Statistics say that every second woman has suffered from thrush at least once in her life. This is not surprising, since the causative agent of the disease, a fungus from the genus Candida, is always present on the mucous membranes of the vaginal area. The disease (candidiasis) develops when optimal conditions are created for the life of the fungus, and its population rapidly increases.
Candidiasis is a common disease
Classification
The Candida family includes about one and a half hundred species of fungi. Of these, 20 species are capable of living in the human body. In 90% of cases, the disease is caused by fungi of the Candida albicans variety.
Candida is transmitted:
- during primary infection - during childbirth or during the first year of life;
- in case of secondary infection - during intimacy (almost 100% probability), through contact and household contact (underwear, household items, food).
If the word “Candida” appears in your test results, do not rush to the pharmacy. The main thing is not the presence of the fungus, but its concentration and the presence of signs of disease. Thrush manifests itself:
- in women - in the form of vulvovaginitis (colpitis);
- in men - in the form of balanoposthitis.
The main signs of thrush in women:
- itching, burning, irritation, swelling, redness of the mucous membranes;
- curdled discharge from the genitals, the smell of the discharge is sour milk;
- pain during sexual intercourse;
- burning when urinating.
If the disease is diagnosed in one “half,” everyone needs treatment. Therapy “one at a time” does not make sense - all the fungi will come back after the first intimacy.
You should not have sex until the thrush is completely cured. If the disease is diagnosed in your sexual partner, and the symptoms do not bother you, you will still have to be treated.
The main signs of infection with Candida fungus in men:
- itching, burning sensation;
- redness, swelling of the head, foreskin, whitish coating;
- pain during intercourse.
Candida is diagnosed in women and men
Candidiasis is diagnosed by:
- external signs;
- results of bacterial culture of smears from the vagina and urethra;
- PCR.
How to cure thrush in a woman?
Candida loves warm, moist places with minimal air access, so the fungus is more than comfortable on the vaginal mucosa. To get rid of an unpleasant neighborhood, you need to use the following drugs:
- local action: vaginal suppositories, tablets, creams with econazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, econazole (Clotrimazole, Pimafucort);
- systemic action: tablets, capsules with fluconazole, itraconazole (Nystatin, Fluconazole, Difluzol, Diflucan);
- drugs to strengthen the immune system, probiotics, symbiotics (Wobenzym, Lactovit, Dactiale, Derma-Pro, Vagilak, Viferon).
Untreated disease spreads quickly
On average, the course of treatment takes from 3 to 6 days. Fungal spores mature within 20 days, so a second course of treatment may be necessary. Some medications (such as Betadine) can be used during menstruation.
In 20% of cases, the treatment prescribed by the doctor does not help. If thrush continues to bother you after a week:
- This is not candidiasis. You will have to retake tests and undergo additional examinations.
- the disease is not caused by Candida albicans, but by another type of fungus that is more difficult to destroy;
- this is a relapse that is possible with diabetes, during antibiotic therapy, or reduced immunity.
If relapses of candidiasis occur more than 4 times a year, the doctor will prescribe preventative treatment.
Chronic and recurrent candidiasis requires lifestyle changes
Topical medications can cause inconvenience - leaking and staining clothes. So that they are evenly distributed over the surface of the vaginal mucosa and do not cause discomfort, it is best to use them before bed. Suppositories and tablets should be placed approximately in the middle of the vagina. Medicines placed too close will leak out, and if placed too far away they can injure the delicate cervix.
If you have thrush, douching and other methods of “washing there” are prohibited, as this causes an imbalance of the microflora.
Diagnostics
It is carried out according to the following system:
- external examination of the patient and identification of visible signs of thrush;
- analyzes of scrapings from the patient’s penis or damaged area of skin, oral mucosa to detect fungal infection;
- research using a microscope;
- complete laboratory examination of the patient’s body.
Once the type of thrush has been established, appropriate treatment is prescribed not only for the man himself, but also for his sexual partner.
How to cure thrush in a man?
Help to overcome candidiasis:
- locally - creams with clotrimazole;
- systemically – fluconazole (drugs Fluconazole, Diflazon, Forkan, Medoflucon, Mikosist).
The duration of the average course of treatment is 5 days.
During treatment, underwear and towels should be changed daily. Hygienic procedures are carried out using products without fragrances or additives. Despite the fact that most drugs are used topically, alcohol should not be consumed during treatment.
