What Is Recurrent Yeast Infection?
Recurrent yeast infections is a term used to describe the condition where yeast infections recur frequently, mostly four or more times in a single year. Yeast infections are very common infections, and they occur when a fungus called Candida grows out of proportion in certain areas of the human body. Interestingly, these fungi naturally live on the skin, mucous membranes, and inside the body, including the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina. When it increases in number, it penetrates deeply into the body and results in yeast infections. Examples of yeast infections are armpit yeast infections, vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush that occurs in the mouth, and yeast infections of the skin and esophagus. Most yeast infections have the tendency to recur for several reasons. The most common yeast infection that recurs is a vaginal yeast infection.
What Causes Recurrent Yeast Infections?
As mentioned earlier, yeast infections can recur for several reasons. The causes of recurrent yeast infections are described below.
-
Compromised Immunity: Individuals with weak immunity are more prone to recurrent yeast infection because the body is not able to fight off yeast infection well like a healthy individual could do.
-
Incomplete Clearance of Prior Yeast Infection: It is possible that the previous yeast infection had not completely resolved and that is causing the infection to reoccur. This mostly happens when the patient stops taking the medications in between and does not complete the course of treatment.
-
Drug- Resistant to Yeast Infection: It is also possible that the yeast might have developed resistance to the medications and which is why it is not responding to medications and keeps coming back. However, it occurs very rarely.
-
Certain Underlying Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions such as diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, cancer, organ transplant makes an individual susceptible to recurrent yeast infections.
-
Some Medications: Some medications may contribute to the recurrence of yeast infections. These medications include oral contraceptives, antibiotics, steroids, and chemotherapy medicines.
What Are the Symptoms of Recurrent Yeast Infections?
The symptoms of recurrent yeast infections are the same as those of yeast infections, which are discussed below.
-
Redness and inflamed skin or mucous membrane.
-
Itching.
-
In vaginal yeast infections, the main sign is itching, but there may also be burning in the vulva (area outside the vagina), which may get worse when urinating or during sexual activity. Also there would be an increase in vaginal discharge that might be odorless, whitish and clumpy.
-
In skin yeast infections rashes and scaling might be present. Sometimes, in severe cases, discharge can also be found from the lesions.
What Tests Are Used to Identify Recurrent Yeast Infections?
A thorough medical history and a thorough examination of the symptoms are the first steps in making a diagnosis. If the patient complains of the frequent occurrence of itching, redness, inflammation, and other symptoms of yeast infection, recurrent yeast infection can be suspected. To find out the presence of a yeast infection, a sample of the lesion can be taken and sent to the laboratory for identification and confirmation of the diagnosis. In cases of vaginal yeast infections, a pelvic check and a sample of vaginal discharge will be performed. For accurate test results of vaginal yeast infections, individuals might be requested to refrain from douching, sexual activity, or using any vaginal medications prior to their visit.
How to Cure Recurrent Yeast Infections?
Typically, oral antifungal medications or over-the-counter antifungal creams or suppositories are used to address yeast infections. Recurrent yeast infections are more difficult to treat and may require:
-
Prolonged antifungal treatment (vaginal cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository).
-
The infection is eradicated by early treatment and maintenance therapy.
-
Making lifestyle adjustments to reduce recurrence may involve staying away from tight apparel that traps heat and moisture as well as staying away from some perfumed hygiene products.
How to Prevent Recurrent Yeast Infections ?
-
Self-diagnosis and self-treatment of Recurrent Yeast Infection: Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis, and Preventionshould be avoided. Always consult a doctor for treating recurrent yeast infections instead of taking over-the -counter medications.
-
Always take the dosage as instructed by the doctor, and complete the full course of the treatment. The medicines will not be able to kill the fungus completely if the dosage would be inappropriate.
-
Diabetic patients should control their blood sugar levels to prevent recurrent yeast infections.
-
Yeast grows in moist and humid environments. Hence keeping the body areas dry will help in preventing recurrent yeast infection. This is true especially for skin yeast infection which occurs due to accumulation of sweat in tight clothing or putting on garments on a wet body.
Does Probiotics Help With Recurrent Yeast Infections?
According to studies, probiotics can help people with a yeast infection by reducing their symptoms. It can also prevent recurrent yeast infections, as they maintain a healthy count of the good microbes in the body. In addition, they help in vaginal yeast infections because the pH level of the vagina is balanced by these bacteria. Furthermore, by reestablishing equilibrium in the vaginal microbiome, probiotics can treat yeast infections. They cause an acidic atmosphere by producing lactic acid. This stops the growth of numerous other microbes, including yeast, in the vagina and other areas where yeast infections reoccur.
Does Diabetes Cause Recurrent Yeast Infections?
Yes, people with high blood sugar levels often suffer from recurrent yeast infections because the high amount of sugar in their blood can actually help the yeast grow by feeding it. In response to high blood sugar levels, the body begins eliminating extra sugar through bodily fluids, including vaginal secretions. Because yeast obtains its energy from sugar, the vaginal environment promotes yeast proliferation, overgrowth, and inflammation, which in turn causes recurrent yeast infections.
Conclusion
To conclude, yeast infections are very common infections, but their recurrence is even more common. Individuals often wonder why they keep getting yeast infections again and again. It is important for people to understand the reasons that make them susceptible to recurrent yeast infections. Treatment of the underlying cause of recurrent yeast infections stops the infection from recurring.
