Symptoms of Chronic Candidiasis

Just like I promised in the previous post, chronic yeast infection, here is a list of symptoms connected to chronic yeast infections or Candida. And just like I mentioned before, there are plenty of diseases mimed by chronic yeast infection. So, the list:

1.A Childhood History of

ADD

ADHD

Hyperactivity

Skin problems

Respiratory problems

Intestinal problems

2.Poor Overall Health

Poor endurance and weakness

Asthma

Bronchitis

A habitual cough that doesn’t produce phlegm

Postnasal drip

Hay fever

Headaches, including migraines

Fatigue to an incapacitating degree (especially after eating)

3.Recurring Infections

Recurring throat and/or ear infections

Recurring vaginal, oral, or skin (yeast) infections

Urinary tract infections

Athlete’s foot

Jock itch

Skin rash

Dry, brownish patches on the skin

Ringworm

Psoriasis

Low grade fever

Chronic sinus problems

Blisters on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat

4.Digestive System Problems

Poor digestion

Loose or constipated stools

Irritable bowel

Painful gas

Bloating

Nausea and vomiting

5.Sexual / Genital Problems

Menstrual difficulties

Male impotence

Male and female infertility

6.Mental & Emotional Problems

Anxiety

Panic attacks

Depression

Irritability

Paranoia

Poor concentration, or feeling in a persistent mental ‘fog’

Unexplained feelings of being ‘hung over,’ as if after an alcoholic binge

Feeling not in total control of one’s actions, often expressed as “I know the right thing to do, but I can’t do it.”

Schizophrenia and mental instability

7.Other

Arthritis-like symptoms

Joint pain, similar to that of having the flu

Cravings for carbohydrates

Chronic dental problems

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Chronic Candidiasis | Chronic Yeast Infection

If the yeast is escaped out of control it invades the entire body, leading to Chronic Candidiasis or Chronic yeast infection. Symptoms characteristic to a localized yeast infection are not present so, symptoms of vaginal yeast infection or intestinal yeast infection will not be present anyway. The danger of this situation is that a person affected by chronic (systemic) yeast infection often will not be aware of the fact that he/she is affected by Candida because there are no symptoms at all or there are some non-specific symptoms.

Lately, health care professionals become more aware of systemic yeast infection, especially of its detection and treatment. There is actually no specific symptom for chronic yeast infection. Some non specific symptoms are low-energy, chronic fatigue, frequent skin irritation. You can find the entire list of chronic yeast infection symptoms here.

To realize the entire scale of the matter, just think that every year around 10.000 people die of chronic yeast infection only in the USA. Think how many people die in other, less developed countries, with a lower degree of health care coverage. Most of these dead persons are premature babies, with underdeveloped immune system and AIDS sufferers, whose immune system is affected by AIDS. The weak immunity leads to easy fungi infecting. Because of synthetic antifungals overuse, resistant yeast strains develop, so there are no drugs to treat this condition. What doctors are not aware yet is that the only way to eliminate yeast infection for good is the natural way. There is no Candida strain resistant to natural antifungals and capable to survive during long term without any carbohydrates.

Later in this blog I will tell you how to eliminate Candida for good and never get it back. When you will eliminate Candida you will eliminate the risk of diseases connected to yeasts: a wide range from acne to frequent headaches.

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Non - Yeast Vaginal Infections

To be sure you have a vaginal yeast infection and not some other type of vaginal infection today I will review symptoms that characterize some other types of vaginal infections. Let’s begin:

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Chlamydia and gonorrhea generate some symptoms that are very similar to yeast infection symptoms. These kind of vaginal infections are normally sexually transmitted and represent some serious danger to reproductive health. Actually, according to some studies those two represent the main cause of female (and male) sterility. Like a yeast infection symptoms an abnormal discharge is characteristic to this type of vaginal infection, also, a burning sensation while urinating is characteristic and abnormal bleeding, as well as irritation of the genital (vulvas) area.

Trichomonas
Trichomonas is the second cause of female sterility after gonorrhea. Like almost every vaginal infection, except atrophic vaginitis (which lack the infection itself), this one cause a vaginal discharge. For Trichomonas it is characteristic a discharge that has a fish-like smell. Also, irritation of the vulvar area is characteristic.

Bacterial Vaginosis
Like most vaginal infections, bacterial vaginosis is characterized by discharge, which will be white, sometimes gray and will have a fish-like smell, just like the Trichonomas. Vulvar irritation, or itching sensation is present, but the difference for other etiology vaginal infections will be the absence of pain during sex. A person suffering of bacterial vaginosis will also experience burning during urination.

Vulvitis
Vulvitis is an inflammation of the vulva. It can be caused by various infection factors, including Candida yeast, but the location is not vaginal. This condition can also be caused by various chemicals, inappropriate underwear, allergic reactions or skin infections. It also can be a result of pubic lice, bacterial infections or gonorrhea.

