Thrush: signs, causes, treatment and prevention

There is a false opinion that only women are infected with thrush. Candidiasis or thrush is a fairly common fungal (Candida fungi) disease in men, children and women. These yeast-like fungi for humans are conditionally pathogenic. Fungi of this genus are present on the surface of fruits and vegetables, in lactic acid foods. Fungi of the genus Candida are permanent inhabitants of the skin, oral cavity, rectum and vagina. For the development of candidiasis, it is necessary to create favorable conditions. One of these is a decrease in the immunological resistance of the body (diabetes mellitus, chronic infectious diseases, oncological diseases, hormonal imbalance).

When a fungus enters the cell, it parasitizes in the cytoplasm and nucleus, which leads to the formation of a necrotic zone around it. Since this fungus, often has an intracellular location, it is protected from the action of drugs. This may be the reason for the lack of effectiveness in the treatment.

The first signs of thrush in women are manifested in the form of red spots and swelling of the mucous membrane of the vagina and uterus. Often around these spots is formed milky white film, which consists of fungal and epithelial cells. Sometimes such a film has a yellowish tinge and a dense consistency. With such a diagnosis as thrush, the signs manifest themselves in the form of cracks, while the film is rejected, and in its place erosions and manifestations are formed. Women with this pathology feel acute burning and itching in the genital area.

Representatives of the fair sex should know what is thrush, the signs that characterize this disease. Candidiasis must be skillfully differentiated from such insidious diseases as chlamydia and gonorrhea. In women diagnosed with thrush, the signs are mostly manifested in the form of curdled excreta, which practically do not have an unpleasant odor. A characteristic feature of gardnerellosis and chlamydia is that specific vaginal discharge that resembles the smell of rotten fish (trimethylamine) is released from the vagina.

In the people there is an opinion that thrush is a sign of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the secretory activity of the sexual glands is activated, so many girls think that they have thrush (the symptoms are so manifested), while microscopic examination of the smear - there are no mushrooms.

Do not panic, candidiasis is not the most terrible disease. Most often, thrush in pregnant women after birth passes by itself, without therapeutic intervention. If you have been diagnosed with thrush, the signs may not appear visually. It should be remembered that 40% of children are affected by thrush during delivery. Therefore, timely treatment of the future mother is the guarantee of the health of the unborn child.

The decisive factors in the treatment of thrush are the timeliness, consistency and integrated approach to solving this problem. Given that thrush is a fungal disease, then for treatment use antimycotic drugs (antifungal) in the form of vaginal suppositories and ointments. When using these facilities, the patient experiences some discomfort, since they are used only locally at night before bedtime. In the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis , topical preparations (clotrimazole, isoconazole, miconazole, nystatin) are prescribed. It should be noted that therapy with these drugs continues for a fairly long period of time.

Modern treatment is aimed at the use of oral capsules (difluzol, dedoflukon, forkan, mycosyst). The use of such dosage forms has many advantages. First, the effectiveness of such treatment is significantly increased; Secondly, the patient can take the medicine at any time of the day; Thirdly, these drugs are characterized by speed, the main signs of the disease disappear within a day; Fourthly, such capsules show a detrimental effect only on fungi and do not affect the saprophyte microflora; Fifth, they do not affect the effect of contraceptives. Difluzole is not recommended for people younger than sixteen or older than sixty years, during pregnancy and lactation. Treatment of thrush in women and men has its own characteristics. In the treatment of balanitis, balonoposthitis appoint a cream with an active substance, like clotrimazole. The course of treatment with daily use of the drug is about a week. Oral drugs (diflazone, mycosyst, flucostat) may also be prescribed.

Prevention of thrush is reduced to the appointment of antifungal drugs of local or systemic use in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases with the use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of underwear. Best of all, it was made of natural materials (cotton). Do not use vaginal deodorants, flavored tampons, pads, etc. At the sexual certificate or act it is necessary to use a condom.