Thrush in women causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention. Inflammation and candidiasis How can female inflammation of thrush be treated

The reasons why some adult women are more at risk of developing vaginal candidiasis are not yet fully understood. It is only important to understand that "thrush" is always a disease-consequence - a consequence of any external factors affecting the body, or a consequence of internal changes occurring in it.

In diabetes mellitus, there is an increased content of glucose (sugar) not only in the blood and urine, but also in the cells of the vaginal epithelium and the secretion of the mucosa. The increased sugar content contributes to a change in the pH of the vaginal secretion. Normally, the pH of the vaginal secretion is in the range from 3.8 to 4.2, i.e. is sour. In diabetes, the pH of the vaginal secretion becomes even more acidic, which favors the overgrowth and reproduction of yeast fungi of the genus Candida. This is why women with diabetes are more likely to develop thrush. You should be aware that the risk of developing candidiasis also increases with a number of other endocrinological diseases (pathology of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, reduced ovarian function, etc.).

Damage to the tissues of the vagina

Any injury to the external genitalia, such as from rubbing with tight or uncomfortable underwear, using a hard bath towel, or during intercourse, increases the risk of developing thrush.

Among other factors contributing to the development of urogenital candidiasis, it should be noted: frequent change of sexual partners, use of hygienic tampons, spermicidal foam, perfume soap, bath foam, intimate sprays and deodorants, excessive indulgence in vaginal douches and douching, especially with the addition of chemicals . All of them are able to change the acidity of the vaginal secretion, as well as cause damage to the delicate tissues of the vagina.

Taking hormonal
contraceptives

Combined contraceptives contain hormones - estrogen and progesterone, which change the level of their own hormones in a woman's body. High doses of progesterone in the blood can negatively affect the immune system, and an increase in estrogen levels leads to the accumulation of glycogen in the cells of the vaginal mucosa, which is a good breeding ground for fungi. Thus, the amount of Candida in the vagina is directly related to the level of these hormones. That is why taking oral contraceptives containing even minimal doses of hormones increases the risk of developing "thrush" in adult women.

Symptoms of "thrush" in women can increase in the week before menstruation, which is also due to changes in estrogen levels. Thus, hormonal changes that occur in a woman's body before menstruation, during menopause, can also be a possible cause of urogenital candidiasis in some of them.

Prolonged wearing of tight
tight-fitting underwear

Mushrooms of the genus Candida love heat and moisture. It is these conditions that are created in the crotch with the constant wearing of tight-fitting underwear made of synthetic fabrics - nylon panties, overalls, tights, etc. The fabrics from which they are made do not allow air to pass through well and do not allow the skin to “breathe”, creating a kind of “greenhouse effect”. Elevated temperature provokes increased sweating. However, as a result of impaired air exchange, moisture does not evaporate, but remains on the surface of the skin. In addition, we should not forget that tight underwear as a result of friction can cause the formation of microtraumas.

Update: December 2018

Vaginal candidiasis in women, the so-called thrush, is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa due to the growth of colonies of yeast fungi of the genus Candida.

Taking antibiotics, poor nutrition, hormonal disruptions, a decrease in the body's defenses after serious illnesses or against the background of prolonged stress or overwork, hygiene violations are.

Symptoms of the disease can be either bright, intense, or they may be absent or subtle. If the diagnosis and treatment of thrush is not carried out in a timely manner, then the disease becomes chronic, often recurrent, causing severe discomfort, pain, which significantly worsens the woman's well-being.

Signs of thrush in women

Since thrush is often asymptomatic, and it often accompanies other gynecological diseases, including latent sexually transmitted infections, you should contact a qualified specialist to establish the correct diagnosis. With intensive reproduction of pathogenic fungal agents, a pronounced thrush occurs in women, the symptoms of which are quite typical:

• One of the signs of thrush in women is itching and burning in the vagina and in the vulva. An internal burning sensation is especially intense when a woman sits cross-legged, this is one of the tests for thrush ().
• At the same time, the volume of secretions increases, they become white with a sour smell, but there may not be a smell.
• For thrush is characterized by heterogeneity of the consistency of discharge, they take the form of small lumps, similar to particles of cottage cheese, as they say, curd consistency, hence the name of vaginal candidiasis - thrush.
• Many women who have been diagnosed with candidiasis complain of an increase in discharge at night, after various water procedures, or after sexual intercourse.
• A common symptom of thrush in women is redness and swelling of the small, large labia, spreading to the anus.

