Vaginal yeast infection: what is it and how to treat it

What are candids?

The candid they are mushrooms that are found naturally in the environment, in inanimate targets, animals, food and are part of the saprophytic flora of humans on the skin, in the digestive tract (mouth and oropharynx) and on the skin and mucous membranes of the female genitalia.

How does infection or yeast infection occur?

Candida infections occur when the balance is broken between the pathogenic power of the fungus and the normal defense mechanisms of the organism. This situation can occur when they are taken antibioticswell these alter microbial flora normal since they eliminate the usual bacteria and fungi, such as candida, have more room to reproduce. Another situation that facilitates candidiasis are diseases that alter the immune system by themselves or due to treatment (such as HIV, cancer, and chemotherapy or organ transplants).

Candidiasis symptoms

• In the mucocutaneous candidiasis affecting the oral or esophageal mucosa are appreciated white plaques on the mucosa oral, tongue or esophagus. They are not painful and underneath there may be reddened mucosa that bleeds easily.
• In the vulvovaginal candidiasis appear pruritus (itching), vaginal pain and discharge, as well as scratching lesions.
• In the diaper rash yeast infection of the infant appears a rash bright red in the diaper area, scaly areas and the appearance of satellite lesions (red patches that grow and mix with other lesions.
• Symptoms of disseminated yeast infections depend on the affected organ. They can be very serious infections that require hospitalization for their control and treatment.

Types of yeast infection

There are different types of yeast infection depending on their location: they are basically divided into mucocutaneous yeast infections and disseminated yeast infections.

1. Mucocutaneous candidiasis

Mucocutaneous candidiasis are those that affect some mucous membranes or areas of the skin. Among the most frequent we find oral candidiasis (also known as thrush) or esophageal candidiasis, and superinfection by candida of some dermatitis such as diaper rash in infants, or dermatitis located in areas of folds in very obese people . What factors favoring these infections there are diabetes, immunosuppression, antibiotic treatments, or poor hygiene in diaper rash.

2. Disseminated candidiasis

Disseminated yeast infections occur when yeast penetrate the bloodstream and they spread throughout the body, being able to affect different organs. Abscesses normally occur in affected organs. The most affected organs are usually the eye (the retina), the brain, the kidneys and the heart, but the liver, spleen, etc. can also be affected. Disseminated candidiasis are favored by the following factors: antibiotic treatments and chemotherapy, intravenous catheters, indwelling urinary catheters, abdominal surgery, etc.

Treatment and diagnosis

The diagnosis will be based on clinical suspicion and visualization of candida when microscope from fresh preparations or affected tissues. Also specials that confirm the growth of the candida fungus. The blood test they are nonspecific, and serology in this case has no diagnostic utility for candida infection.

The treatment of yeast infections is based on specific treatment with drugs that act against fungi, the so-called antifungals. There are different drugs, and they can be administered both topically in the form of creams, ointments, ovules or solutions, as well as systemically orally (pills or tablets), or intravenously.

• In mucocutaneous candidiasis, the local treatment with topical preparations for several days, although on certain occasions an oral treatment must be given to definitively solve the infection.
• In disseminated candidiasis, treatment is required systemic that, depending on the severity and type of antifungal of choice, will require oral treatment or intravenous treatment.

Contagion and prevention

Although the treatment is simple, it is recommended to know some preventive measures to avoid contagion of the candida fungus, we highlight the following:

• To avoid diaper rash, it is very important to take extreme hygiene measures in diaper rash and changing diapers frequently to the baby.
• In obese people, maintain the well clean and dry skin, especially in the areas of the folds where dermatitis and superinfection by candida may appear (submammary sulci, English folds, etc.)
• To minimize bouts of candida vulvovaginitis, apart from hygiene, one should try restrict the use of antibiotics as much as possible broad spectrum in prone women (which are its main cause).
• In some immunosuppressed patients, oral solutions to minimize the risk of oral thrush, but this will always be decided by the responsible physician.

Internal Medicine specialist Advance Medical Consultant Physician