Vaginal candidiasis
Thrush or vaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection of the genitals in women and men. It is characterized by secretions with an unpleasant odor, yellowish or white substance. Vaginal candidiasis is accompanied by discomfort during urination, itching and swelling, burning may occur in acute forms. This is a fairly common disease that most women on the planet have suffered at least once in their lives. And if it is so common, it is worth understanding it in more detail.
The content of the article:
Causes of thrush (vaginal candidiasis)
Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis
Diagnostic methods
Complications of vaginal candidiasis
Treatment of thrush: methods and effective drugs
Prognosis of vaginal candidiasis
Features of nutrition for thrush
Prevention of vaginal candidiasis
Vaginal candidiasis
In men who are no less susceptible to this infection than women, candidiasis inflames the skin of the glans penis, as well as the inner folds of the foreskin. It also causes painful sensations during toilet visits, not to mention the fact that severe pain can be observed during sexual intercourse.
If a woman has a weakened immune system, then she automatically falls into the risk group. This is because for any infection, the most favorable environment is one that is unable to fully prevent the reproduction of bacteria or fungus.
It is worth considering the following fact: if candidiasis recurs quite often, this indicates the presence of serous health problems in the patient. It is a mistake to think that thrush is a sign that a person does not follow intimate hygiene or leads a promiscuous sex life. This is not the case at all, and the causes of candidiasis will be discussed below.
Causes of thrush (vaginal candidiasis)
So, doctors have identified a number of factors that contribute to the development of thrush to one degree or another. This list is quite large, but it should be remembered. The causes of vaginal candidiasis can be:
the presence of pregnancy;
diabetes mellitus and overweight;
if there is a deficiency of zinc, folic acid, iron, vitamin B12;
depression and stress;
the presence of HIV and cancer;
taking medications to suppress the immune system;
chemotherapy;
the body’s reaction to the presence of chemicals in soap or detergent;
protozoa, viral or microbial diseases of the genitals;
improper nutrition, and as a consequence, a disease of the digestive system;
dysbiosis, overwork, deterioration of the environmental situation;
sexual contact with a patient;
hypothermia of the pelvic organs and regular wearing of tight-fitting trousers.
It is also worth adding to the risk factors:
taking antibiotics during the treatment of other diseases (not candidiasis); the fact is that antibiotics can change the balance of microbes in the vagina, and this happens due to a decrease in the level of protective bacteria;
if a person abuses steroids or contraceptives in the form of pills that contain a large amount of the hormone estrogen;
when medications are used, the purpose of which is to combat allergies (antihistamines).
Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis
This fungal or yeast infection affects both women and men. Naturally, depending on the gender, there is a different set of signs of the presence of thrush.
In women , there are:
vaginal discharge that resembles cottage cheese or whey; this substance has an unpleasant odor, the color is yellowish or white;
the external genitals swell and turn red;
during sexual intercourse, as well as during urination, discomfort and pain are felt;
constant itching, which turns into a burning sensation.
Men are characterized by:
the head of the penis itches, painful sensations and redness appear;
discomfort and unpleasant feelings during sexual contact and urination;
the head of the penis and the flesh swell;
on the head of the penis and under the foreskin there is a white substance that resembles cottage cheese; this substance has an unpleasant pungent smell.
Both men and women suffer equally from the symptoms of a very unpleasant yeast infection. The main thing is, as soon as you find yourself with one of the above signs, or several of them at the same time, immediately, without any delay, consult a doctor.
Doctors distinguish candidiasis of three forms:
carrier of infection (candidiasis);
acute urogenital candidiasis;
chronic form of acute recurrent thrush.
Diagnostic methods
Almost all diseases of an intimate nature have similar symptoms. To diagnose exactly one thing clearly and definitely, just by examining the patient, is illogical and fundamentally wrong.
The main sign of the presence of vaginal candidiasis can be called a substance similar to cottage cheese, which is present in both men and women infected with the fungus. But in order to be 100% sure of the correctness of the diagnosis, a competent doctor will definitely prescribe an analysis to the patient.
As a rule, this test for the presence of yeast infection will be a smear from the vagina of a woman, and the glans penis of a man. It is difficult to answer the question why sometimes relapses occur in patients who have been correctly diagnosed and have successfully undergone treatment.