• Inflammation, burning, itching, swelling of the vaginal mucosa provoke pain during intercourse.
• For the same reason, pain can also occur during urination.
• It is not uncommon for an erased course of candidiasis, when the symptoms of thrush in women are mild and only one of the listed signs can disturb.
• Thrush in women often goes away on their own during menstruation, as the microflora of the vagina becomes more alkaline, unfavorable for fungi.
• The situation becomes more serious if the disease becomes chronic. Recurrence occurs more than 4 times a year, appearing, as a rule, a week before menstruation.
• Often, recurrent thrush is more difficult to treat and leads to complications when the intestines, bladder and other organs and tissues are involved in the pathological process.
• Not infrequently, thrush accompanies other infectious diseases, such as genital herpes, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, etc.

The table presents a comparative description of some symptoms of thrush, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginitis (gardnerelosis -). These are only the most characteristic symptoms, which should not be considered as a diagnosis at all. Even the most experienced doctor, only on the basis of complaints and examination, cannot exclude the presence of other sexual infections in a woman, which often accompany thrush, therefore self-diagnosis and self-treatment are unacceptable. Only the attending gynecologist should diagnose vaginal candidiasis and prescribe treatment.

Diagnosis of thrush

When visiting a gynecologist, a woman should be ready to answer questions that a doctor may ask her in order to find out the clinical picture and symptoms that bother her:

• Describe in detail all the symptoms that bother you.
• When did they first appear?
• How much have the signs of the disease changed after they appeared?
• Describe the consistency, smell, color and amount of discharge.
• What provokes a deterioration in your condition, what, on the contrary, helps?
• Have there been similar symptoms before?
• Have you been treated for any STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) before?
• How many sexual partners do you have and are you sexually active?
• How do you protect yourself, what methods of contraception do you use?
• If there is a regular partner, does he have discharge from the penis?
• Have you recently taken any antibiotics or other medicines?
• The day of the last period, is the cycle regular, how long does the period last and how many days does the menstrual cycle last?
• Do you use douching, by what means and why? (not recommended as both useless and dangerous)
• What chronic diseases do you have, which ones do you suffer from now or in the past?

After collecting anamnesis, the gynecologist conducts an examination on the chair, and takes the cervix.

Microscopic examination of a smear in women with thrush finds fungal mycelium, in large quantities. However, this is considered a quick method, but not informative, because it does not provide information about the type of fungus that is causing the disease.

To find out the type of fungus, a bacterial inoculation of a smear on nutrient special media should be carried out, with a further determination of the colonies formed, and their sensitivity, the susceptibility of Candida fungi to various ones. The quantitative factor of the identified fungal colonies is also taken into account, since the detection of a small amount is the norm with a healthy vaginal microflora.

Clinical studies and observations conducted by specialists indicate that thrush often occurs not as an independent disease, but in combination with other sexually transmitted infections. With thrush in women, the symptoms perfectly mask hidden infections, which in recent decades have tended to become widespread.

Therefore, a differential diagnosis of thrush with gardnerelosis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes is necessary. To do this, it is enough to consult a venereologist, take a comprehensive PCR test for STIs, and donate blood using the RIF and ELISA rapid tests.

In addition, in the chronic course of thrush, a woman should undergo a comprehensive examination, since often the first is the appearance of thrush, so you should donate blood to. If the norm is exceeded, then it is necessary to contact an endocrinologist, and in the future to follow a diet.

Also, with thrush, a woman should be examined by a gastroenterologist - do an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, take an analysis for, pass feces for a coprogram, if there are indications, then undergo FGS and other diagnostics.

If the thrush has already provoked complications in the urinary tract, then you should also visit a urologist, take a swab from the urethra, urinalysis according to Zimnitsky, and conduct an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys.

When should you consult a gynecologist?

Complications of thrush

With chronic thrush, a woman can experience a number of complications:

The spread of a fungal infection occurs in the absence of treatment, or a weak immune response to ongoing therapy. First of all, the cervix may be susceptible to the development of candidiasis, leading to cervicitis, the bladder - cystitis, the urethra - urethritis.

The combination of STIs with thrush is especially dangerous, it is fraught with serious inflammatory gynecological processes leading to infertility.

With a slight development, thrush does not cause serious harm to a woman's health, but constantly worries and creates discomfort for a normal sexual life.

Thrush can be the first sign of serious diseases, such as HIV infection, diabetes mellitus, etc. And if, after treating it once, the thrush returns, this indicates a weakening of the immune system, and candidiasis is a signal, an indicator, an external manifestation of a decrease in the body's defenses or a violation of metabolic or hormonal processes. ().

With recurrent, frequent thrush in women, the symptoms of which are bright, along with the treatment of candidiasis, the cause of the decrease in immunity should be found and eliminated. Otherwise, thrush may occur again and again. In our article, you can learn in detail about the drugs used to treat vaginal candidiasis, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using.

Prevention of thrush in women

First of all, you should always observe intimate hygiene, do not use tampons for more than 4 hours, change pads often, both daily and during menstruation - this is very important!

