What is Yeast Infection

Candida albicans, a diploid asexual fungus, is fond of warm moist areas and starts multiplying very rapidly when it is able to find such an area within a human or an animal body. It is mainly responsible for vaginal yeast infection among women. The vaginal area becomes sore and takes on a flaming red color with a constant burning and itching sensation. If a vaginal yeast infection is really severe, the vulva gets swollen and the woman starts urinating frequently. Seventy five percent of women the world over suffer at some point of time in their lives from vaginal yeast infection.

Stress happens to be the single most important cause of vaginal yeast infection. Stress as such lowers body immunity, and Candida, which normally resides within the vagina and acts as a normal cleanser, starts multiplying rapidly and the situation goes out of control with the ecological balance of that area getting severely disrupted. It has also been observed that some women regularly suffer from a bout of vaginal yeast infection at the start of menstrual cycle. Some women who use oral contraceptives regularly have also been found to chronically suffer from vaginal yeast infection. However, this is only an observation. Clear cut scientific cause and effect relations between oral contraceptives and vaginal yeast infection are yet to be established.

But it is not restricted to vaginal area only. It affects the underside of foreskin of penis in men and inside oral cavity of babies and elderly people. Babies are also affected in areas which are covered by diaper and suffer a lot from such yeast infections. This fungus might also attack the gastrointestinal tract.

Sometimes men contract yeast infection through unprotected sexual intercourse with women suffering from vaginal yeast infection. But there is another fungus called Balanitis which sets up a colony under the foreskin of penis and causes a lot of suffering for those who get affected by it. Men who have not been circumcised fall prey to this fungus very often.

Usually a yeast infection should disappear within a week to ten days after treatment is started. If you find that it is still lingering don’t waste any more time and rush to your doctor. A study by Temple University in 1997 found that almost one in every hundred women who thought they were suffering from vaginal yeast infection and were doing self medication were in fact suffering from another bacterial infection altogether which needed a completely different treatment. So, if you find no appreciable relief within a few days after you start your own treatment, surely visit a doctor.

If you follow a balanced diet and avoid excessive sugar and starch and keep your blood sugar level within controllable limit, there is lesser chance for you to fall a victim of yeast infection. Also maintain the basics of personal hygiene like changing underwear daily, keeping your body dry and clean and wiping from front to back while using toilet paper.

Yeast prefers a warm and moist place. So avoid using too tight clothing and underwear made of synthetic fabric, these do not absorb sweat and create a condition conducive to uncontrolled fungal growth.

Follow these simple precautions and you will be well guarded against yeast infections.