How to Detect Yeast Infection, Symptoms & Treatment

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis is very common in women, and over 75% (3 out of 4) women will have at least one episode in their lifetime. Sixteen percent of nonpregnant women are Asymptomatic carriers. Women with a yeast infection may have involvement of the vagina, or both the vagina and the vulva (the large fold of skin surrounding the vagina).

Signs and Symptoms

A yeast infection may be Asymptomatic or may present with symptoms. Women with infection just in the vagina may experience intense genital itching, or burning with urination. Women with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis may present with vaginal irritation, pain with urination, or pain with sexual intercourse. Candida appears as a thick, white, cottage-cheese like discharge with no odor. There may be red lesions in a satellite pattern on the vulva, and the area may be red and swollen.

Treatment

Treatment for recurrent yeast infections depend on controlling and or identifying the underlying cause.

• Controlling blood sugar levels for diabetics and regular inspection of any new skin infections for immunocompromised patients are suggested.
  
• Patients at risk for yeast infection can be treated with antifungals prophylatically (before they contract the infection).
  
• Studies have shown that dietary sugar and lactose (milk sugar) may support and promote the growth of yeast in women. Limiting intake of these sugars may help.
  
• It is also recommended that those with recurrent yeast infections avoid tight clothes that promote moisture and provide an environment for Candida to thrive. Some physicians recommend washing clothing in hot water and using panty liners to avoid creating a reservoir for yeast.
  

Medications are readily available at many pharmacies and retail stores.

• Yeast infections are due to fungi. In order to treat them, an agent that stops the multiplication process is needed. These agents are called antifungals and include Miconozole (Monostat), Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Gyne-Lotrimin) cream, and Fluconazole (Diflucan). Yeast infections respond to a seven day treatment (twice daily) with the drugs Monostat or Lotrimin.
  
• The full course of medication should be taken to prevent recurrence. For some patients, doctors prescribe Diflucan tablets, which can be dispersed as a one dose treatment, or taken every day for 5 days.
  
• Nystatin (another antifugal) vaginal tablets are also used to treat yeast infections. For women with recurrent yeast infections, they are treated with antifungals for up to six months (instead of days) to get the best results.
  

Conditions that Look Like a Yeast Infection

There are some conditions that can mask as a yeast infection. That is, the clinical presentation has some signs and symptoms that resemble those of a yeast infection to the naked eye. These disorders include Trichomonas Vaginitis, Bacterial Vaginosis and some conditions that cause noninfectious vaginitis such as Atrophic Vaginitis.

Although there are some distinguishing features between these disorders and a yeast infection, there are some characteristics that are common resulting in a yeast infection misdiagnosis. This is especially true if no laboratory follow-up is initiated.

Trichomonas Vaginitis - Women infected with Trichomonas will often complain of spotting and irritation. The irritative symptoms include frequency, urgency, and difficulty or pain with urination. Pelvic discomfort and pain with intercourse is also experienced with some women.

Since Trichomonas is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), re-infection can occur even after treatment. So the patient's partner should also be treated. Therapy consists of a single dose of Flagyl (2 grams) or with 500 mg twice daily for seven days, if the person is resistant to the one-time treatment.

Bacterial Vaginosis - Bacterial Vaginosis is frequently misdiagnosed as a yeast infection. This condition, the majority of the time, is caused by the bacteria Gardnerella Vaginalis. It is the second most common infection of the vagina, after Candida. The patient may complain of burning or itching in the vulvovaginal region and present with a fishy odor.

In summary, both Trichomonas Vaginalis and Bacterial Vaginosis usually present with discharge. However, with Bacterial Vaginosis, the discharge is gray-white, and with Trichomonas, the discharge is yellow-green. Bacterial Vaginosis has a thin discharge with a very strong odor.

In contrast, with Candida, the discharge generally is odorless but is white and has a thick, curd-like consistency. Usually, it is not particularly difficult to recognize Candida, however, on those occasions where there are overlapping signs and symptoms, microscopic examinations of the scrapings will show the different responsible organisms.

Atrophic Vaginitis - Atrophic Vaginitis is sometimes misdiagnosed as a yeast infection. Symptoms include itching and burning similar to a yeast infection, and vaginal dryness during intercourse.

This condition occurs with aging, as a result of decreased estrogen production. The wall of the vagina thins and secretions are decreased. This thinning renders the patient more susceptible to infection. There is also a loss of lining of the urinary tract which causes discomfort with urination and frequency in urination.

Atrophic Vaginitis improves quickly with estrogen creams, which help decrease the urinary symptoms and improve vaginal dryness.