Candida Albicans – causes of candidiasis, symptoms and treatment

Thrush, or candidal infection, accompanied by damage to the vaginal mucosa, is a problem for many women. The symptoms of this disease are so unpleasant that they completely knock the patient out of rhythm: due to severe itching, she cannot work normally, be sexually active, or even sleep peacefully.

THE COST OF AN APPOINTMENT WITH A GYNECOLOGIST IN OUR CLINIC IS 1000 rubles.

CLICK TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, TEST OR ULTRASOUND

Unfortunately, medications for thrush are advertised everywhere, which is why, having contracted candidiasis, women run not to the doctor, but to the pharmacy. After some time, the disease returns, which is natural, because such an infection cannot be cured with one pill; complex therapy is needed. That is why, at the first signs of thrush, you need to make an appointment with a good gynecologist and undergo full treatment. Today we will dispel myths about the treatment of thrush and formulate a number of recommendations that every woman should know.

Is thrush really a problem?

The content of the article

People of all ages suffer from candidiasis, with the peak incidence occurring between 20 and 40 years of age. According to statistics, 60% of women have been diagnosed with thrush at least once in their lives, and in 9%, candidiasis has a recurrent (repeating) course. In reality, this figure is higher, since in many patients the disease does not produce noticeable symptoms and the fungus is detected only when swabs are taken from the vagina.

The main problems of this pathology are self-medication, which leads to the disease becoming chronic, and negligent attitude towards one’s health. Gynecologists at the Diana Medical Center daily encounter cases of thrush, the severity of which is due to the patients’ late seeking of professional medical help.

Diflucan

The drug is available in the form of capsules with different dosages, and there is also a solution for intravenous administration. Diflucan is sold without a prescription (only solution - by prescription). The active substance of the drug is fluconazole. The medicine fights most fungi of the genus Candida and cryptococci. "Diflucan" is used for acute forms of thrush and for episodes of recurring candidiasis. The drug is also prescribed to a partner after the woman has recovered.

To quickly suppress uncomplicated thrush, one tablet is enough. If the process is chronic, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment. Diflucan is easy to use, with almost no side effects, and improvement occurs within a day after taking the medicine.

Diflucan

Pfizer (Pfizer), USA

— cryptococcosis, including cryptococcal meningitis and infections of other localizations (for example, lungs, skin), incl.
in patients with a normal immune response and in patients with AIDS, organ transplant recipients and patients with other forms of immunodeficiency; maintenance therapy to prevent relapses of cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS; - generalized candidiasis, including candidemia, disseminated candidiasis and other forms of invasive candidiasis, such as infections of the peritoneum, endocardium, eyes, respiratory and urinary tract, incl. in patients with malignant tumors who are in the ICU and receiving cytotoxic or immunosuppressive drugs, as well as in patients with other factors predisposing to the development of candidiasis; - candidiasis of the mucous membranes, including the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, non-invasive bronchopulmonary infections, candiduria, mucocutaneous and chronic atrophic candidiasis of the oral cavity (associated with wearing dentures), incl. in patients with normal and suppressed 183

1031

• Like
• Write a review

Why thrush develops: causes of candidiasis

The main cause of the disease is fungi of the genus Candida. Normally, the fungus lives in the body of any person, but under certain circumstances, as a result of the influence of various predisposing factors, it begins to actively multiply. Therefore, such microorganisms are called opportunistic.

Normal vaginal microflora keeps the fungus from excessively multiplying. When it changes (dysbiosis), the growth of Candida increases, and thrush .

Stimulate the activation of infection:

• hormonal changes in the body: pregnancy, menopause, diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes, thyroid problems), incorrect selection of birth control pills;
• violation of personal hygiene rules and wearing synthetic underwear - the fungus loves dampness, warmth and does not like fresh air;
• douching, using aggressive cleaning agents;
• the presence of sexually transmitted infections, inflammation of the internal female organs, infection with thrush from a partner;
• diseases accompanied by changes in the concentration of sex hormones in the blood,
• pregnancy and chronic foci of infection in the body, weakening the immune system;
• uncontrolled use of antibiotics, which destroy, along with parasitic flora, beneficial lactobacilli - protectors of the mucous membrane.