When using antibiotics () for the treatment of other diseases, various probiotics should be taken before and after treatment that normalize the intestinal microflora (whole)

Adequate and timely treatment of any diseases, including chronic, STDs or hormonal disruptions.

For the prevention of thrush, a woman should wear only cotton underwear, avoid tight-fitting, squeezing underwear - thongs, tight tights, jeans.

Do not use hygienic antibacterial gels, intimate hygiene soaps, colored scented toilet paper, which can affect the acidity of the microflora.

If a woman has a humid environment that causes an exacerbation of thrush, you should dry yourself thoroughly after bathing, do not stay in a wet swimsuit for a long time, it is ideal to have a spare dry swimsuit to change into after bathing while relaxing on the shore.

Thrush or candidiasis is an infection caused by a fungus of the genus Candida. In general, not a terrible, but very nasty itchy phenomenon that can occur both in the vagina in women and on the penis in men. The itching at the same time can be so strong that the person literally jumps up and has an irresistible desire to scratch a known place.

Why did this fungal infection get such a "milk" name? Everything is very simple: if candidiasis affects the vagina, whitish curdled “flakes” appear inside it, which then turn into discharge of the same color.

If the fungus settles on the penis, then it is covered with a white "milk" coating. At the same time, the genitals itch in both sexes equally strongly and constantly.

The reasons for its occurrence

In both girls and women, the vagina is normally moderately acidic: its microflora consists mainly of lactobacilli. As long as such an environment inside the vagina is maintained, and lactobacilli multiply and function normally, they create a kind of barrier for the development of a fungal infection.

The hormone estrogen is responsible for favorable conditions for the vital activity of lactic acid bacteria in the female body: its balanced production contributes to the formation of natural microflora.

It has been proven that spores of fungi of the genus candida normally also colonize the vagina in a small amount. Only, while lactobacilli are in force, the number of these spores is insignificant, therefore a person does not feel their presence in any way.

If there is a change in the microflora of the vagina, the number of lactobacilli decreases significantly, the level of acidity rises and the environment becomes extremely favorable for the reproduction of fungi. As a result, candida becomes active, begins to grow and multiply - thrush occurs.

Taking antibiotics

Ceteris paribus, if a person is generally healthy, thrush most often develops after antibiotics. Even a gynecologist or urologist who discovers thrush in a patient who does not suffer from chronic diseases, first of all asks the question: “Have you taken antibiotics lately?”

In the destruction of harmful bacteria, these powerful drugs do not work on the principle of “pinpoint strikes”. They kill all bacteria that are resistant to this type of antibiotics. Therefore, the “useful inhabitants” of the microflora living in the intestines, in the vagina, in the oral cavity and even on the skin can suffer.

The consequence of the death of lactobacilli, as noted above, is a change in the microflora of the internal environment of the body to the acidic side, and this contributes to the reproduction of the fungus.

Thus, in cases of strong or prolonged exposure to antibiotics on the body, thrush can develop not only in the vagina in girls and women, or on the penis in men, but also in the intestines, in the oral cavity, as well as on the surface of the skin and nails.

Presence of untreated or chronic diseases

Chronic infections, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) - all these are also the causes of thrush. All of these diseases weaken the immune system, affect the natural microflora, and are accompanied by the growth of a fungal infection.

Well, STDs also serve as an independent channel for the transmission of thrush from person to person. This means that if one of the sexual partners already has it, then the other is likely to get it too.

Weakened immunity

A decrease in the body's immune forces associated with stress, hypothermia, beriberi, overwork can also lead to candidiasis.

Reduced immunity for any of the above reasons is characterized by a change in the hormonal background, and hence, a violation of the acid-base balance. And we already know: if the microflora changes in the acidic direction, conditions arise for the reproduction of fungi.

Pregnancy period

Pregnant women undergo hormonal changes that are so dramatic that they can be compared to a hormonal storm. And not just strong, but long lasting.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to an acid-base "imbalance", leading to an increase in the acidity of the vaginal microflora. And as we remember, such an environment is favorable for the development of candidiasis.

Thrush symptoms

We found out for what reasons men and women have thrush, and what it is. But what are the characteristic features that make it possible to determine that it is she, and not something else?

Actually, milky and curdled discharge from the vagina or on the penis is the most important symptom of candidiasis.

In addition to this, thrush may be accompanied by the following manifestations:

1. Since the mucous membrane of the vagina or penis is irritated by the fungus, both women and men may experience extremely unpleasant sensations during urination: burning, pain.
2. The genital area may become quite red and swollen. In this case, on top of the reddened mucosa there will be the white coating already mentioned above. In men - just a plaque, in women - something like curdled flakes with a slight sour smell.

