Unless you live in a cave or without human interaction, you are
probably familiar with the term, ‘yeast infection’. But do you know
exactly what a yeast infection is? The actual medical term for a yeast
infection, which is also known as thrush, is Candidiasis. Candidiasis
is a fungal infection having to do with any of the Candida variety,
which is basically any of the yeast-like imperfect fungi of the genus
Candida. While every living person has some type of yeast organisms
living in them, the yeast doesn’t normally overgrow due to
microorganisms that occur naturally in the body.
In people who are able to develop an immune response following exposure
to an antigen, Candidiasis can most often be found only in unprotected
and moist areas of the body. These places can include the mouth, the
vagina and around the folds of skin in a child who wears a diaper (also
known as diaper rash.) Candidiasis is most frequently seen in the
vagina as vaginal irritation or vaginitis.
Experiencing a vaginal yeast infection is not enjoyable in any way and,
unfortunately, at least three quarters of all females will live through
a yeast infection at some time during their lives. Almost all females
have the Candida Albicans in their vaginas and they don’t normally
cause any problems. When the balance in the vagina is not as balanced
as it should be with the normal organisms, an individual can experience
an overgrowth and it will result in the symptoms of a yeast infection.
The most frequently experienced symptoms of a yeast infection include
extreme or mild itching of the vagina (may include the vulva), a
discharge that is white or white-gray in color and a smell that is
similar to active yeast as in baking bread or beer. A number of factors
can increase the risk of developing a yeast infection including
pregnancy, douches, certain antibiotics and diabetes mellitus.
The first time a woman suspects that she has a yeast infection should
visit her doctor for an accurate diagnosis. A simple swab or scrape
from the affected region with a solution of KOH is viewed on a slide
under a microscope. Once a diagnosis of a yeast infection has been
made, a doctor will most likely recommend a preferred treatment but
there are many options available. Your doctor may write a prescription
for a pill or you can simply go to the drug store and take advantage of
one of the many over-the-counter remedies that are available.