It’s easy to provoke candidiasis: just walk around in tight synthetic panties in the heat. The fungus develops instantly in such conditions - it loves moisture, warmth, and does not need air.

Bibliography

1. Gynecology textbook. IV edition ed. Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor G.M. Savelyeva; prof. V.G. Breusenko 2012
2. Urogenital candidiasis. Clinical recommendations. Moscow, 2016 – 22 p.
3. Vulvovaginal candidiasis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment tactics. Bayramova G.R., Amirkhanyan A.S., Chernova V.F. //Doctor.Ru 2018. No. 10 (154). pp. 32-36
4. Sherry L., Kean R., McKloud E., O'Donnell LE, Metcalfe R., Jones BL et al. Biofilms formed by isolates from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis patients are heterogeneous and insensitive to fluconazole. Antimicrob. Agents. Chemother. 2017; 61(9): e01065-17
5. Prilepskaya V.N. Vulvovaginal candidiasis. Clinic, diagnosis, principles of therapy: manual / V.N. Prilepskaya, G.R. Bayramova - M 2008 - 50s
6. Atlas of pathogens of fungal infections/E.N. Moskvitina and others - Moscow GEOTAR-Media, 2021 208p
7. Zordan R., Cormack B. Adgesis on opportunistic fungal pathogens In: Calderone RA, Clancy CJ, ed Candada and candidiasis/ Washington: ASM press; 2012: 243-259)
8. Zhang Y., Li W., Chu M., Chen H., Yu H., Fang C. et al. The AAA AT Pase Vps4 plays important roles in Candida albicans hyphal formation and is inhibited by DBeQ. Mycopathology 2016; (5-6) 329-39
9. Murciano C., Moyes DL, Runglall M., Yobouti P., Islam A., Hoyer LL et al. Evaluation of the role of Candida albicans agglutinin-like sequence (Als) proteins in human oral epithelial cell interactions. Plos one 2012.
10. Center for Disease Control (CDC) Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines, 2015.
11. Donders GG, Bellen G., Mendling W. Management of recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis as a chronic illness. Gynecol. Obstet. Invest 2010 70(4):306-21
12. Ankirskaya A.S. Muravyova V.V. Microbiological characteristics of vaginal infections caused by fungi of the genus Candida // sexually transmitted diseases 2001. pp. 12-14
13. Eschenbach DA Chronic vulvovaginal candidosis N Engl. J Med 2004; 351(9)
14. Tikhomirov A.L. Oleinik Ch.G. Optimization of treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis // effective therapy in obstetrics and gynecology. 2007 No. 3 from 22-27
15. Bayramova G.R. Recurrent vaginal candidiasis. Clinic, diagnosis, treatment. dis. Doctor of Medical Sciences M. 2013 (46s)
16. Prilepskaya V.N. Bayramova G.R. Vulvovaginal candidiasis, modern ways to solve the problem. Difficult patient 2006 (from 33-36)

Is thrush contagious?

Keep in mind that candidiasis is a contagious disease and is easily transmitted to a sexual partner, so you will have to be treated together. The disease is often confused with an STD. In fact, thrush does not belong to this group, but contact with a man suffering from candidiasis will provoke the development of infection. A woman also transmits Candida to her partner. In men, thrush occurs more easily, this is due to good access of air to the mucous membrane of the head, but even without obvious signs, a once infected man becomes a carrier of the infection.

How to cure thrush in a man?

Help to overcome candidiasis:

• locally - creams with clotrimazole;
• systemically – fluconazole (drugs Fluconazole, Diflazon, Forkan, Medoflucon, Mikosist).

The duration of the average course of treatment is 5 days.

During treatment, underwear and towels should be changed daily. Hygienic procedures are carried out using products without fragrances or additives. Despite the fact that most drugs are used topically, alcohol should not be consumed during treatment.

