General Yeast Infections
Most people assume that yeast infections are something that only affects women, but nothing could be further from the truth. No matter what your sex or age, you can get a yeast infection. Yeast is a common presence on the skin of the body, but when it begins to grow out of control, it can cause problems and illness in or on any area of the body. There are actually twenty different species of yeast or Candida that can affect the body. Where do yeast infections or Candidiasis normally grow and thrive?
Yeast infections can have many names: thrush, candida and vaginitis being common ones. Yeast grows when the body chemistry is off so taking care to your health will help minimize yeast infections. Keeping those areas that tend to get damp dry will also help minimize yeast infections.
Most commonly yeast infections affect areas that are moist and warm, such as the underarms, the mouth, the diaper area, etc. It is possible for a yeast infection to move inside the body, which can cause many different problems and possibly even death. The uncontrolled growth of yeast on and inside the body is what causes illness and irritation, so it is important to take care of these infections as soon as possible to keep the growth of yeast under control and your body healthy.
In women, the most common yeast infection is a vaginal yeast infection; very irritating and embarrassing, but normally easily treated. The most common symptoms of vaginal yeast infections is itching, burning, and vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, but other symptoms can also occur. Yeast is common in the vagina, but it can grow out of control if the environment in the vagina changes, such as during pregnancy, during menstruation, taking birth control pills, antibiotics, etc.
Children very commonly experience a yeast infection of the mouth, which is also known as thrush. The symptoms of thrush include creamy white lesions inside the mouth that cause pain and irritation to the infant or child. In severe cases, thrush can spread into the throat and esophagus, which will cause even more pain, feeding issues, and irritability. Breastfeeding mothers and infants can pass the infection back and forth from the mother’s breasts to the infant’s mouth, so it is important that treatment is given to both the mother and the child to help relieve the symptoms of yeast infections.
People with compromised immune systems are very susceptible to an overgrowth of yeast. This can cause significant health issues for these patients and possibly even be fatal. Cancer, AIDS, and other conditions can allow the yeast overgrowth to move throughout the body, affecting the brain, liver, blood, heart, and other organs. This systemic infection can be difficult to treat and can be life-threatening if not treated correctly.
A wide variety of treatments can be used to treat yeast infections, depending upon the location and severity of the infection. Treatment can include over the counter medications, prescriptions medications or hospitalization; your physician will determine which treatment is right for you and your yeast infection.
