Symptoms can be different for each person and may include the following:
These are other symptoms you may have:
This type of infection often occurs after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold. The bacteria then infect the membranes of the nasal cavity and sinuses. But you can also get it if you have any of the following:
The nasal cavity is the large air-filled space behind the nose. The sinuses are a group of spaces formed by the bones of the face. They connect with the nasal cavity. Bacterial infection causes the tissue that lines these spaces to become inflamed. Mucus may not be able to drain normally. That causes pain in the face and other symptoms.
Finally, your last infection is gone! If you have had frequent vaginal yeast infections, you may want to know how you can prevent more. There are several ways to prevent yeast infections.
Find the right medicine for you. If you have had more than four yeast infections in the past year, your doctor may recommend that you take medicine regularly for six months to prevent yeast infections. Depending on the nature of the medication used, the treatment may be taken every day, every week, every two weeks or every month. This treatment should be monitored by your doctor.
When talking to your doctor, it is important that you remember that different medications meet different needs. For example, if you have difficulty considering the prospect of taking medication by mouth, there are products that are applied inside the vagina.
Control other ailments. Recurrent vaginal yeast infections can be a sign of an underlying medical condition like diabetes. If you have a chronic condition and also have vaginal yeast infections, see your doctor. It can determine if your condition increases your risk for vaginal yeast infections and help you better control your underlying condition. Better management of your health, such as diabetes and certain immune system disorders, can help lower your risk of getting another vaginal yeast infection.
Stay clean, dry and comfortable. Vaginal deodorants and sprays, abrasive cleansers, douches, and scented soaps can irritate the skin, making it more susceptible to infections. Avoid using these products. Regular soap and water will do just as well. After you use the bathroom, wipe yourself from front to back to avoid contamination of the vaginal area with fecal bacteria. Wear clothes that are not too tight and choose cotton underwear (or underwear with cotton crotch) rather than synthetic fabrics. Dry your vaginal area thoroughly after taking a bath or shower. If you heed these tips, heat and humidity can increase the risk of
Eat one yogurt a day. Studies have shown that eating 240 mL (about one cup) of yogurt per day can reduce your risk of vaginal yeast infection. But this is not true for all kinds of yogurt - make sure you choose one that contains the active bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus . More studies should be carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of yogurt in the treatment of yeast infections. If you have been prescribed an antibiotic, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for information about the risks of getting a vaginal yeast infection and about taking over-the-counter probiotics.
If you take these steps and you are still having trouble getting rid of yeast infections, see your doctor for help. You don't have to live with repeated vaginal yeast infections. There are effective treatments. The next time you have a vaginal yeast infection, make an appointment and see your doctor rather than treating it yourself. Your doctor can help you find the reason for these frequent infections and recommend an effective treatment that is right for you.
Do your yeast infections come back regularly? Have you tried to treat them without success? Have you had more than four yeast infections in the past year? If so, don't try to fight infections on your own! Get help from your doctor.
Your doctor can help you get rid of stubborn or frequent infections. The first step is to get a proper diagnosis. This is important because in some cases what you think is a yeast infection may turn out to be something different that requires a different kind of treatment. Some studies have shown that more than half of women with vaginal irritation misdiagnose their condition! It is also possible that you are infected with a particularly stubborn type of yeast that requires more powerful treatment. To diagnose your infection, your doctor will do a physical exam and take a sample of your vaginal discharge.
If your doctor confirms that the signs and symptoms you are experiencing are caused by a yeast infection, they will recommend medication to clear the infection. If you have had frequent infections, your doctor may recommend "maintenance treatment" to prevent the infections from coming back.
Maintenance therapy requires the regular use of a yeast infection medication for a period of up to six months. Some treatments are taken every day, while others are taken twice a week, once a week, or even once a month. Using maintenance therapy can halve your risk of getting another infection. If vaginal yeast infections come back after stopping maintenance treatment, your doctor may recommend that you take the medicine for a longer period of time, usually up to 12 months.
It is important for a woman who has frequent yeast infections to become an active participant in decisions affecting her health and well-being. Treatments vary depending on the drug, how often and for how long. It's important to find the plan that's right for you.
If you've had “too much” yeast infection this year, make an appointment to discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Whether you have a resistant strain of yeast or have several risk factors, your doctor can help you get the treatment that's right for you. If you have frequent infections, they may be caused by a type of yeast that is more difficult to treat. Ask your doctor if there is a treatment that covers a wider spectrum of yeasts.