1. Sexual relations cease to be enjoyable: during intercourse, severe discomfort, pain, burning or itching may occur.
2. In girls, all of the above manifestations of the disease before menstruation can also intensify.

Actually, the listed symptoms of thrush already in themselves force her to be treated, since the sensations of her carrier are extremely unpleasant, and the quality of life, including sexual life, is noticeably reduced.

Why is it dangerous if left untreated?

To convince you of the need for treatment, here are a few more examples of negative consequences:

1. Untreated thrush can lead to deeper inflammation of the genitourinary system, for example, in women, it can affect the urethra and bladder, and the cervix. In men - provoke inflammation of the head of the penis and foreskin.
2. From the genitals, candidiasis can spread to other parts of the body: into the mouth, stomach, intestines, external skin, nails.
3. Thrush not cured during pregnancy is terrible for the unborn baby: during the passage through the birth canal, he can become infected with candidiasis from the mother. And since newborns have not yet developed their own immunity, the disease can be very difficult.

Can thrush appear in men?

Yes, and we have already mentioned this more than once. Dear men! Please do not underestimate the danger of candidiasis for you: this is not a purely female disease!

1. Watch your health and get treated for any diseases in time, because they can weaken your immunity, and this, as we have already understood, is a favorable factor for thrush.
2. Be vigilant in your sex life, because candidiasis can be picked up from a sexual partner.
3. Carefully follow the rules of intimate hygiene.

If you become:

• it hurt to urinate
• burns the head of the penis,
• the skin on the penis inexorably itches,
• obscenely want to scratch the causal place,
• the penis was covered with some kind of whitish coating - you know, this is how thrush appears.

These are the most characteristic of her symptoms and a reason for an urgent visit to the urologist!

What to do if symptoms of candidiasis are detected?

First of all, of course, visit a doctor. Women - the road to the gynecologist, men - to the urologist. To confirm the diagnosis, a smear is usually taken, which, after a laboratory analysis, will allow you to give a confident answer, including about a specific type of fungus.

Remember, self-medication, self-selection of medicines, as well as the use of all kinds of folk remedies (baths, douches) at home can only aggravate the course of the disease and even lead to complications.

Itching, burning and vaginal discharge are not only thrush, they are a frequent companion of other gynecological and urological diseases, such as vaginosis and trichomoniasis.

Therefore, only a doctor can put or refute the presence of thrush, as well as prescribe the right treatment based on the results of tests and examinations.

How is thrush treated?

The use of drugs

After the diagnosis is made, antimycotic drugs are usually prescribed. Most likely, for women it will be vaginal suppositories (suppositories) of local action, for men - a special ointment, also locally. With prolonged candidiasis, drugs for internal use in tablets can also be prescribed.

Maintaining hygiene and avoiding panty liners

To speed up the treatment of thrush, as well as to prevent its reappearance, it is necessary to regularly wash and change underwear. This applies to both women and men. Washing panties in the machine should be done at high temperatures.

Also, ladies are strongly recommended at least for a while (or better for good) to stop using panty liners, especially colored and flavored ones. It has been proven that they can provoke and even aggravate the course of vaginal candidiasis, as they create a warm, humid environment on their surface.

Panty liners for critical days should also be chosen without fragrances with the most natural composition, and changed as often as possible. It is also better to refuse tampons until complete recovery.

Refusal of synthetic underwear

In continuation of the hygiene topic, we note that the use of synthetic underwear during the fight against candidiasis is highly discouraged, since synthetics impede air circulation in the genital area and create a humid, fungal-friendly environment.

Therefore, it is better to prefer panties made from natural materials: cotton, linen, bamboo. In general, it is desirable to do this on an ongoing basis, but for the duration of the treatment of thrush it is a must.

Power correction

In the process of treating thrush, it is necessary to pay attention to the diet.

From the diet should be excluded or at least severely limited:

• all kinds of sweets (replacing them with a moderate amount of fresh fruit);
• foods rich in starch (potatoes, peas, corn, white rice, as well as white bread and other products made from white flour);
• products containing yeast (baking, beer) and mold (blue cheese),
• spicy, sour, pickled and smoked foods,
• vinegar, ketchup, mustard, soy and other sauces and dressings.

Sugar and starch are the ideal environment for fungi, including candida. And sour and spicy foods, although harmful to fungal colonies, can increase irritation in the perineum.

But kefir, curdled milk and other fermented milk products (without sugar!) should, on the contrary, be included in your daily diet.

Watch your food reactions and watch your diet. And be healthy!