Sometimes this is associated with the dual nature of the disease. After all, thrush can be called not only an infection, but also a kind of allergy to Candida mushrooms, which, with a weakened immune system, multiply intensively in the human body.
Complications of vaginal candidiasis
When the treatment of thrush, or the underlying disease that provokes it, was treated negligently, then we can expect the occurrence of a chronic or recurrent infection.
This is a rather unpleasant phenomenon, because the disease does not allow you to live in peace, accompanied by constant complications. From among them , doctors with extensive practice distinguish:
secondary infection; if there are cracks or scratches on the skin, then the chances of getting another infection increase dramatically;
often, the infection begins to spread to the genitourinary system and kidneys, which leads to constant discomfort; special attention should be paid to the kidneys, since their disease can pose a real threat to life;
constant pain during sexual intercourse; such a complication also negatively affects not only the physical, but also the psycho-emotional state of a person;
transition to the chronic stage; in such a situation, the pelvic organs are constantly inflamed, which leads to irreversible processes, for example, infertility; symptoms of chronic thrush: adnexitis, salpingitis, endometritis;
for pregnant women, thrush is especially dangerous, because it can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus; when infected with a fungus, the infection affects not only the umbilical cord, but also the skin, respiratory tract and oral mucosa of the baby; cases of infection of newborns with candidiasis have been observed right during childbirth, when the baby passed through the infected birth canal of the mother.
Treatment of thrush: methods and effective drugs
The easiest way to get rid of the disease is when it has just begun to develop. But if outbreaks of infection are becoming more frequent, then it is worth approaching the problem comprehensively. The whole process will depend individually on the patient.
Pharmacies sell a lot of drugs that can quickly and without complications rid a person of thrush. They are very easily tolerated by the body, and do not cause side effects. Although a small percentage of patients still had itching, burning and rash, but all these unpleasant consequences soon disappeared without a trace.
The gynecologist may allow you to carry out the treatment yourself if:
the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are mild, there is no fever or pelvic pain;
you are not pregnant at the time of treatment;
you have no doubts about the intimate health of your sexual partner;
the patient has not had frequent cases of going to the doctor with a yeast infection in the past.
If the disease has constant relapses, then therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Often in such cases, a single dose of the drug Diflucan (Fluconazole) is used.
Gynecologists strongly recommend that patients with recurrent thrush strengthen the immune system and restore normal microflora. The doctor will from time to time prescribe tests for tank sowing in order to observe the dynamics of the effectiveness of the selected therapy.
All drugs that fight thrush can be divided into three groups, depending on how they are taken. This:
oral therapy;
local therapy;
vaginal candles with a wide spectrum of action.
Oral medications do a very good job with the task, but they are categorically contraindicated to take during pregnancy. Deserved the trust of patients and doctors:
Fluconazole (Diflucan, Medoflucon, Forcan, Flucostat) — 150 mg tablets;
Itraconazole (Gino-travogen ovulum, Sporanox) — 100 mg tablets;
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) — 200 mg tablets.
Vaginal pills and candles:
Neo-penotran (metronidazole 500 mg, miconazole nitrate 100 mg) — vaginal candles;
Nystatin (Polizhinax, Terzhinan, Betadine) — vaginal tablets.
There are a large number of highly effective topical preparations (creams and vaginal suppositories), the use of which eliminates thrush very quickly. The most popular ones are:
Butoconazole 2% — cream;
Clotrimazole (Lotrimin) 1% — cream;
Clotrimazole 100 mg (Kanesten, Canisone, Antifungol, Candibene) — vaginal tablets;
Clotrimazole 500 mg — vaginal tablets;
Miconazole (Monistat, Gynodecratine, Ginezol 7, Klion) 2% — cream;
Miconazole 100 mg — vaginal suppositories;
Miconazole 200 mg — vaginal suppositories;
Miconazole 1200 mg — vaginal suppositories;
Tioconazole (Tioconazole, Vagistat)300 mg — ointment;
Terconazole (Terazol 7) 0.4% — cream;
Terconazole (Terazol 3) 0.8% — cream;
Terconazole (Terazol 3) 80 mg — vaginal suppositories;
Natamycin (Pimafucin) 100 mg — vaginal candles;
Natamycin 2% is a cream for external use.