Men are prescribed drugs of local and systemic action

Symptoms of thrush: what a woman feels with candidiasis

Candidiasis is difficult to miss - it is one of the most unpleasant diseases. A woman is worried about incessant itching in the genital area, frequent painful urination (dysuria), pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), associated with vaginal dryness and injury. The main sign of fungal activity is a cheesy discharge. Whitish deposits begin to form on the reddened mucosa, which separate and form a cheesy vaginal discharge. In men, thrush manifests itself as redness of the head, a white coating accumulates on it, and red spots may form.

In advanced stages, the infection from the external genitalia spreads to the anal area. Cracks in the mucous membrane occur, accompanied by pain during defecation. If thrush is not treated, it becomes chronic and torments the woman constantly - during hypothermia, menstruation, after bathing, when personal hygiene rules are violated or in the premenstrual period, when hormonal levels change, etc.

Against the background of thrush, due to scratching and weakening of the natural flora of the vagina, a bacterial infection can develop, leading to bacterial vaginitis. Vaginitis quickly spreads to the uterus and its appendages, which in some cases can lead to decreased fertility (the ability to conceive), even to infertility.

If any symptoms of thrush appear, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, you should contact your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe timely treatment. The doctor makes a final diagnosis after receiving the test result (smear). A small amount of fungus does not cause disease and is normal.

What happens if thrush is not treated?

Untreated thrush can lead to serious problems.

The diagnosed disease must be treated. Despite the fact that Candida fungus is an opportunistic microorganism, the body needs help to cope with overgrown colonies and neutralize the consequences of their vital activity. Untreated disease:

among women:

• will reduce immunity, resulting in the development of secondary sexually transmitted infections;
• will provoke erosion of the mucous membrane;
• disrupts the menstrual cycle;
• will cause inflammation of the cervix.

for men:

• will lead to prostatitis, vesiculitis, which can cause infertility.

Diagnosis of thrush

Making a correct diagnosis is not a problem for an experienced doctor, but you will still have to take a smear to determine the purity of the flora. After all, thrush is rarely the only problem; as a rule, the analysis reveals a whole bunch of concomitant infections. Sexually transmitted infections are the cause of recurrent thrush in most cases.

To determine the best antifungal agent, the isolated fungi are inoculated and drugs are tested on them, determining the most effective one.

How to cure thrush during pregnancy?

Statistics say that Candida fungi are detected in 80% of expectant mothers. Before giving birth, you must say goodbye to them. If this event is postponed until later, the baby will become infected during childbirth. Transmission of the fungus is also possible after - during feeding or hygiene procedures. This is fraught with thrush in the mouth, in girls - on the genitals, and a series of subsequent problems with the baby’s health.

To treat expectant mothers, gynecologists prefer to use topical medications - suppositories, tablets, creams. Suppositories Pimafucin and Primafungin can be used in any trimester of pregnancy, Terzhinan tablets - in the second. Systemic drugs are prescribed if the disease cannot be cured locally. Only the doctor prescribes medications and outlines the treatment regimen, depending on the clinical picture; amateur activity is unacceptable here.

Self-medication of candidiasis is unacceptable

Treatment of thrush: only complex therapy

Contrary to popular belief, thrush is not cured with one pill. A doctor’s professional approach involves a set of measures.

The doctor selects antifungal drugs that can be taken:

• orally to reduce the amount of fungus throughout the body;
• in the form of suppositories or ointments locally - they quickly relieve the symptoms of candidiasis.

Treatment of thrush must necessarily include normalization of personal hygiene and treatment of STIs, if detected.

To combat Candida fungi, antifungal drugs are used, most often in the form of suppositories or a special vaginal gel. It is also necessary to take antifungal drugs internally. At the same time, the doctor will prescribe restorative therapy that restores immunity and normal vaginal flora. The patient is prescribed vitamins and immunostimulants that improve immunity. After completion of antibacterial therapy, the flora is restored with medications containing lactobacilli - this is the most important part of the beneficial microflora of the vagina.

Men will also have to take pills and treat the penis daily with a special solution or ointment prescribed by the doctor.