Video: causes of thrush and its treatment

Many women know what unpleasant symptoms are with thrush. Discomfort, itching and burning in the vagina deprive you of rest, bring you to a nervous breakdown. For some time, the disease subsides, but at any moment there is an exacerbation. Many are perplexed where the fungus comes from and how you can get infected with it, what are the reasons for the appearance of thrush in women. Everything that contributes to the death of beneficial lactobacilli provokes the formation of pathogenic microflora. Strengthening the immune system is an important measure to prevent the reproduction of infection in the body.

Content:

How does thrush occur

Thrush is called candidal vaginitis - an infectious fungal disease. Fungi of the genus Candida, its pathogens, are representatives of conditionally pathogenic microflora. This means that in small quantities they are normal inhabitants of the skin and all mucous membranes of the body, without harming up to a certain point.

The disease occurs when the fungus begins to multiply uncontrollably. The normal microflora of the vagina contains about 40 species of living microorganisms, and lactic acid bacteria (Dederlein sticks) and bifidobacteria should prevail in it. They prevent the development of pathogenic microbes. Mushrooms begin to multiply uncontrollably if a person’s immunity decreases for some reason (after surgery or stress, for example).

The development of fungi is favored by a warm (21°-37°), moist, slightly acidic environment. You can kill fungi only with the help of special antifungal drugs that destroy their structure.

Interestingly, it is impossible to get rid of thrush with the help of probiotics - drugs that increase the content of lactic acid bacteria. An excess of lactobacilli, on the contrary, enhances the growth of the fungus, since the acidic environment kills only its competitors, which need a slightly alkaline environment for life. Mushrooms thrive in an acidic environment.

Infection with the fungus occurs both in the domestic way (through bed linen, bath towels) and sexually.

Thrush symptoms

The manifestations of thrush are hard to miss. A woman has characteristic copious discharge, resembling a curdled mass. They are white in color and smell like sour milk. Thanks to these signs, the disease got its unofficial name.

On the mucous membranes of the vagina there is a white coating. There is intense itching in the vagina. It increases after menstruation, during intercourse. The condition gets worse in the evening. Pain and burning are especially felt in the heat or after a bath.

Video: Causes of thrush development

Causes of thrush

The main causes of thrush in women, giving impetus to the development of fungi in the vagina, are:

• decreased immune defense;
• hormonal changes in the body;
• violation of the composition of the bacterial environment and the acidity of the vagina;
• non-observance of hygiene rules;
• eating a large number of sweet and starchy foods.

Many factors contribute to these causes.

Weakened immunity

The state of a woman's immune system depends on her health, physical form, conditions and lifestyle, diet, bad habits. A sharp decrease in immunity contributes to the occurrence of chronic diseases of various organs (liver, kidneys, heart, intestines). The load on the immune system increases in the presence of inflammatory processes, injuries, after surgical operations.

A person gets sick more often if the body is weakened due to malnutrition (starvation, lack of proteins and vitamins in food), lack of sleep, exhaustion of the nervous system, lack of normal sanitary and living conditions. A sedentary lifestyle, lack of hardening lead to the fact that a person often suffers from colds, which take away the strength necessary to protect against infection. Smoking, addiction to alcohol, drug addiction also increase sensitivity to infections, and can cause an exacerbation of thrush.

Hormonal background

The ratio of various hormones is interconnected with the work of the reproductive system. Often, thrush worsens before menstruation, during pregnancy, with menopause. This is due to the influence of hormones on the state of the genital organs, the structure of their mucous membranes, and the body's susceptibility to infection.

The cause of hormonal changes can be the use of hormonal medications and contraceptives, endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders. Often, the causes of thrush in women are diabetes, obesity, and disruption of the thyroid gland.

Changes in the composition of the microflora of the vagina

The reasons for the violation of the bacterial flora can be:

1. Prolonged or uncontrolled use of antibiotics. By killing pathogenic bacteria (streptococci, staphylococci), they simultaneously destroy the beneficial microflora that inhibits the growth of fungi, which leads to their overgrowth in the intestines, from where the fungus can easily enter the vagina.
2. Frequent douching, use of alkaline intimate hygiene products. There is a washing out of beneficial bacteria, a change in the acidity of the environment, and overdrying of the vaginal mucosa.
3. Misuse of probiotics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. They can be used to restore the bacterial environment only in the absence of fungi in the microflora.
4. Eating a large amount of sweets, yeast dough products. In addition to creating a favorable environment for the development of fungi, there is also an increase in blood sugar, which contributes to the onset of diabetes.

Addition: Changes in the microflora of the vagina also occur when changing sexual partners. Thrush is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease, but infection of a woman during sexual intercourse is not uncommon. In men, the disease usually occurs in a latent form, so infection is quite possible through unprotected sexual contact.

