It starts off being a slight itch that is barely recognizable. Next thing you notice, the itch becomes a bit more annoying. The first thing you want to blame is clothing that may be a little too tight. Though tight fitting clothing may have something to do with it, that annoying little itch is the cause of a health condition that affects millions of people each and every day.
This particular health condition is a fungus whose technical name is Candida, and causes what is often called a yeast infection. Candida infections are most common in teenage girls and women aged 16 to 35, although they can occur in girls as young as 10 or 11 and in older women. Candida infections are known to affect in men and boys as well, though the occurrences are far less often. You do not have to be sexually active to get a candida infection.
The Food and Drug Administration now permits medicines that used to be prescription-only to be sold without a prescription to treat recurring candida infections. If you have never been treated for a candida infection you should see a doctor before attempting any form of treatment based on self-diagnosis. Your doctor may advise you to use one of the over-the-counter products or may prescribe a drug called Diflucan (fluconazole). FDA recently approved the drug, a tablet taken by mouth, for clearing up candida infections with just one dose. This is typically the treatment prescribed for more severe or resistant cases of candida infections.
Though itching is a primary and most recognizable symptom of candida infections, if you've never had a candida infection, it is difficult to be certain just what is causing your discomfort. Once a health care provider confirms a diagnosis of a candida infection, if you should have one again, you are more likely to recognize the symptoms that make it different from similar problems. You should contact your health care provider if you have any doubts at all.
In addition to intense itching, another symptom of a candida infection is a white curdy or thick discharge that is mostly odorless. Although some women have discharges midway between their menstrual periods, these are usually not related to candida infections, especially if discharge is not accompanied by itching.
Other symptoms of a candida infection may include – soreness, rash on outer lips of the vagina and burning, especially during urination.
Not everyone affected by a candida infection will experience all these symptoms, and if intense itching is not present it likely to be something else.
Candida is a fungus often present in the human body. It only causes problems when there are excess amounts in the body. It is during these times that candida infections can occur not only in the vagina but in other parts of the body as well, and in either females or males. Though there are four different types of candida that can cause these infections, nearly eighty percent are caused by a variety called Candida albicans.
The most common cause of candida infections is a lowered or challenged immune system. This can happen when your body becomes run down from doing too much and not getting enough rest or it can result from another illness.
Though not usual, recurring candida infections, especially if they don't subside with proper treatment, may be the first indication that a woman is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
FDA requires that over-the-counter (OTC) products to treat candida infections carry the following warning:
If you experience vaginal yeast infections frequently (they recur within a two-month period) or if you have vaginal yeast infections that do not clear up easily with proper treatment, you should see your doctor promptly to determine the cause and receive proper medical care.
Recurring candida infections can also be linked to other, less serious, illnesses or physical and mental stress. Other known causes include - use of antibiotics and some other medications, including birth control pills, significant change in the diet, poor nutrition, diabetes and pregnancy.
Some women get mild infections that are similar to candida infections towards the end of their menstrual periods, likely in response to the body's hormonal changes. These mild infections sometimes go away without treatment as the menstrual cycle progresses. Pregnant women are also more prone to develop candida infections.
Hot, humid weather has been a long time culprit in providing an environment that makes it easier for candida infections to develop. Another known culprit is wearing layers of clothing in the winter that make you too warm indoors can also increase the likelihood of infection. This is primarily because candida infections thrive in warm moist environments.
Many believe that candida infections are not usually sexually transmitted, but they can be transmitted during sex.
The best defense against a candida infection is to not to have sex. If you do have sex, using a condom will help prevent transmission of candida infections, just as it helps prevent transmission of more commonly sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, and helps prevent pregnancy.
If one partner has a candida infection, the other partner should also be treated for it. Although a man is less likely than a woman to be aware of having a candida infection because he may not have any symptoms, if his partner is infected he should be treated as well. When symptoms do occur for males, they may include a moist, white, scaling rash on the penis, and itchiness or redness under the foreskin. As with females, lowered immunity, rather than sexual transmission, is the most frequent cause of genital candida infections in males.
The over-the-counter products for vaginal candida infections have one of four active ingredients: butoconazole nitrate (Femstat 3), clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin and others), miconazole (Monistat 7 and others), and tioconazole (Vagistat). These drugs are in the same anti-fungal family and work in similar ways to break down the cell wall of the Candida organism until it dissolves. FDA approved the switch of Femstat 3 from prescription to over-the-counter status December 1996 and a similar switch for Vagistat in February 1997. The others have been available over-the-counter for a few years.
When you visit the doctor the first time you have a candida infection, you can ask which product may be best for you and discuss the advantages of the different forms the products come in: vaginal suppositories (inserts) and creams with special applicators. Remember to read the warnings on the product's labeling carefully and follow the directions.
Symptoms usually improve within a few days, but it's important to continue using the medication for the number of days directed, even if you no longer have symptoms.
As with any medication, side effects are possible. Contact your doctor if you have the following - abdominal pain, fever, or a foul-smelling discharge, no improvement within three days or if the symptoms recur within two months.
Over-the-counter products are only for vaginal candida infections. They should not be used by men or for candida infections in other areas of the body, such as the mouth or under the fingernails.
Candida infections in the mouth are often called "thrush." Symptoms include creamy white patches that cover painful areas in the mouth, throat, or on the tongue. Because other infections cause similar symptoms, it's important to go to a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Wearing artificial fingernails increases the chance of getting candida infections under the natural fingernails. Fungal infections start in the space between the artificial and natural nails, which become discolored. Treatment for these types of infections--as well as those that occur in other skin folds, such as underarms or between toes--require different products, most of which are available only with a written prescription from your doctor.
Knowing the causes and symptoms of candida infections can help you take the necessary measures to greatly reduce the chances of getting a candida infection, that can include getting out of the habit of wearing clothing items that are too tight.
