, it cannot be ruled out that some topical treatment such as gentian violet or staining of the vaginal mucosa with methylene blue for some study results in a bluish discharge due to the residual pigment.

Regarding bruises, it is almost impossible, even for an untrained eye, to mistake a bruise for another medical condition, especially since there is usually a cause-effect relationship with a previous traumatic event, which makes the diagnosis very simple. to perform.

Treatments

Since it is not a disease that has been confirmed, there is no treatment to recommend for it. However, what can be recommended is regular consultation with the gynecologist, so that he or she indicates the treatments that are necessary according to the clinical findings.

Use of barrier contraceptives

On the other hand, the prevention of vaginal infections as well as sexually transmitted diseases through the use of barrier methods (male or female condoms) is recommended, especially if you have sporadic sexual relations with strangers.

Gynecological consultation

Importantly, cervical cancer, a real and potentially fatal disease, remains the second leading cause of female mortality in many regions of the world. This one should cause a real alarm.

For this reason, consultation with the gynecologist once or twice a year and a cervical cytology investigation is recommended for all women of childbearing age or with an active sexual life.

By doing this, it will be possible to identify not only cases of cervical cancer, but also women at risk, which will help reduce deaths from this very real and dangerous disease, for which it is justified to be concerned.

References

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3. Nugent, RP, Krohn, MA, & Hillier, SL (1991). Reliability of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis is improved by a standardized method of gram stain interpretation. Journal of clinical microbiology, 29 (2), 297-301.
4. Phillips, RS, Aronson, MD, Taylor, WC, & Safran, C. (1987). Should tests for Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection be done during routine gynecologic visits ?: An analysis of the costs of alternative strategies. Annals of internal medicine, 107 (2), 188-194.
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6. Hanash, KA, Al Zahrani, H., Mokhtar, AA, & Aslam, M. (2003). Retrograde vaginal methylene blue injection for localization of complex urinary fistulas. Journal of endourology, 17 (10), 941-943.
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