Many women experience a condition such as thrush, or, in medical terms, vaginal candidiasis. Often this disease is perceived as harmless, however, it can cause serious discomfort and lead to the development of complications. Fungi of the genus Candida, which are conditionally pathogenic, provoke its occurrence. It should be considered what is vaginal candidiasis, where does thrush appear in women and men. You should also consider the causes and symptoms of how and how to treat it.
What is thrush. Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
A fairly common disease is thrush. It affects both the external integument and the internal organs. Candida mushrooms (pathogens of thrush) are everywhere - in the vagina, in the mouth and rectum.
With normal microflora of the body, they are present in an insignificant amount and have no effect on humans. Thrush develops when the rapid growth of Candida fungi occurs.
In women, thrush is expressed as an inflammatory lesion of the vaginal mucosa. The patient begins to experience discomfort, and then, with inadequate treatment, the thrush can flow into a chronic form and constantly recur. However, it can occur at least four times a year.
Causes
The main reason for the development of thrush can be attributed to a decrease in immunity. There are also several more reasons where girls get thrush. These include:
- a malfunction in the hormonal background;
- diabetes;
- venereal diseases;
- a course of antibiotics has recently been taken;
- stress
- hypothermia;
- prolonged disease, depressing the body;
- pregnancy;
- a sharp change in climate;
- malnutrition.
Where did the thrush come from? It is transmitted:
- airborne droplets;
- during sexual contact;
- infection occurred in the first year of life.
The reasons why thrush came from include tight underwear, birth control pills that are taken orally, poor hygiene, and a tendency to allergic reactions.
Symptoms
Symptoms of thrush can be confused with other diseases of the genital organs. As a rule, symptoms occur shortly before menstruation. Those women who are prone to allergic reactions feel a more active manifestation of the disease. The main symptoms of thrush include:
- burning and itching of the external genitalia;
- white curdled discharge of a heterogeneous consistency comes out of the vagina;
- inflammation of the mucous membranes and redness of the genitals;
- the discharge has a sour smell;
- discomfort in the vagina;
- soreness;
- when urinating, discomfort is felt;
- small and large labia swell;
- pain during intercourse.
Sometimes only one mild symptom or several may manifest itself. With the onset of menstruation, the symptoms may disappear, this is due to the fact that during this period the environment in the vagina becomes more alkaline, it is not very favorable for the reproduction of mushrooms.
Symptoms of thrush in men
Men can also suffer from thrush. In this case, the glans penis is mainly affected, and the following symptoms of thrush appear:
- itching and burning;
- the penis turned red;
- a white coating appeared on the genitals;
- during intercourse painful sensations appear;
- when urinating, pain occurs;
- the head of the penis swells.
In men, the symptoms of thrush are more pronounced in the evening or in a dream, as well as after bathing in warm water.
Where does thrush appear in men
Mostly the female half suffers from thrush, but men can also have candidiasis. There is a possibility that the infection came from a woman, although there are subtleties. They consist in the fact that the male body thrush affects from the inside, and the surface effect is manifested on the genitals. This is due to the fact that because of its structure, the male genital organ does not allow fungi to gain a foothold.
In a third of cases, infection with thrush occurs during sexual contact and is transmitted to a man from a woman. Here are more reasons why the thrush came from: it is transmitted through the household through personal hygiene products, clothes, and dishes. Very often, a man is a carrier of thrush and does not even suspect about it, so if it was found in a woman, it is necessary to treat both partners.
Decreased immunity as a cause
With a decrease in immunity, the risk of contracting thrush in men also increases. Often the male body can independently cope with the development of thrush. However, if you do not experience symptoms or if you suspect a disease, you should consult a specialist, as other diseases can be masked under thrush.
Diagnostics
In order to accurately diagnose a thrush, a gynecologist or urologist, in addition to the symptoms and complaints of the patient, should prescribe a laboratory test - a vaginal smear microscopy. The smear is taken with a sterile swab or a special spatula, and then examined under a microscope in a laboratory.
Cultural study
This type of study is conducted to determine the type of Candida fungi, as well as which drugs they are sensitive to. It is usually used to determine severe forms of candidiasis. After scraping was taken from the affected area of ββthe tissue, the culture is inoculated, and then the grown colonies are studied. If a small number of mushrooms is detected when accounting for the amount, then this is the norm. The doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment if the thrush is confirmed.
Other types of research
It is also recommended to pass urine and blood if candidiasis has been detected, this is done to determine the level of sugar, as sometimes thrush can be a symptom of diabetes.
You can also consult with a gastroenterologist, because Candida fungi also live in the intestines, and if there is a pathogenic increase in their number, they can also enter the vagina.
If candidiasis (thrush) has become chronic and manifests itself in frequent relapses, this is a sign that the patient needs to be examined completely in order to understand where the thrush came from, what factors contributed to the onset of the disease.
When in men the thrush gives a complication to the urinary organs, then you should seek the advice of a urologist in order for him to send for tests and determine the course of treatment.
Treatment of thrush in women
In women, the treatment of thrush is carried out only in accordance with the recommendations of the attending physician, because for each patient they are individual. When treating thrush, bacteriological culture must be taken into account, because the therapy should have not only a general effect on the fungi, but also local. It is also taken into account that candidiasis is a secondary disease, so treatment should be started with a search for concomitant diseases and the factors that provoked it.
It is necessary to strengthen the immune system and bring the microflora of the vagina and intestines to a normal state. During treatment, you should follow a special diet, avoid stressful conditions and sleep should be at least eight hours a day.
Drug treatment
All medicines for the treatment of thrush can be divided into drugs that have local effects and systemic. Local drugs include:
- ointments and creams;
- vaginal suppositories and pills.
The first are used to treat problems on the skin and external genitalia. Tablets and suppositories are necessary for the treatment of internal genital organs. Most often, tablets are prescribed when the manifestation of the disease is recurrent.
Usually, for local treatment, drugs based on:
- nystatin;
- miconazole;
- ketoconazole;
- clotrimazole;
- natamycin.
Sometimes local treatment for thrush can be replaced by taking Fluconazole tablets or analogues (Medoflucon, Flucostat, etc.). This drug is also prescribed for relapsing illness. It must be taken once a week for a month.
With the initial development of thrush, the course of treatment should last at least ten days. The asymptomatic period also needs to be captured. For effective treatment, it is necessary to use not only local preparations, but also drugs that have an antifungal effect and drugs that strengthen the immune system. This complex will help prevent the occurrence of a relapse of the disease.
Any drug has its own side effects and contraindications, therefore, taking drugs is necessary only after the patient consults with a specialist and he prescribes their intake. In cases where the dosage of the medicine is incorrectly selected or the course of treatment is not completed to the end, therapy will not give the desired effect. It is worth knowing that Candida mushrooms quickly get used to medicines and can form resistance to them.
Folk remedies
In addition to medicines, you can also use folk remedies to combat thrush:
- Soda baths (one teaspoon of soda is diluted in one liter of warm boiled water). Baths should be taken within 20 minutes.
- Soda baths can be alternated. The same solution is made, but one teaspoon of iodine is still added to it.
- Washing with a decoction based on oak bark or calendula.
- Before a meal, a glass of carrot juice is drunk. This should be done in a few weeks.
- The use of any folk remedies to enhance general immunity.
It is impossible to treat thrush only with alternative methods, since they only help to remove the symptoms of thrush, but not eliminate the pathogen.
To find out whether you managed to get rid of thrush, you need to undergo a second examination. After all, if the symptoms disappeared, this does not mean that we managed to completely recover from this ailment. Knowing the causes and treatment of thrush, you can correctly respond in case of an ailment.