Violation of hygiene standards

The reason for the exacerbation of thrush can be improper care of the genitals, including during menstruation, a rare change of underwear and sanitary pads. The reproduction of the fungus is promoted by wearing tight synthetic panties, which favor the penetration of infection into the vagina from the intestines.

Video: Causes that provoke the appearance of thrush. Prevention measures

What is dangerous thrush

This disease is dangerous, first of all, during pregnancy, since infection of the fetus can occur during childbirth. Congenital thrush in a child provokes the appearance of various inflammatory diseases. Candida fungi begin to develop in the mucous membrane of the mouth, intestines, and lungs of the baby.

A woman infects a man with thrush, without even knowing it, if the disease becomes chronic and its signs disappear for a while. Unpleasant symptoms complicate sexual life.

Thrush often becomes the first sign of diabetes, the presence of HIV. It complicates the treatment of other concomitant infectious diseases of the genital organs.

Prevention of thrush

In order to reduce the risk of developing candidiasis, a woman should take care of strengthening the immune system (this is facilitated by hardening, outdoor activities, and the fight against a lack of vitamins in the body). It is necessary to control body weight and metabolism. To do this, you need to limit the use of sweet and baked products, salt, fatty foods.

An important preventive measure is the timely treatment of endocrine disorders, inflammatory and other diseases of the genital organs.

Warning: Antibiotics and hormonal agents should be used only in doses prescribed by a doctor.

It is required to maintain normal bowel function (avoid constipation, diarrhea). It is recommended to wear underwear made from natural materials, to minimize the use of panty liners. With thrush, you can not smoke, drink alcohol.

Content

Many women periodically experience symptoms of a disease called thrush or candidiasis. Only at an appointment with a qualified gynecologist will you receive complete information about what thrush is and how to heal from it. Self-treatment in this case is very undesirable, because. the disease, if ignored or improperly treated, smoothly turns into a chronic form, which has more dangerous health consequences than its initial stage.

Causes of thrush

What is a thrush? This is a disease caused by the yeast fungus Candida. Representatives of conditionally pathogenic flora are found in the body of all people, in the mouth, intestines, genital mucosa and on the skin. Surprisingly, these fungi can be beneficial, they are involved in the synthesis of B vitamins. But, due to certain conditions, the number of fungi increases and then the person feels all the “charms” of candidiasis.

You can literally get sick with candidiasis from everything. Scientists are still arguing about what thrush is, a variety of versions have been put forward. There is not one reason, but several. Vaginal candidiasis - manifests itself mainly in women, but the manifestation of symptoms of thrush is not excluded in children and men. Let's look at a few possible reasons.

Among women

What is thrush and what causes it? The most basic reason is a decrease in acidity in the vagina, i.e. violation of its normal microflora, this occurs due to a number of circumstances:

• underwear made of synthetics, which creates conditions for the reproduction of bacteria;
• taking antibiotics. They act on the microflora of the human body by destroying beneficial bacteria called saprophytes, which have a protective function and prevent the reproduction of fungi;
• taking contraceptive drugs often causes hormonal disorders;
• sweet tooth are more prone to fungal manifestations;
• improperly selected or cheap means for hygiene of intimate areas;
• stressful situations, depression;
• during a long journey by train or bus, due to a forced sitting position;
• hormonal disorders due to diabetes and pregnancy lead to hormonal disorders.
• during the climax.

In men

Men are also susceptible to infection with thrush. In the stronger sex, candidiasis can be caused by balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans penis of fungal etiology). Candidiasis in this case strikes the inner leaf of the foreskin with great speed, causing a lot of inconvenience. A feature of the male disease is both a bright, abrupt onset and its rapid disappearance, although this does not mean that it is not necessary to be treated.

In children

In teenage virgin girls, when the formation of the hormonal system occurs, thrush may begin. Can cause disease

• improper hygiene;
• wearing synthetic tight-fitting underwear;
• sitting on cold surfaces such as tiles, stones, earth.

If the expectant mother has candidiasis, then during childbirth, passing through the birth canal, the baby in 98% of cases will become infected with these bacteria. The disease often appears in children under one year of age in the mouth. This trouble appears in infants or in those whose diet is one milk. Reasons for the manifestation of candidiasis in children:

• the dry air of the room where the child is located leads to a decrease in saliva in the mouth, which protects the mucous membrane;
• rare walks in the fresh air;
• prolonged baby cries;
• difficult nasal breathing leads to drying of saliva, the protective functions of the mucosa decrease, which contributes to the growth of the fungus;
• Mold in the room promotes the growth of fungus.