Prevention consists of rational use of antibiotics, regular visits to the gynecologist with taking smears for flora, strengthening the body, maintaining hygiene and refusing to wear synthetic underwear in hot weather.

Prognosis and prevention

To completely cure vaginal candidiasis, it is necessary to both consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations. Antifungal drugs are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, but DIY in this case is not only ineffective, but also dangerous. Only a specialist can correctly select the necessary medications, determine the characteristics of their use, and also monitor the effect of the medications.

It is important to understand that it is much easier to prevent vaginal candidiasis than to treat it. To minimize the risk of developing the disease, you must adhere to the following rules:

• give preference to cotton underwear;
• stop using panty liners;
• use specialized products for genital hygiene;
• do not use douching without a doctor’s prescription;
• monitor the condition of the body, promptly treat pathologies of the genitourinary and digestive systems, endocrine glands;
• avoid casual sex and infection with sexually transmitted diseases;
• do not use antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription and do not change the dose and regimen without permission;
• if long-term antibiotic therapy is necessary, take antifungal agents.

Vaginal candidiasis is an unpleasant disease that can be prevented and, if necessary, quickly cured. The main thing is to consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations.

Myths and truth about treating thrush

Myth No. 1. Thrush is normal!

The causative agent of thrush is fungi of the genus Candida, which are classified as opportunistic microorganisms. This means that they are contained in small quantities in the microflora of the body of healthy women. This fact leads some patients to believe that periodic manifestations of thrush do not deserve attention.

This is a misconception, because normally fungal pathogens do not cause unpleasant symptoms and do not bring discomfort to their owner. But in large quantities, Candida becomes dangerous, so thrush needs to be treated.

Myth No. 2. If thrush is not treated, it will go away on its own

This misconception, propagated on many websites, has led to the spread of chronic thrush among young women.

The primary symptoms of the disease - severe itching and curdled discharge, characteristic of the acute phase of the disease, indeed, even without treatment, gradually fade away. But this is a false sense of recovery. After some time, the troubles will return again - at the moment when the body experiences severe physical or psychological stress. In addition, the recurrence of thrush is facilitated by changes in hormonal levels, which occurs during menstruation and during pregnancy.

Myth No. 3. One tablet is enough to treat thrush!

The advertisement claims that after taking one capsule of the miracle drug, a woman will forever forget about the symptoms of thrush. Yes, the thrush may go away, but it will be replaced by severe dysbiosis, vaginosis and other diseases associated with disturbances in the vaginal microflora.

All antifungal agents used in the treatment of candidiasis (thrush) are drugs that specifically suppress pathological flora. At the same time, a safe drug should have a gentle effect on the mucous membrane without causing dysbacteriosis. In other words, he should treat smoothly, leaving time for the body to adapt. Whereas the “killer dose” will destroy both the causative agent of thrush and all living things, freeing up a springboard for colonization by new fungi and bacteria.

In addition, thrush rarely comes alone. Analysis (smear) sometimes reveals a whole bunch of STDs. In this case, combination treatment is required.

Myth No. 4. Local remedies for thrush are useless

Topical antifungal drugs quickly suppress fungal growth and play an important role in the treatment of thrush. Candles, creams, gels and sprays do not cause side effects and have no restrictions on use. But local therapy is considered by gynecologists exclusively as an additional measure, since it is effective only in the early stages of the development of pathology.

At the same time, suppositories and ointments are the drugs of choice in the treatment of candidiasis in pregnant and lactating women.

Myth No. 5. The appearance of thrush does not depend on lifestyle

The development of thrush always has a specific cause. Frequent stress, poor diet and heavy physical activity, which weaken the immune system, activate the fungal flora. Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules also affects the state of the vaginal microflora; in addition, the disease can be acquired by changing partners and using traumatic sex toys.

Another, perhaps significant reason is the uncontrolled use of antibiotics that affect the flora of the body. Broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are not able to distinguish “bad” bacteria from “good” ones; they kill everything not only in the vagina, but also in the stomach and intestines. Therefore, lovers of self-medication are in for a surprise in the form of dysbiosis and accompanying candidiasis.

