In the article, we consider the main causes of vaginal candidiasis. What it is?
Almost every woman, due to her physiological characteristics, has encountered at least once in her life the so-called “thrush” - this is an infectious disease caused by the yeast-like fungi of the Candida genus, therefore it sounds like candidiasis in medical terminology. Manifestations of the disease are expressed in white plaque on the mucosa and secretions resembling some dairy products.
We will examine in more detail what vaginal candidiasis is.
Pathology Description
Candida fungi belong to the conditionally pathogenic microflora of a person and are found in the vagina of most women of childbearing age, and especially in pregnant women. Most often, they cannot cause the disease in a woman with good immunity, but at any opportunity, when the protective functions of the female body are weakened, fungi intensely attack the mucous membrane of the urogenital tract. The problem of treatment is that vaginal candidiasis tends to a chronic nature of the course, despite active therapy with antifungal drugs, and can be diagnosed in a woman several times a year.
Vaginal candidiasis is widespread in obstetrics and gynecology, and there is a tendency to increase incidence.
For what reasons does thrush appear?
There are a number of factors that contribute to the appearance of vaginal candidiasis. All of them are based on an imbalance between bacteria beneficial to the body and other microorganisms of the vaginal flora:
- Taking oral contraceptives and drugs with a high estrogen content.
- Treatment with antibiotics that destroy not only pathogenic flora, but also beneficial microbes. The body weakens and becomes very vulnerable.
- Cases of an allergic reaction and the necessary antihistamines in this case can also cause vaginal candidiasis.
- Thrush often worries pregnant women, as well as women during menopause, due to hormonal changes in the body and changes in the composition of the flora.
- With the development of certain diseases (anemia, obesity, diabetes mellitus), an acid-base balance is disturbed in the body and candidiasis can develop.
- Dysbacteriosis caused by malnutrition and malfunctioning of the digestive system can also cause symptoms of thrush.
- Such factors as stress, chronic fatigue, hypothermia, depression, as a result, candidiasis, negatively affect the state of the immune system.
- The harmful effects of the environment, the use of various chemical detergents in everyday life are additional reasons for the weakening of immunity, which, as a result, leads to the development of candidiasis.
- Irregular sexual intercourse with frequent change of partners.
- The use of uncomfortable, tight underwear and adjacent clothing made of synthetics causes rubbing of the perineum, irritation of the mucosa and the appearance of candidiasis.
- Oncology chemotherapy.
- HIV and other immunodeficiency conditions.
Pathogens and Symptoms
The cause of vaginal candidiasis is always the reproduction in the vagina of yeast-like fungi that are present in the human body:
- on the oral mucosa;
- on the skin;
- in the vagina;
- in the gastrointestinal tract.
The dependence of the disease on immunity
Moreover, these microorganisms can be in the body of a woman all their lives and not give themselves away. Their condition is directly proportional to immunity. In healthy people with a normal immune response, the body's defenses simply prevent an aggressive infection from developing.
What happens when it is weakened?
But as soon as the immune system weakens, the fungi attack their “opponents” - beneficial bacteria, and there are signs of candidiasis. Other infections, such as genital infections, can accompany thrush.
The danger of thrush is that an imbalance in the uterine microflora is dangerous due to the development of inflammation, which can cause infertility. Therefore, it is extremely important if you suspect candidiasis, consult a doctor immediately for treatment.
How to determine what is candidiasis?
It happens that vaginal candidiasis (thrush) is asymptomatic in about 15-20% of cases, but under adverse conditions cause inflammation, and the characteristic symptoms of the disease appear.
It is most often accompanied by a feeling of dryness, burning and discomfort in the perineum, as well as painful sensations when walking or during sex, violating the sexual life of a woman. But the most characteristic sign of thrush is white mucus. Discharge cheesy, lumps or flakes, with a faint sour smell.
Itching
Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are rather unpleasant. Itching in some cases is mild and almost does not bother a woman, but in most cases, itching is excruciating, causing anxiety, worse before going to bed or after a hot bath.
Moreover, the general condition of the woman is satisfactory, without an increase in temperature and loss of working capacity, with the exception of cases when sleep is disturbed due to excruciating itching in the perineum.
All symptoms of candidiasis can be grouped into the main symptoms:
- vaginal itching, burning;
- white cheesy discharge with a sour smell;
- swelling of the vaginal mucosa;
- pain during intercourse;
- cutting pain during urination.