Types of disease

There are a lot of types of candidiasis, more and more often researchers are discovering new subspecies of this disease:

1. Spicy- the initial stage of the development of thrush, when all the symptoms appear brightly, the clinical picture is confirmed by the result of the tests. This period lasts up to one month.
2. Chronic candidiasis is acquired due to ignoring the symptoms, the infected person does not seek help from a specialist or self-medicates.
3. Candida sepsis- the most severe and rare form, when the blood and all internal organs are infected with fungi. It begins due to a strong decrease in the body's defenses, for example, during immunodeficiency syndrome or after chemotherapy for cancer patients.

According to its localization, candidiasis is divided into the following types:

1. Candida fungus of the genitourinary system. The area of ​​the vagina is affected with the transition to the external genitalia, sometimes the urethra and bladder become inflamed. In men, it manifests itself on the glans penis in the form of redness and the formation of ulcers, microcracks.
2. Thrush of the oral mucosa- the disease manifests itself in both young children and adults. It is localized on the tongue, cheeks, gums and is called candidal stomatitis.
3. Candidiasis of the surface of the skin, nails.

Symptoms

What is vaginal thrush and how does it manifest itself? Symptoms help to suspect the disease, but only diagnostic tests can reliably confirm it. Candida albicans can greatly worsen a girl's well-being. In the early days, when candidiasis is in acute form, the symptoms of the disease are:

• general weakness, increased body temperature;
• unbearable itching inside the vagina and genital area;
• vaginal discharge in large quantities, they have a bright white color and a sour smell;
• pain when urinating;
• itching and pain in the sphincter area, the presence of microcracks on the walls of the anus, pain during defecation;
• pain during sexual activity.

What is male thrush and what to do when it appears? In the stronger sex, the disease often occurs without symptoms, but if they are, then some inconvenience is felt:

• redness of the entire head of the penis;
• pain and burning during urination;
• plaque on the surface of the glans penis.

What is a baby thrush? This disease in the oral cavity, manifests itself in the form of small red spots with a characteristic whitish coating on the tongue and cheeks. At the same time, it is considered the norm when a child under one year old has a whitish coating, in which case you can not panic and do not consult a doctor. In most cases, the manifestations do not cause inconvenience to the child.

What does it look like

The doctor during the appointment and visual examination can easily determine the presence of candidiasis in a woman. Characteristic signs are a strong swelling of the external genital organs with a pronounced red color. During an examination on a gynecological chair, a specialist can see white, thick discharge and swelling of the labia before inserting the instrument into the vagina - a clear sign of the disease.

During the treatment of a man to the doctor for complaints of discomfort, the urologist notes:

• severe redness of the urethra;
• the head of the penis is edematous and crimson;
• the surface of the glans penis is loose, not smooth, has a white coating, sores, microcracks, slight discharge.

In children, it is easy to determine the disease using a visual examination of the oral cavity:

• sores in the form of pale red spots on the cheeks and tongue;
• white coating on the tongue and cheeks inside.

Is it sexually transmitted

Candidiasis is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, however, it is highly likely to be transmitted sexually. Especially often this disease occurs in men and women who lead promiscuous sex life, without protection by contraceptives. Especially young people who abuse alcohol and drugs.

How to treat

To get rid of the disease, it is necessary to undergo a complete, effective and adequate treatment. Many people think that taking one magic pill, even the most expensive one, will solve the problem and permanently save you from the disease in one day - this is an erroneous opinion. Particular attention should be paid to strengthening the immune system, this will help vitamins. The doctor prescribes antifungal drugs, the course of treatment is from 7 to 10 days.

Adult drugs

Treatment for men and women is no different, in both cases it is aimed at the destruction of fungi of the genus Candida. The treatment is carried out both locally with warm baths, with the addition of soda, and douching with herbal infusions to wash away plaque and secretions, as well as a course of taking antifungal drugs, in the form of tablets and suppositories.

Women

For the treatment of thrush, women use such drugs:

• Diflucan. This drug is available in the form of tablets, has the property of suppressing the reproduction of yeast fungi. Indicated for use in the fight against all types of candidiasis. The duration of treatment is from 7 to 14 days. Contraindicated in pregnant women during breastfeeding and children under 16 years of age. It is used as a single course, the dosage is determined by the attending physician, depending on the severity of the disease and the location of its localization. Before use, talk to your gynecologist.
• Miramistin- solution or ointment, is an analogue of Diflucan. It is used as an antiseptic after operations, to combat and prevent the occurrence of streptococci, staphylococci and yeast fungi. Actively affects sexually transmitted diseases. Treatment is carried out by irrigation of the affected areas of the mucosa. People with a reaction to the components of the drug, this product is contraindicated. Sometimes the treatment of the disease with Mirimistin has a side effect in the form of redness and itching in the area where the solution or ointment is applied.
• clotrimazole prescribed topically in the form of ointments, aerosol, vaginal tablets for the treatment of urogenital candidiasis. Before going to bed, a tablet is injected deep into the vagina, and the external genitalia is lubricated with a thin layer of ointment or irrigated with a solution. The course of treatment of the disease consists of 2 weeks of continuous use. There are no side effects. Contraindication is the first three months of pregnancy.