Myth No. 6. The most effective treatment for thrush is traditional medicine!

Traditional methods of treating candidiasis usually come down to the use of infusions and decoctions of herbs for washing and douching the vagina. For this purpose, herbs with antibacterial and antifungal effects are used.

These measures are good only as an aid to the main treatment, but thrush cannot be cured in this way. For quality treatment of vaginal candidiasis, you need to take antifungal drugs, immunostimulants and vitamins. Only this set of medications is guaranteed to reduce the likelihood of relapse of the disease.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The main reason for the occurrence and development of the disease is a sharp decrease in immunity. It is during this period that beneficial microorganisms inhabiting the mucous membranes die, unable to prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria. In this way, favorable conditions are created in the body for the active reproduction of yeast-like fungi, and their uncontrolled growth indicates the possible presence of an infectious process in a person.

Other causes of thrush include:

• taking antibacterial and hormonal drugs;
• stressful conditions and other psychological factors;
• persistent chronic infections;
• frequent consumption of sweets, poor diet;
• concomitant sexually transmitted infections;
• hypothermia or overheating;
• sudden climate change;
• lack of personal hygiene;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding.

All of these factors have a certain effect on the human immune system and on the level of acid-base environment in the body, which provokes the rapid development of fungus and contributes to the occurrence of candidiasis.

Particular attention should be paid to the color of discharge during illness. Thus, the yellow color of the secretion indicates the presence of infectious diseases in the body: sexually transmitted or gynecological. This color can be caused by trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, vaginal dysbiosis or other inflammatory processes in the reproductive system.

Thus, if thrush begins, or the disease recurs quite often, it is necessary to eliminate the cause that caused the disease. And in order to identify this cause, you need to seek help from a specialist, since self-treatment will only worsen the course of the disease and can lead to unpleasant and unforeseen consequences.

The most common causes of the disease are: taking antibacterial drugs and psychological reasons. Let's look at them in more detail.

Taking antibacterial drugs

Very often, antibiotics are used to treat various diseases in medical practice. These are drugs that have a detrimental effect on human bacterial microflora. They effectively relieve the patient of harmful microorganisms, which allows the body to resist many serious and dangerous diseases. But constant, and especially uncontrolled therapy with antibacterial agents leads to the imbalance of microflora, because such drugs also negatively affect beneficial bacteria.

Therefore, often after taking antibiotics, a favorable environment is formed in the human body for the proliferation of the causative agent of candidiasis, which entails a significant increase in pathogenic microflora, and, accordingly, the development of thrush.

To prevent this, when prescribing antibacterial drugs, an experienced and qualified specialist will always prescribe the use of probiotics - lactobacilli, which help restore beneficial microflora and normalize its balance in the body.

Psychological reasons for the development of the disease

The psychosomatics of thrush is different for each individual patient, and only a competent specialist can find the factor that causes the development of the disease: a psychologist or psychotherapist. Most often, representatives of the fair sex are susceptible to the occurrence of thrush against the background of psychosomatic disorders: young girls and women. This is due to their more delicate nervous system, lifestyle and other reasons.

The main psychological factors causing the development of candidiasis include:

• dissatisfaction with sexual life, in which failure to achieve orgasm leads to various hormonal disorders, which also entails the onset of thrush;
• relationships with the opposite sex;
• a woman’s concentration exclusively on everyday problems, forgetting about her own purpose, which is the cause of frequent stress that leads to the onset of the disease;
• low self-esteem;
• passion for strict diets, leading to disruption of microflora, and as a result – the occurrence of candidiasis;
• excessive perfectionism, which forces you to be in a constant state of stress, which inevitably affects your health and provokes the growth of yeast-like fungi;
• it happens that frequent lies also cause candidiasis;
• the development of thrush in a child indicates a lack of love and attention from parents.

In each specific case, you should understand the cause that caused the disease and put all your efforts into eliminating it, because if there is a problem at the psychological level, then no state-of-the-art medications will help completely get rid of the disease. They will only heal physiological symptoms, which, under the influence of psychosomatic factors, will not slow down to return again.