Did you know that your yeast infection may not be one at all? There are several other causes of vaginal irritation, including allergies, bacterial infections, and different chemical causes. The irritation you are feeling may well be caused by yeast again, but it is not certain. Here are some examples of situations that you should consult your doctor to be sure.
The infection keeps coming back. If your last infection was less than two months old, or if you had four or more infections in the past 12 months, see your doctor. Having frequent yeast infections may be a sign of an underlying condition or that the treatment you have given yourself is not working. Your doctor can help you determine the cause and find an effective treatment.
The treatment you tried is not working. Even though you were careful to use your last treatment exactly as directed, it may not have been the correct treatment for your infection. Your infection may be resistant or you may be infected with a type of yeast that cannot be treated effectively with the medicine you have tried. Your doctor can help you find out why the treatment hasn't worked and recommend another one that will.
You are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your doctor can help you choose a treatment option that is effective for you and safe for your baby.
You have other symptoms or you are not sure if it is a yeast infection. If you have a fever, have abdominal pain, or have smelly or colored discharge, see your doctor. These signs may indicate that you have another kind of infection. Treatments for yeast infections will not work for infections not caused by yeasts. It is important that you see your doctor to make the correct diagnosis and start the right treatment if you experience any other symptoms.
If you have diabetes or any other condition. If you have diabetes or other medical conditions, especially those that affect your immune system, see your doctor. Recurrent vaginal yeast infections may be a sign that your condition is not well controlled. You may need different treatment.
If either of these applies to you, see your doctor. Ask him to give you a treatment that will be effective against all types of yeast. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis. Many women think they have a yeast infection when they actually have another condition. Sexually transmitted infections (formerly known as STDs) mimic the symptoms associated with yeast infections and can be damaging if left untreated. In addition, an adequate diagnosis will pinpoint the cause of your frequent infections and thus facilitate the initiation of definitive treatment!
About 5% of women have recurrent yeast infections (more than 4 infections, or at least 3 infections that were not related to the use of antibiotics, in the past year). They can be frustrating and inconvenient. Why do yeast infections occur frequently? Here are some of the most common reasons.
Have you recently taken any medication? Frequent use of antibiotics can kill some of the bacteria normally present in the vagina and thus allow the yeasts to multiply, which causes frequent vaginal yeast infections. Some medicines that reduce the immune system's response (such as medicines used to treat cancer or to reduce the possibility of rejection of transplanted organs) can decrease the body's ability to fight yeast infections, which leads to more frequent infections.
What is your method of contraception? Spermicides, gels, foams and creams used in conjunction with diaphragms and condoms can kill bacteria normally found in the vagina and make it easier for yeast to grow and spread in the vagina. Oral contraceptives that contain estrogen, especially high-strength oral contraceptives, can make it easier for yeast to grow in the vagina.
Is your immune system weakened? A weak immune system reduces the body's ability to fight infections, especially yeast infections.
Do you have problems with sugar? If you have diabetes, having frequent vaginal yeast infections may be a sign that your diabetes is not well controlled and that your blood sugar is too high. Some people have suggested that a diet that is too high in sugar may contribute to the incidence of frequent yeast infections, but this claim could not be proven by medical studies.
Are your clothes at fault? Clothes that are too tight, especially those made from synthetic fabrics, can increase the humidity and heat in the vaginal area, which can facilitate yeast growth. Choosing natural fabrics like cotton keeps the area cooler and drier.
Do you have frequent sex? Frequent sexual activity may also irritate the vaginal area and increase the risk of getting vaginal infections. It is not sure whether yeast infections are sexually transmitted. About half of all women who have recurrent yeast infection have a sexual partner who is also infected. But, so far, no study has shown that treating a woman's sexual partner helps prevent recurrent yeast infections in women.
Are you using the wrong treatment? Sometimes frequent infections can occur because the treatment chosen is not effective against the type of yeast causing the infection. Although Candida albicans is the most common type of yeast causing yeast infections, certain types of yeast that are more difficult to treat, such as Candida glabrata , can also infect the vagina and these types of yeast are found more commonly in people. with recurrent infections. Another common cause of yeast infections is resistance, a phenomenon produced when yeasts change their genetic makeup, making them more difficult to treat.
Other factors that make your infection more likely to come back include not using treatment as directed, missing doses, or stopping the medicine before it is fully used.
If you have frequent yeast infections, check with your doctor before trying to treat them on your own. Your doctor can help you find out why you get these infections frequently and suggest an effective treatment.