Each of the listed drugs is prescribed by a doctor individually. Before starting treatment with any medication, do not forget to carefully study the instructions. Natamycin is allowed to be taken even during pregnancy or lactation.
In any case, it is necessary that the doctor knows all the smallest details in which the disease passes. Only then will he be able to determine the medicine and its form most accurately, which will correspond to your characteristics.
Prognosis of vaginal candidiasis
Like every infectious disease, thrush requires the most correct and competent approach to its treatment. Do not forget that candidiasis is the most common disease in people with human papillomavirus (HPV).
With HPV disease, the immune system is weakened, which gives fertile ground for the development of other diseases, including vaginal candidiasis. When it progresses and is constantly repeated, then with each new relapse it is less amenable to treatment.
Therefore, at the first symptoms that even remotely resemble a yeast or fungal infection, it is necessary to urgently seek help. In most cases, when the diagnosis and treatment were carried out on time, the disease did not recur, or could return after a very long period of time.
When the treatment is adequate and thoughtful, then all the symptoms go away, and the person feels comfortable again, there are no problems with intimacy. If the patient continues to monitor his immunity, diet and lifestyle, the percentage of recurrence or overgrowth of candidiasis into the chronic stage is very low.
Features of nutrition for thrush
The body, or rather, its general condition, fully reflects what we eat. When a person’s internal system starts fighting viruses and infections, our task is to help it.
During the disease of thrush, there is no definite and clear diet. However, some rules are in place. By doing them, you will simply minimally reduce the risk of further development of the disease.
Nutritionists strongly advise not to smoke and not to drink alcohol. Reduce the amount of sugar, yeast, wheat, dairy products, kefir, all this aggravates the course of the disease.
Eat foods that contain Acidophilus (Acidophilus) — an organism—friendly bacterium – will help fight yeast infection. These are garlic, milk and yoghurts that contain this culture. Try to train yourself to use them daily.
Sugar in any form must be excluded. Fructose, glucose, sucrose help to multiply Candida — bacteria to the causative agent of vaginal candidiasis.
As mentioned above, give up alcohol, especially heavy. Any alcoholic beverage is processed by the body into sugar. As you know, sugar is one of the components of fermentation, and it is this process that helps mushrooms grow.
It is also necessary to remember that in addition to these simple rules, it is advisable to adhere to the diet. To do this, go to an appointment with a nutritionist who will competently tell you everything about the right diet.
It is necessary to treat vaginal candidiasis, which has frequent relapses, not only with drugs, ointments or candles. A comprehensive correct approach is able to completely cure the patient, even if before that, the disease reminded itself quite often.
Prevention of vaginal candidiasis
The methods of preventing vaginal candidiasis are very simple. We know perfectly well about many of them, but we neglect them until the problem has touched us directly. In order to avoid the occurrence of thrush , it is worth:
keep the genitals clean and dry; forget about using soap, for the intimate area you need to choose special gels that are sold in pharmacies, or ordinary water;
do not use tampons during menstruation, give preference to pads;
try to wear only cotton underwear; intimate wardrobe items that are made of silk, nylon and unnatural fabrics increase sweating, and this, in turn, leads to irritation;
gradually eliminate tight trousers and very tight shorts from among your favorite things, this also causes irritation; in addition, too narrow things negatively affect the female genitals;
do not wear a wet swimsuit for a long time, high humidity is an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms;
forget about using sprays, shower gels, perfumes in the intimate area;
try not to use bleach for laundry; this substance is capable of killing beneficial microorganisms, the main purpose of which is to stop the reproduction of harmful bacteria;
constantly monitor your blood sugar level if you have diabetes;
use condoms during sexual contact; this method of contraception will protect you from sexually transmitted infections;
in the event that you take antibiotics, you need to restore the balance of microflora after completing the course; Bifidumbacterin and Linex are considered excellent means for this.
Another important point is to try not to use douches. During this procedure, beneficial bacteria are washed out, which serve as a shield against fungal and yeast infections. When the normal level of vaginal acidity is disturbed, then the chances of the appearance of signs of vaginal candidiasis increase many times.
