Signs of a yeast infection
In today’s busy world, the first signs of a yeast infection cause any woman to groan with dread; the tingling, the
discomfort when using the lavatory, and one by one, relentlessly, the full-blown symptoms appear. Many women
have attack after attack, with no real understanding of why it happens, only that it makes their lives a misery for
the duration of the infection.
Often they are not sufficiently unwell to take time off work or go to bed, just sick enough to feel utterly
miserable as they try to go about their daily routine. Sometimes the throes are more serious, and the
sufferer may feel really sick.
Early signs of a yeast infection soon become familiar to the victim who experiences recurring attacks, so that
remedies may be applied earlier in the hope of stopping the infection in its tracks. The first symptom is
usually a tingling sensation in the vaginal area, followed by stinging on passing water.
At this point the regular sufferer shuts her eyes and thinks, “Oh God, not again!” Unless the remedies are
effective, the symptoms continue to develop, with the stinging and burning growing worse, and soon joined by
redness and soreness down below. The itching may become unbearable, but rubbing or scratching in the area
only makes things worse. Sexual intercourse – if the poor sufferer feels like it – may be painful.
One of the nastiest signs of a yeast infection is the discharge that develops. Although it is usually
odorless, it is thick, creamy and lumpy – something like cottage cheese. At this point the sufferer can feel
dirty as well as miserable, but worse may be on its way.
As the redness and soreness increase the whole vaginal area may swell, and the sufferer may feel a need to urinate
more frequently. Thrush may migrate to the urinary tract and bladder, adding the misery of cystitis to
the external signs of a yeast infection.
Many women go through this cycle again and again, with the danger of the infection spreading up to the kidneys.
Nor are women the only victims. Men and children can also contract thrush, which can cause them unpleasant
symptoms also.
A woman displaying signs of a yeast infection should take precautions not to pass the microbes on to her husband or
partner, although most women do not feel like sex at all at this time. Safe sex precautions such as the use
of condoms should protect the man, which is important, as not only are the symptoms very unpleasant for him, but he
can continually re-infect his partner through intercourse.
Signs of a yeast infection in men will usually include itching and soreness of the head of the penis, sometimes
also the classic white discharge, and may in extreme cases manifest with sores and lesions on the foreskin.
Oral thrush is common in babies, and shows as redness inside the mouth, with patches of white that do not wipe
away, or persistent diaper rash. Although it is fairly harmless and easy to treat, the child may pass the
infection to its mother through breastfeeding.
Older children may also show symptoms such as colic, eczema, athlete’s foot, bloating and gas, diarrhea, cravings
for sweets, tiredness, nasal congestion and recurring ear infections. Typically children who have been on
antibiotics for a period will then fall prey to Candida infections.
|
