The fungus that causes the manifestation of thrush belongs to the genus Candida, and all the diseases that it provokes in humans are called candidiasis. But due to the characteristic cheesy white coating, they were quickly dubbed simply thrush among the people.
Causes of the disease
The manifestation of thrush, as mentioned above, is associated with the activity of fungi of the genus Candida. They relate to opportunistic microorganisms that normally inhabit the human body. If you wash the skin, mucous membranes and intestines, and then sow them on a nutrient medium, then you will be surprised how much mycelium grows.
But all is well as long as immunity keeps all microorganisms in check and does not allow them to multiply. There are certain risk factors that provoke the manifestation of thrush. These include:
- decreased immunity of any etiology;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes mellitus and decreased thyroid function;
- infection with sexually transmitted diseases;
- taking antibiotics, cytostatics, steroids or oral contraceptives;
- the presence of a focus of chronic infection;
- excessive genital hygiene;
- malnutrition in favor of carbohydrates.
Signs of thrush
The described pathology can have a very different location. So, the following types of lesions are distinguished:
- candidiasis of the oral mucosa;
- cutaneous candidiasis;
- urogenital manifestations;
- visceral candidiasis;
- generalized candidiasis in immunodeficiencies.
But on the external genitalia, thrush most often develops. Symptoms in women (the first signs of this disease) are known to many, as the media, in the desire to advertise drugs, regularly remind them of them in the media.
The duration distinguish such periods of the disease:
- Acute candidiasis lasting up to two months.
- Recurrent candidiasis if the doctor records more than four separate cases during the year.
- Chronic candidiasis, in case if it is not possible to stop the disease within eight weeks.
Stages of the development of the disease
Genital candidiasis takes place in three stages:
- Colpitis. Manifestations are located exclusively in the vagina and on the external genitalia. It is characterized by cheesy discharge, itching, burning, unpleasant sensation during sexual intercourse and a nasty smell of fish.
- Vaginitis. Fungal infection is localized only in the vaginal mucosa. Reddening of tissues, thick white coating are morphologically determined. Patients complain of burning and pain even from a simple touch when performing an examination or hygiene procedures.
- Prielotsistit. Thrush spreads further up the urethra to the bladder and kidneys. Pain appears during urination, urine becomes cloudy due to discharge. Deep ulcers appear in the vagina, covered with a dense yellow plaque. When you try to scrape it, blood comes from the wounds.
Thrush: symptoms in women, the first signs
Unfortunately, many girls, girls, and women experience genital candidiasis. And this does not indicate either their moral education, nor the level of responsibility. Only about the state of immunity.
If you have ever seen the manifestation of thrush, then in the future you will not confuse it with any other disease. Vaginal candidiasis manifests itself with several characteristic symptoms:
- First of all, it is the presence of white or gray secretions of a curdled consistency. As a rule, they have an unpleasant sour smell. Some associate it with the scent of rotten fish.
- In second place in frequency is itching. With thrush, the vaginal mucosa is irritated, and discomfort intensifies after taking a bath, sleep, or sexual intercourse.
- If the infection from the genitals has spread to the urethra, then during urination the itching and burning sensation will intensify.
Secondary lesions include vulvar candidiasis. It is manifested by combs, cracks, the appearance of ulcers or vesicles. In addition, a woman will seek to limit her sex life. Not only due to unsightly symptoms (discharge and smell), but also because of discomfort during intercourse with a partner.
As a rule, exacerbation of thrush occurs before menstruation, when the hormonal background is slightly reduced. And in the early days of the new cycle, symptoms are waning.
Manifestations of thrush in men
Manifestations of thrush in women and men have a similar picture. According to statistics, representatives of the strong half as often suffer from candidiasis as the beautiful part of humanity. Candida mushrooms perfectly develop on the mucous membrane of the male genital organs and, with a decrease in immune defense, manifest themselves in all their glory.
Symptoms in men almost coincide with those in women:
- The glans penis and foreskin swell, become red and painful.
- Itching appears. With thrush in men, it is common throughout the inguinal region, and not specifically in any focus.
- Cheesy white or grayish deposits appear on the glans penis.
- Dyspareunia, that is, pain during intercourse and with spontaneous erection.
If the infection spreads to the urethra, then urine will have an impurity of secretions, visits to the toilet will become more frequent, and in the mornings, the stronger sex can see long threads on their genitals.
Thrush during pregnancy: what is dangerous for the fetus
Can a newborn baby become infected with candidiasis? Yes, definitely if his mother went into labor with the clinical manifestations of acute thrush.
What does thrush look like in women who have a baby? In the same way as in non-pregnant women. Perhaps the symptoms are even stronger, as the immune system is reduced for a long period. The body perceives the child as something alien, therefore, for the normal course of pregnancy, the woman’s protection is temporarily “turned off”. But this is fraught with manifestations of latent infections.
Manifestations of thrush in women become noticeable by the second trimester of pregnancy. Thus, when it comes time to give birth, candidiasis is already moving into the chronic stage. The child becomes infected by passing through the birth canal, as well as during feeding. Many disparate microorganisms will fall into his body at once and not all of them are ready to be content with small ones.
The first manifestations of thrush in the mouth are noticeable a week after birth. White deposits appear on its mucosa, which are easily removed, but under them there may be redness or even a bleeding surface. If no action is taken, the disease spreads further along the back of the throat.
Initially, the manifestations of thrush do not cause any discomfort in the child, but over time, the newborn is anxious, refuses to eat, and is capricious. If the genitals are also affected, then girls develop vulvovaginitis, and boys develop balanoposthitis.
Skin candidiasis may still occur. It appears as red dots on the baby’s body. These areas are swollen, they have vesicles and pustules, which, when opened, form ulcers. Elements of the rash are prone to fusion.
