Yeast Infections: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Yeast infections are the second major cause of vaginal discharge, itching and burning. Yeast normally exist in the vagina of many women at very low concentrations but may overgrow due to environmental changes in the vagina. The overgrowth of the yeast is influenced by steroids and antibiotics. However, birth control pills, diabetes, sperm, menstruation and pregnancy are other factors which may contribute to a flare up of yeast infection. Yeast infection also occurs more often in women that have gone through menopause.

Persons Likely To Get Yeast Infections Are As Follows:

- For People with a weak immune systems due to steroids, cancer treatments or diseases like AIDS, candidal skin infections may occur on the whole body and can to some extent be life threatening. Although the heart, kidney, eye, brain and blood are the most frequently affected parts, candidal fungus may also grow in spleen, liver and lungs. Candida is the major cause of esophagitis among people living with AIDS.

- Statistics indicate that almost 15 percent of people with weak immune systems usually develop systematic illness prompted by candida. The infections gain entry into the bloodstream through mucous membranes, cuts in the skin or breakdowns. Candidal organisms usually grow in an area due to regular use of very strong antibiotics, which may eliminate the bacteria responsible for keeping it under control.

- Utilization of medical devices implanted on the skin like IV ports and urinary catheters also allow easy access for the yeast infection to gain entry into the body. Yeast may be directly injected into the deep tissues and bloodstream by IV drug addicts who use dirty needles.

Symptoms Of Yeast Infections

Symptoms and signs of a candida yeast infection may vary based on the location of the infection. Some of the symptoms are as follows:

- In women, symptoms and signs of vaginal yeast infection is a white-cheesy discharge that usually irritates and itches the vagina and its surrounding tissues. It can even lead to pain during sexual intercourse and burning with urination.

- Thrush is an oral candidiasis forming thick, white-lacy patches on-top of a red base on the palate, tongue or any other place inside the mouth. Although the patches sometimes resemble milk curds, they can never be wiped away. If the creamy plaques are wiped with cotton tipped applicator or blade, then the underlying tissues may bleed. It may also cause the tongue to appear red without the characteristic white coating. Thrush is very painful and may make it hard to eat. Great care should be observed to ensure that a person suffering from thrush does not get dehydrated.

- Candidal organism lives on the skin naturally but breakdown of the external skin layer may cause overgrowth of the yeast. It usually breaks in a moist and warm environment such as skin folds and diaper areas. Superficial candida-skin infections occur as a red flat-rash with sharp edges. There are other smaller patches with similar appearance around it called satellite lesions characterized with pain and itching.

- For people with weak immune systems, candidal skin infections may affect multiple internal organs and lead to dysfunction of the organ or pain. Statistics indicate that around 85 percent of people leaving with AIDS usually contract esophagitis yeast infection on the upper gastrointestinal systems. Although the infection is almost similar to thrush, it extends down from the mouth, through esophagus to the stomach. Esophagitis infection may cause ulcers within the entire gastrointestinal systems making it painful to even swallow liquids. Food can be absorbed poorly when the infection extends into the intestines. People suffering from this infection face a risk of being dehydrated.

- You may fall ill with or without fever if candida spreads to the bloodstream. If the infection extends to the brain, you may experience acute lapses in mental behavior and function.

How To Get Rid Of a Yeast Infection

 Home remedies

 Most candida yeast infection can be treated by home remedies with prescription or over the counter medication. It normally clears within one week when treated well. For people whose immune system has been weakened by some other disease, it is advisable to consult a doctor before attempting the self-treatment as you may get an infection. The three ways of how to get rid of a yeast infection are:

- Yeast infection in most women can be treated at home with over the counter drugs such as miconazole, tioconazole, butoconazole and clotrimazole. The drugs are massaged into the vagina and its surrounding tissues for around 1 to 7 days depending on formulation. However, if increased irritation is experienced, the medication should be discontinued immediately. For those who are pregnant, it is advisable to consult the doctor before applying these treatments. If the symptoms persist for more than week, you should consult your doctor.

- For thrush, the anti-fungal agent, nystatin is swished around the mouth while taking good care to uphold safe oral hygiene. All objects used in administering the medication on the mouth of a child must be sterilized after every use. Adults have other treatments options that are not available to babies like pills (fluconazole) and troches (anti-fungal lozenges) to treat the infection besides nystatin.

- Diaper and skin rash - Clotrimazole lotions and creams can be massaged on superficial skin infections. The affected part should be cleaned and dried. For diaper rashes, use of barrier creams and regular diaper changes can speed up recovery. However, other medications require prescription and consultation from a doctor.

Medical treatments for candidiasis

 There are several treatment options for candidiasis such as vaginal suppositories, troches (lozenges), pills, lotions and creams. You can consult your doctor on the appropriate option. The types of medications are:

• - Azole medications contain anti-fungal drugs that settle on the suffix. They usually block the production of ergosteral, a very significant material on the wall of yeast cell. Yeast cell wall turns leaky and dies without ergosteral.

• - Polyene anti-fungal includes amphotericin B and nystatin. Doctors usually prescribe amphotericin B for serious systematic-fungal infections while nystatin is applied for superficial candidal and thrush infections. They work by forming artificial holes on the yeast wall thereby causing the yeast to leak and die.