Men are prescribed drugs of local and systemic action
How to avoid relapse of candidiasis?
Candida is an opportunistic microorganism that is usually present in the microflora of intimate areas. In order not to provoke its excessive reproduction again:
- strengthen your immune system;
- do not wear tight synthetic underwear;
- observe the rules of personal hygiene;
- take enough vitamins, reduce the amount of fast carbohydrates;
- reduce the amount of foods and drinks that contain mold and yeast;
- use contraception;
- avoid stress.
During treatment for thrush, you will have to adjust your diet
Regardless of lifestyle, thrush can develop:
- when hormonal levels change (pregnancy, taking birth control pills, endocrine diseases);
- after operations;
- as a result of antibiotic therapy;
- during serious illnesses;
- with vaginal dysbiosis;
- after hypothermia.
What drugs are used to treat the disease?
To overcome this disease, the patient is prescribed antifungal drugs. They can be in the form of ointments or tablets, the ingestion or external use of which can regulate the number of pathogenic microorganisms.
The most commonly used drugs are based on the following substances:
- Miconazole. It comes in the form of a spray or cream. When applied, it disrupts the integrity of various pathogenic microorganisms.
- Ketoconazole. Presented in the form of creams, sprays, tablets. A decrease in the fungal population occurs due to a destructive effect on the biosynthesis of some components of the fungal cell membrane.
- Econazole It comes in the form of creams. It affects the lipid structure of the fungal membrane, having a bactericidal and fungicidal effect.
- Clotrimazole. Presented in the form of creams, ointments and solutions. It has a positive effect on yeast and mold fungi, kills gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, dermatophytes.
What happens if thrush is not treated?
Untreated thrush can lead to serious problems.
The diagnosed disease must be treated. Despite the fact that Candida fungus is an opportunistic microorganism, the body needs help to cope with overgrown colonies and neutralize the consequences of their vital activity. Untreated disease:
among women:
- will reduce immunity, resulting in the development of secondary sexually transmitted infections;
- will provoke erosion of the mucous membrane;
- disrupts the menstrual cycle;
- will cause inflammation of the cervix.
for men:
- will lead to prostatitis, vesiculitis, which can cause infertility.
Causes
The appearance of a fungal infection is usually caused by weakened immunity and stress. Bad habits aggravate the situation: excessive alcohol consumption, smoking. Due to a decrease in the protective function, the body cannot cope with maintaining a safe amount of fungal forms, and they enter the phase of active reproduction.
External causes include hypothermia, which also contributes to a decrease in immunity. Therefore, candidiasis can develop against the background of a common cold.
Unprotected sexual intercourse also provokes the active development of infection. Candidiasis itself is not transmitted from partner to partner, but during sex without barrier contraceptives (condoms), fungal microorganisms are exchanged. Usually they do not take root, but if the immunity of one of the partners is weak, the fungi survive, which leads to the development of the disease.
In addition, unprotected sex leads to the risk of contracting STDs, which greatly affect the body's protective properties and can become an additional reason for the active proliferation of Candida fungi.
How to cure thrush during pregnancy?
Statistics say that Candida fungi are detected in 80% of expectant mothers. Before giving birth, you must say goodbye to them. If this event is postponed until later, the baby will become infected during childbirth. Transmission of the fungus is also possible after - during feeding or hygiene procedures. This is fraught with thrush in the mouth, in girls - on the genitals, and a series of subsequent problems with the baby’s health.
To treat expectant mothers, gynecologists prefer to use topical medications - suppositories, tablets, creams. Suppositories Pimafucin and Primafungin can be used in any trimester of pregnancy, Terzhinan tablets - in the second. Systemic drugs are prescribed if the disease cannot be cured locally. Only the doctor prescribes medications and outlines the treatment regimen, depending on the clinical picture; amateur activity is unacceptable here.
Self-medication of candidiasis is unacceptable
Complications
Lack of timely treatment can lead to disruption of the structure of the urethral mucosa, which will complicate the process of urination. The long course of the disease reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings, which leads to loss of pleasure from sexual intercourse. It is much more difficult for a man to achieve orgasm, against the background of which libido disappears and sexual dysfunction may develop.
To avoid consequences, you should consult a doctor immediately after detecting symptoms of candidiasis and follow the treatment recommendations prescribed by a specialist.