Diagnostics
What does thrush look like in women, no doctor needs to be told. He will understand at a glance which disease he is dealing with. And if the patient tells him that she recently had a bad illness or learned that she is pregnant, then all other questions will disappear.
However, for a medical history and other reporting documentation, a specialist must necessarily carry out all diagnostic manipulations. Therefore, the doctor takes a smear from the site of infection and gives it for bacteriological analysis. Laboratory assistants microscope the discharge and detect hyphae of the fungus and filament of mycelium.
It becomes clear that it is the fungi that cause the disease. To determine the nature of the pathogen, the material is sown on a nutrient medium and wait for a sufficient number of microorganisms to grow. If fungi of the genus Candida will prevail in a Petri dish, then we can confidently say that they cause the disease.
But the saga does not end there. Microbiologists act on the grown fungi with various drugs, wanting to find out which ones are most effective for treatment. And only after all the manipulations, a report is sent to the doctor indicating the type of fungus and a list of recommended drugs.
General principles of treatment
How do women usually solve problems that are not accepted or unpleasant to talk to a doctor? They go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist to give them an inexpensive remedy for thrush, but such that it helps quickly and for life. A pharmacist scratches his head, spreads his arms, and offers either the most common antifungicidal drug, or talks about baths and douching with herbal solutions with an antiseptic effect.
Chamomile with thrush, of course, has some weight, but it does not cure, but only removes unpleasant symptoms and all. Just like other similar herbs. If you really want to cure the disease, then you need to overcome yourself, go to the hospital and take tests. Then the specialist will be able to advise you on a medicine that will act on fungi, tell you about the features of admission and will control the course of your illness.
Drug treatment
Pharmacists sometimes do not understand the buyers who ask them to recommend an inexpensive remedy for thrush because they do not exist. All antifungal drugs are quite expensive, and the number of tablets or suppositories in the package is small. Therefore, women pull with the start of therapy, postpone this moment and, in the end, only harm themselves with this. Because the disease progresses and spreads to neighboring organs and tissues.
How is thrush in women treated? Causes, treatment and symptoms are very closely related. The doctor will prescribe a prescription only if there is laboratory confirmation of candidiasis. There are two groups of drugs for this disease: local and general action.
Medicines for topical use are available in the form of ointments, suppositories and tablets. The most common of them are such active substances (trade names are indicated in brackets):
- ketoconazole (Livarol or Mycozoral);
- clotrimazole (Candibene);
- natamycin (Pimafucin);
- feticonazole ("Lomexin");
- sertaconazole ("Zalain");
- econazole ("Ifenek");
- imidazole (Gynofort).
As you can see from the list, there are a lot of options and it’s quite difficult to figure them out on your own, because the wrong choice will not cure the disease, but only develop resistance in fungi. The use of local drugs does not have a systemic effect, which reduces the number of side effects. This method is effective if the course of thrush is mild, uncomplicated by other infections. What to do when a common thrush is detected in women? The causes, treatment and symptoms remain the same, but the "heavy artillery" is used.
If the examination revealed a significant area of damage, or the patient has complications, the doctor may suggest systemic drugs in the form of tablets or injections. These include:
- polyene products (Levorin, Nystatin);
- imidazole series ("Clotrimazole", "Ketoconazole");
- traisol series (Itraconazole, Fluconazole).
In addition, iodine preparations are used. In parallel with the main drug, a woman is prescribed eubiotics to maintain normal microflora in the intestines, vitamins and immune stimulants.
Treatment of thrush with folk remedies
It should be remembered that treating thrush at home with folk remedies will not help eliminate the fungal disease, it can only remove or mask the symptoms. If you do not have the opportunity to see a doctor soon, and the symptoms do not allow you to live in peace, then you can use disinfectant decoctions from herbs or home-made ointments.
We can assume that now you figured out what causes thrush in women. Treatment with folk remedies is aimed not at destroying spores of fungi, but at reducing unpleasant sensations. There are many antiseptic herbs, but residents of the former CIS prefer chamomile for all ills. It is brewed as tea, and added to the bath, and applied in the form of compresses. In general, almost a panacea.
Chamomile with thrush, and indeed, can reduce inflammation, soothe itching and heal abrasions from scratching. Preparing the broth is very simple:
- Three large spoons of dried chamomile flowers and two spoons of cuff grass are poured into a pan or jar.
- This mixture is poured with boiling water and covered with a lid.
- After half an hour, when the water cools down a bit, and the infusion acquires a beautiful brownish-golden color, you can strain it.
- Then you should fill the bath with ten liters of water, pour the broth into them and begin hygiene procedures. The duration of such a bath is not more than fifteen minutes.
White cinquefoil has a similar effect. The ratio of water to dry inflorescences of this plant is the same as for chamomile. The resulting broth can be used to wash or rub the affected areas.
Preventive actions
Long and painfully passes thrush in women. Reviews about the latest pharmacological achievements in the treatment of this ailment, although inspire hope, but in practice it remains only a ghostly dream, since the drugs are either not available in the retail network or have fabulous prices. Therefore, it is extremely important to engage in the prevention of the disease and prevent the occurrence of relapse.
First of all, take care of your immunity. Go to the dentist, otorhinolaryngologist and surgeon to identify chronic foci of infection and their timely treatment. Do not neglect regular examinations by a gynecologist and urologist - this will help to identify the problem at an early stage. In the cold season, take immunomodulators and follow a diet of sufficient calorie content, because a lack of vitamins or trace elements negatively affects the protective properties of the body.
In personal hygiene, do not overdo it, but do not juggle it. Instead of soap, use special gels for intimate hygiene, and when choosing clothes, focus on natural fabrics and a comfortable style. Health is more expensive than exquisite, but discomforting things.