men

How to treat candidiasis for men:

• Flucostat released in the form of capsules, solutions. The course is from 2 weeks, while the dosage is prescribed by the doctor. Instructions for the use of flucostat suggest side effects in the form of sleep disturbance, stool, digestive system, skin rashes. Contraindicated in children under 3 years of age.
• Fluconazole has an active antifungal effect. Available in the form of tablets and capsules. It is taken once every 24 hours, the course is from two weeks to one month. About the drug Fluconazole, the doctors' reviews are positive, candidiasis passes rapidly. During the reception, there may be a violation of the stool and increased flatulence. Instructions for the use of Fluconazole provides contraindications for children under 14 years of age.
• Pimafucin- an antifungal drug. Available in the form of suppositories, tablets and cream. No more than 4 tablets per day are prescribed, the duration of treatment is from 7 days. Candles are administered rectally (into the rectum), the glans penis is lubricated with cream twice a day. Instructions for use pimafucin suggests side effects: mild itching, which goes away on its own.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, doctors prefer to treat candidiasis locally in the form of baths, irrigation with an antiseptic solution, or applying an antifungal cream to the affected mucous membranes. Folk remedies also enter the course of treatment, although they take more time in the fight against the fungus. Such procedures will not harm the bearing of the child. Acceptable drugs during pregnancy: suppositories and ointment Clotrimazole, Nystatin ointment, Epigem aerosol, tea tree oil.

For a child

To cure fungal stomatitis in a child, the following drugs are sometimes prescribed:

• Nystatin for children in granules is convenient for the preparation of a therapeutic solution. According to the instructions for treatment, the drug is diluted with water and the child's oral cavity is lubricated no more than twice a day. Discuss the medication with your pediatrician.
• Sodium tetraborate released in the form of a ready-made solution, which is applied to a wrapped bandage around the finger and the tongue, the inner surface of the baby's cheeks are processed. You need to press on the affected areas with force to remove the plaque. Talk to your pediatrician before use.

Treatment with folk remedies

The safest method of treatment for health is folk recipes. Due to the natural components, these methods are suitable for the treatment of women, men and children. For girls, the following options are suitable:

1. In 1 liter of warm boiled water, dilute 2 tsp. soda, mix well. With this solution, it is necessary to douche at home several times a day. Soda water not only destroys the reproduction of fungi of the genus Candida, but also relieves itchy sensations in the vagina.
2. 1 st. l. dilute tea tree oil with 250 ml of warm water, soak a cotton swab in the solution and treat the entrance to the vagina. This procedure is carried out before going to bed.

For men, the following procedures are suitable:

1. In 1 liter of warm water, dilute 1 tbsp. l. soda and 1 tsp. iodine. It is necessary to place the foreskin in this solution, having previously opened the glans penis, hold it for at least 15 minutes. The process of treating the disease is repeated several times a day for one week.
2. In the fight against candidiasis, celandine juice showed good results, you need to drink it on an empty stomach, once a day for a month. It is an antibacterial, antifungal agent.

Children are also treated with folk remedies:

1. Wipe the oral cavity with soda solution, removing white plaque.
2. Chamomile or St. John's wort is brewed in the amount of 2 tsp. 250 ml of boiling water, insisting on a water bath. The resulting solution wipes the tongue with a sterile bandage, moving from its root to the tip.

Complications

Modern medicine warns that by ignoring the symptoms of candidiasis, you are putting your life in danger. The transformation of the initial stage of the disease into a chronic one, in which the entire human body is affected by the fungus, in this case only inpatient treatment will be effective. Women with a chronic form of candidiasis are at risk of developing cervical erosion. As a result of the disease in men, erections and sexual activity decrease. In the absence of treatment, cases of infertility in both cases are not uncommon.

Prevention of thrush

In order for the disease not to catch up with you again, you need to completely reconsider your lifestyle and take a number of comprehensive preventive measures:

• Correction of the food culture involves the replacement of harmful sweets with fruits. Reduce, and it is better to completely abandon fatty and cholesterol-rich foods, including animal products - meat, fish, milk, eggs. Introduce more vegetables and herbs into your daily diet. Thanks to this diet, you will forget about candidiasis forever.
• Change thick synthetic underwear to cotton.
• If you need to take antibiotics, you need to use prophylactic drugs based on lactobacilli.
• Avoid panty liners.
• Establish daily intimate hygiene with the help of high-quality products for the care of this area.
• Daily work on the psycho-emotional state, avoiding stress and depression in your life.