Important: traditional methods are extremely ineffective in treating fungal infections. Neglecting the methods of official medicine aggravates the course of the disease and leads to the development of complications.
How to cure oral thrush?
Since Candida fungi live on all mucous membranes, they can cause diseases in the oral cavity. Characteristic features:
- redness of the mucous membrane, swollen palate, gums, throat;
- “geographical” language - the surface is covered with whitish dots, later - with spots shaped like a circle or oval;
- painful swallowing;
- cracks in the corners of the mouth, which quickly become covered with a cheesy coating. The redness increases in size;
- temperature increase;
- enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes.
Untreated candidiasis moves from the tongue to the cheeks, then to the lips and throat. When you try to scrape off the plaque, blood appears.
Candidiasis of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity is diagnosed visually (at advanced stages), based on the results of bacterial culture and laryngoscopy. When treating children, drugs are selected taking into account their age category.
Candida fungi can even live in the mouth
Thrush in the mouth is especially dangerous for infants. Discomfort in the oral cavity causes them to refuse to suck, which is why dehydration and exhaustion quickly develop. A fungal infection can spread to other vital organs - the intestines, lungs, etc. Girls develop vaginal candidiasis, which provokes inflammation and the development of synechiae.
Advanced thrush threatens the baby's life
To overcome the disease at the initial stage, it is enough to treat the oral cavity and affected areas with an antiseptic solution (for example, Miramistin, Hexoral, Maxicold) and an antifungal drug (for example, Candide, Nystatin). You can rinse your mouth with a soda solution. At more severe stages, systemic drugs are used - Fluconazole, Mikosist, Fucis, Diflucan. Lips and skin can be treated with antihistamines (Fenistil). Avoid contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth).
Untreated fungus colonizes the palate, esophagus, lungs, and other organs
During the treatment period, reduce your consumption of sweets, avoid smoked foods, spicy, salty foods, foods containing yeast, and mold.
Do not under any circumstances lubricate the affected areas of the mucous membranes and skin with rose jam. This promotes the growth of fungal colonies.
Treatment of all types of thrush should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Strengthen your immune system, follow the recommendations of nutritionists, use contraceptives, and most likely you will not face an unpleasant neighborhood. Be healthy!
Sources
- Bogomolova, N.S. Candidiasis in the surgical clinic: species composition of pathogens, sensitivity to antibiotics, preventive therapy / N.S. Bogomolova [and others] // Anesthesiology and resuscitation. - 2011. - No. 5. - pp. 43-48;
- Voznesensky, A.G. Clinical pharmacology of antifungal drugs / A.G. Voznesensky // Gedeon Richter in the CIS. - 2001. - No. 2(6). - pp. 50-53;
- Volosach, O.S. Method of combined immunotherapy for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases complicated by candidiasis: instructions for use No. 084-0909: approved. 09.17.2009 / Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus; comp. O.S. Volosach, V.M. Tsirkunov, S.B. Poznyak, S.M. Deshko.
How to treat thrush (gynecologist L. Shupenyuk answers)
How to cure thrush in women and men. Simple tips. Effective means
Symptoms of the disease
Taking antibiotics can cause thrush
In order to visit a doctor on time and begin treatment, every man should know what symptoms thrush will manifest and how to distinguish it from a sexually transmitted disease. There are several main symptoms that may bother a man with thrush:
- Itching or burning sensation on the head of the penis. This is the very first thing a man should pay attention to, since such sensations cannot exist in a normal state
- Irritation of the head, which also causes considerable discomfort
- The appearance of slight swelling, which in some cases may not be noticeable
- Discharge that has a cheesy consistency, as well as a rather sour and unpleasant odor. This is the main symptom of thrush, which a man should be aware of, since the appearance of such discharge directly indicates the very initial stage of the disease
- The formation of a film on the head of the penis, which slightly changes the structure of the skin underneath
- Painful sensations at the moment when a man goes to the toilet. This refers to urination
- Painful sensations during sexual intercourse. This symptom indicates that the disease has gone too far, since it is absent at the initial stages of its development
- Increased body temperature
In several percent of cases, this disease can be completely asymptomatic in men, thereby becoming an ideal source of infection during unprotected sexual intercourse. If at least one of the above symptoms appears, a man should contact a specialist, since if not treated in a timely manner, the problem may become more serious.