If you have at least one of these signs, you need to contact a gynecologist for a smear on the flora. For this, a vaginal smear is given, which is sent to the laboratory. If a diagnosis of thrush is established, then urine and blood tests for sugar are also prescribed, as manifestations of candidiasis can be one of the signs of diabetes.
Vaginal candidiasis treatment
Candidiasis therapy is carried out in three main stages:
- The choice of the optimal method of treatment with a complex effect on the whole body.
- The sequence of therapy, continuity even in the case of positive dynamics and elimination of visible symptoms.
- Elimination of the causes of the disease.
In the treatment of vaginal candidiasis, oral medications, antifungal suspensions and ointments are most often used, which effectively and locally affect fungal colonies, reducing their activity.
What are these funds? We will talk about this later.
Fungicidal preparations
What does the treatment of vaginal candidiasis suggest? When the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes one of the fungicidal drugs, which have proven effectiveness and a wide spectrum of action against Candida fungi, are able to quickly relieve the symptoms of candidiasis and are simple and convenient to use.
In pharmacies, there is a large selection of drugs for the treatment of candidiasis, which are divided into systemic and local:
- Systemic medicines are tablets for oral administration, the effect of which begins primarily in the intestine, and then passes with blood to all organs and tissues of the body. Such a medication is preferred, because the main focus of infection is located in the intestine, but is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
- Local medicines are suppositories, creams, and vaginal tablets. Easy to use and successfully used during pregnancy.
Names
The most commonly used drugs for vaginal candidiasis include:
- "Nystatin" is one of the first antibiotics in the treatment of thrush, it is used both orally and topically.
- "Clotrimazole" - produced in the form of vaginal tablets and cream.
- "Natamycin" is an effective drug, has low toxicity, can be used during pregnancy and lactation.
- "Fluconazole" is a relatively new drug, effective, with a minimum of side effects.
- Ketoconazole is a vaginal cream for candidiasis. A highly effective water-soluble drug, but it can cause undesirable reactions such as nausea, vomiting, hepatitis, hypertension, otitis media, and can also have a negative effect on the immune system.
Candidiasis treatment must be carried out in a complex, it should be aimed not only at getting rid of the fungus itself, but also at eliminating provoking factors, as well as at the treatment of existing concomitant diseases. Therefore, drugs aimed at restoring interferon status (Viferon, Kipferon, Cycloferon, etc.) may be prescribed in the complex of medical prescriptions for patients with candidal infection. In addition, it is better to undergo antifungal treatment for both sexual partners.
What to do during pregnancy?
Most often, the first episodes of thrush appear in women during pregnancy. This is caused by hormonal changes in the body and a decrease in immunity. Candidiasis during pregnancy manifests itself in an acute form, with characteristic discharge and itching. The situation is dangerous in that the infection can penetrate the uterus and membranes of the fetus, in which case there is a risk that the fungi will enter the amniotic fluid. But, despite close contact with the baby, they rarely lead to intrauterine infection. In practice, the child often becomes infected during passage through the birth canal, in which case the baby can be diagnosed with candidal stomatitis, otitis media or intestinal dysbiosis.
Since oral antifungal drugs are prohibited for pregnant women with signs of vaginal candidiasis, the use of the antifungal antibiotic nystatin is recommended. Its effectiveness in the fight against this conditionally pathogenic microflora is usually 75–90%.
What other recommendations are there?
Treating thrush is, in fact, considered a complex clinical problem. The main point in the fight against it is the elimination or reduction of the influence of risk factors for background genital and extragenital diseases. It is also necessary to remember that supportive antifungal therapy plays a huge role in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis in order to prevent relapse of the disease in the future.
Candidiasis Prevention
What is used to prevent the disease? We will examine in more detail in this matter. The main rule for the prevention of thrush is strict observance of personal hygiene. After all, it is this simple rule, according to doctors, that can protect against most microbial and fungal diseases.
Experts advise to adhere to general recommendations for the prevention of candidiasis:
- Proper nutrition and inclusion in the daily diet of fruits, especially acidic (grapefruits, lingonberries, cranberries), honey, sour-milk products.
- Quitting bad habits in the form of smoking and drinking alcohol, if any.
- Regular use of multivitamin complexes.
- An exception to the wardrobe of synthetic linen and the use of only linen made from natural fabrics.
- Complete refusal or restriction of hormonal contraceptives.
- Sexual cleanliness - the absence of random sexual intercourse and the use of mechanical protection.
Regular scheduled visits to the doctor, not only in cases of an already happened illness, but also when there are no symptoms of the disease.