Klion

"Klion" is available in the form of regular and vaginal tablets. Metronidazole is the active substance of oral tablets, metronidazole + miconazole are contained in vaginal tablets. "Klion" is sold by prescription and is prescribed for both acute and chronic forms of thrush. For better effect, the doctor can combine two forms of the drug. Locally, Klion copes well with complex types of vaginosis. The drug has some special instructions for use - the medicine cannot be used without a doctor’s prescription! At the same time, Klion has a minimum of side effects.

Klion

Prevention is easier than cure

To avoid relapses of thrush, it is necessary to exclude possible causes of the disease.

• Carefully monitor intimate hygiene and avoid too tight underwear with unnatural compositions.
• Use antibiotics strictly as prescribed by your doctor.
• Maintain a balance of healthy vaginal microflora and avoid casual unprotected sex.
• Watch your diet: eliminate refined carbohydrates, giving preference to fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

When your body is healthy, you are under its reliable protection!

Pimafucin

The drug has such forms of release as vaginal suppositories, cream for topical use and tablets for oral administration. The active substance of Pimafucin is natamycin, which has a powerful antifungal effect. You can buy medicine for thrush without a prescription.

Pimafucin has almost no side effects, it is as safe as possible and is prescribed for acute and chronic forms of candidiasis. As prescribed by a doctor, the drug is approved for pregnant and lactating women.

If thrush is acute, it can be eliminated with local treatment. If it is chronic candidiasis, with relapses, you also need to take a course of Pimafucin tablets. An improvement in the condition is noticeable within a day after starting treatment for thrush, but it is important to complete the course of treatment as prescribed by the doctor. At the same time, you need to treat your partner so that thrush does not recur.

Pimafucin

Astellas Pharma Inc., Japan

A modern drug for the treatment of thrush, available in different dosage forms.
One of the few antifungal agents that can be used without restrictions during pregnancy and breastfeeding. from 228

2417

• Like
• Write a review

Natural Healing

Although treatment with pharmaceutical drugs is most successful, there are methods of prevention and treatment with natural remedies. Bad eating and lifestyle habits can lead to the return of fungi, so the following rules are necessary:

• limit your consumption of foods containing carbohydrates and refined sugar;
• limit your caffeine intake – don’t drink more than three cups a day;
• eat garlic;
• eat foods rich in B vitamins;
• drink a cup of natural yogurt or kefir every day - yogurt contains lactic acid, which helps maintain a normal number of beneficial bacteria;
• wear cotton rather than synthetic underwear;
• Take cool showers – fungi and other bacteria love warm, moist environments because they thrive best in such conditions;
• change towels more often;
• After bowel movements, wipe the anus from front to back to avoid microorganisms entering the vagina.

Prevention of thrush in diet

Modern medicine confirms the effectiveness of preventing thrush using a special diet.

Some foods can prevent the growth and reproduction of fungi, preventing the appearance of signs of thrush.

The list of recommended food products includes:

• yoghurts and other products based on lactic acid cultures;
• garlic, red pepper;
• propolis;
• tea tree oil;
• lingonberries (not only berries, but also leaves);
• grapefruit.

With regular consumption of the above products, the risk of developing any form of candidiasis will be minimal. Also in medicine there is a list of foods that people prone to candidiasis should avoid. This list includes all types of yeast baked goods, refined carbohydrates and mold cheeses. Such products are especially contraindicated while taking antibiotics, as well as when the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Diet

For thrush in women, the diet plan should be based on consuming foods that have antibacterial and antifungal effects. These include:

• garlic;
• seafood;
• parsley;
• buckwheat;
• White rice;
• broccoli;
• natural yoghurts;
• oatmeal;
• cucumbers

For men, when diagnosing candidiasis, the diet should be followed for up to 12 months, the minimum is 4 months. During this time you should:

1. Avoid consumption of spicy foods and various sauces.
2. Completely abstain from alcohol for the entire period of treatment.
3. There are only low-fat dishes, those that are steamed, boiled or stewed.