Yeast infection, or Candidiasis, is produced by
a fungus called Candida. Yeast infection can occur in the vaginal area, being
the first thing women think about when they hear about the term 'vaginitis'.
Candida naturally inhabits the vagina but also the oral cavity and the
digestive tract in both women and men.
In the case of a healthy body, microorganisms
with protective role in the vaginal, oral, or digestive flora maintain an
acidic environment that stops the development of pathogenic bacteria and
fungus.
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis): Causes.
The culprit for yeast infection is a fungus
named Candida.
Normally, Candida exists on the skin and mucous
of the body. Yeast infection (Candidiasis) occurs when the immune system is
unbalanced (diminished). The candida saprophytic flora (which is naturally
found in the body) turns into a pathogenic flora.
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis): Symptoms
In women, Candida infection is manifested by:
l Pronounced pruritus (itching)
l Burns during urination
l Pain during sexual intercourse
l Creamy-whitish leakage
l Redness and swelling of small labia
These symptoms intensify before menstruation.
In men, fungal infection with Candida is
manifested by:
l Pronounced pruritus (itching)
l Redness and inflammation
l Whitish and branched deposits on the gland
l Small red blisters on the gland (irritation)
Whitish secretion can extend to the perineum, in
the inguinal envelope, where the tissues may become inflamed.
Often, yeast infection causes cystitis, pellets,
or urethritis.
Candida can be transmitted during sex. Even if
the partner does not show symptoms, treatment should be followed because there
is a risk of reinfection. Sexual contact (even protected) should be avoided
during treatment.
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis): Risk factors
Risk factors can be:
l A recent antibiotic treatment - For example, during an antibiotic
treatment for an infection, the saprophytic flora that keeps the candida
balance in the body is destroyed. Thus, it develops too much and causes an
infection to occur.
l Uncontrolled diabetes due to the persistence of high blood glucose
levels in the blood and urine is favoring this condition.
l Pregnancy with changes in hormone levels.
Other factors involved are:
l Oral contraceptives
l Immune system disorders
l Endocrine or thyroid disorders
l Costicosteroid therapy
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis): Treatment
Vaginal Yeast Infection or Vaginal Candidiasis
is usually treated by intra-vaginal administration of various medicine. It can
be in the form of a cream or a so-called ovule.
In many cases oral administration of antimycotic
drugs is also required.
Drugs will be used in local applications. The
following drugs are effective in the treatment of candidal vaginitis:
Clotrimazole, which can be given as a cream (one
application per day for 7 days, extending up to 14 days in cases of refractory
treatment) or vaginal ovules (one ovule per day for 7 days or 2 ovules per day
for 3 days)
Miconazole, which may be given as a cream (an
intra-vaginal daily application for 7 days) or ovules (1 egg per day for 5-7
days)
Ketoconazole, given either orally (1 capsule per
day for 5 days - the benefit of oral treatment is to eradicate the candida
reservoir from the gastrointestinal tract) or in the form of an ovule (one
intra-vaginal ovule per day for 5 days)
Nistatin, which can be given as an ovule (one
ovule per day for 7-14 days) or orally.
Generally, vulva's yeast infection responds to
cream administration, while for vaginitis (vagina's infection with Candida)
intra-vaginal rinsing and so-called ovules treatment are preferred.
Recurrent vulva-vaginitis patients are difficult
to treat. Recurrent infections are the result:
l Decreased immunity
l Reinfection
There is no fixed therapeutic regimen for recurrent
infections. Some studies have suggested the need for oral treatment to destroy
candida from the digestive tract, thus reducing the incidence of recurrences.
In principle, in recurrent candidal
vulvo-vaginitis is recommended:
l Local therapy immediately before menstruation, for two successive
menstrual cycles
l Oral Nistatin or oral Ketoconazole
l Local therapy with one of these preparations for 7-14 days
l Increasing an acid environment in the vagina to kill the fungus
l Treating your partner with local creams 1-2 times a day because Candida
is transmitted
Treatment is done concurrently with both sex
partners. Antimycotic treatment should also be supported by good local hygiene
by daily washing (even several times a day) with soaps that are neutral or
basic, soaking the affecting area with sodium bicarbonate, and by applying
antiseptic solutions for vaginal washings.
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) - Prevention
l Wear light clothes made of natural materials (cotton, wool, silk) and
avoid moisture in the genital area
l Avoid wearing too tight pants
l Do not use the vaginal irrigator (it destroys the bacterial saprophytic
flora)
l Limits the use of feminine deodorants
l Limits the use of tampon only to menstrual periods when they are
strictly necessary
l Change your wet clothes (especially your bathing suit) as often as
possible
l Avoid baths with hot water
l Follow a well-balanced diet
l Consume yogurt and avoid bread and bakery products
l If you suffer from diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as
possible.
If you notice the occurrence of repeated candida
infections, consult your doctor. Tests are required to exclude certain
conditions.
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) – Yeast infection in babies.
The oral or oropharyngeal Candidiasis is a
common infection in babies and young kids caused by the Candida Albicans
fungus.
It is manifested by the appearance of whitish
lesions located on the tongue, mucosa of the cheeks and in the
pharyngeal-amygdalian area.
The Yeast infection in babies is uncomfortable
and make the baby become irritable, because the lesions are painful.
Mycotic infections often occur in people who
have a weakened immune system. Newborns and young kids have incomplete
immunity, which makes them vulnerable to the development of infection.
In the first three months of life, the baby is
exposed to germs and viruses by the antibodies received from the mother. It is
only after this period that the body begins to produce antibodies and fight
more effectively against infections.
The baby can be infected with Candida Albicans
fungus from anywhere. Natural births favor transmission of the disease to
newborns if the mother is a carrier of the fungus because the vagina is a
contaminated environment with Candida Albicans.
But it is not the only source of contamination.
Babies can also contract the fungus from the
pacifiers or baby bottles that are inappropriately sterilized and even from the
mother's breasts during breastfeeding.
Attention, the infection can also be transmitted
from the baby to the mother during breastfeeding, so it is important to protect
yourself during that period and to take therapeutic measures if necessary.
Among the most important symptoms are:
l Whitish lesions on the tongue and deposits of the same color of
bransionary texture.
l Pain and discomfort that may cause other symptoms such as
inattentiveness and inability to swallow food.
l Bleeding lesions.
l Sense of altered taste.
l Irritability.
If you notice the presence of oral yeast
infection symptoms at your baby, go to the doctor for a correct diagnosis.
The treatment can only be prescribed by the
doctor and often consists of antifungal medicines administration, but also in
the use of ointments with local action, to relieve the symptoms present at the
mouth's level.
If you breastfeed the baby, it is recommended to
apply antifungal ointments to the nipples as well.
It is important that the condition is treated in
parallel, both in mother and in the baby, if both are diagnosed with this
fungus, in order to avoid reinfection or recurrence of the disease to one of
them.
No comments:
Post a Comment