Atrophic Vaginitis
This kind of vaginitis is not actually an infectious disease; it is caused by a decreased level of sexual hormones, which causes the dryness in the vagina. Insufficient lubrication leads to pain during sexual intercourse and can serve as a background to various vaginal infections, including Candida yeast. The atrophic vaginitis normally occurs in menopausal women.

Vaginal Herpes
Vaginal Herpes is caused by a viral infection. Symptoms of vaginal herpes are quite similar to vaginal yeast infection symptoms. The difference is in the blisters caused by the herpetic virus and the fever that is extremely rare in yeast infections but extremely frequent in herpetic lesions. The danger of vaginal herpes is in weakening the immunity. The telltale symptom of herpetic infection is flue-like symptoms in 24-48 hours after exposure to infection occurs.

Important note: A diagnosis should be however left to the specialist’s discretion, otherwise there is a danger of misdiagnosis and of an improper treatment of yeast infection symptoms as a result.

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Symptoms of a Vaginal Yeast Infection

¾ of women will develop vaginal yeast infection symptoms at least once in their lifetime. 50 % of women will develop a vaginal yeast infection more than once, and 25% will get a chronic vaginal candidiasis, which is characterized by a permanent presence of candida in the body and frequent relapses (at least 3-4 times a year). That is the statistic and there is nothing you can do about it. Actually, you can change the statistic by taking care of your body, and eliminating the Candida yeast for good out of your vagina, like you did with your old boyfriends.
Knowing the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection is important for two reasons: you can misdiagnose a STD (sexually transmitted disease) on the other hand when you’ll have a vaginal yeast infection; you’ll know you are having it and will treat it the right way. Leaving an yeast infection untreated is dangerous: don’t even dream it will go away by itself, no, in the environment the vagina has, yeasts feel like in heaven: it is moist, dark and pretty much sugar to eat.
So, I decided to put together a list of vaginal yeast infection symptoms. It is not mandatory you’ll have all of them and it is not guaranteed you don’t have an STD. To find out the difference check other than yeasts types of vaginal infections.
So, here is the list:

- Itching sensation in the vagina or on the vulva

- Unusual vaginal discharge. This can be white, yellow or clear, thick and chunky or thin and watery. Mostly it is cheesy.

- Pain during sex (sigh of vaginal inflammation)

- An unusual odor that may smell like fermented food for example beer

- Irritation in your vagina

- Redness or a rash on the vagina and vulva

- Burning sensation within the vagina and on the vulva

- Pain while urinating (sign of urinary infection)

A simple to perform test will be quite useful to determine ether you have or have not a vaginal yeast infection. It is based on a pH measurement of your vaginal discharge. Normally, vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.2. It corresponds to an acid environment. In case of vaginal yeast infection pH will rise to 4.5 and higher, indicating the alkalinization (becoming more alkaline) of the vaginal environment.
If you’ll test your vaginal pH by put some of the vaginal discharge on it, you will know the pH of your vagina by comparing the color to the color indicated on the box: normally it is bright yellow for Litmus paper. Changing pH to 4.5 will be a clear symptom of vaginal yeast infection.

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Yeast Infection Causes

There are plenty of causes of yeast infections, mostly of vaginal yeast infections, but by science only the following are proved to be real:

1. Antibiotics: the mechanism of antibiotics leading to yeast infection is as follows: antibiotics don’t care about what kind of bacteria is killed; they don’t discriminate and kill both: good and bad bacteria. As long as good, friendly bacteria are protecting us from a yeast infection by preventing Candida overgrowth, the lack of friendly bacteria will result in yeast overgrowth and in Candida infection. Women react different to antibiotics: some will have a yeast infection every time they take an antibiotic, others will have problems every single time they take it. So, the problem is in upsetting the vaginal flora, and unfortunately some of antibacterial soaps will have the same effect and will upset the vaginal flora as well. There is no way to prevent a vaginal yeast infection due to antibiotics (or at least I don’t know it). The antibiotics represent the most frequent cause of vaginal yeast infection and represent a good example of the fact that solving one problem can lead to another.

2. Hormonal changes. Hormones are extremely potent chemical substances synthesized by our body or introduced in our body in pills form. Normally hormones are responsible for a huge quantity of our body’s functions: growth, child birth, energy level, etc. They are also responsible for vaginal pH maintaining. As for example, pregnant women are particularly prone for vaginal yeast infections, especially in the third trimester. Many women, using hormonal contraceptives will experience more frequent vaginal yeast infections due to the vaginal pH change. For most women the yeast infection will go away once their period will come, because the pH of menstrual blood is different and acts like a natural antifungal. Also, steroid hormones, which are used in autoimmune diseases treatment, will lead to Candida overgrowth, by suppressing the immune system.

3. Chemical substances can al so cause some serious yeast infection. The list of potentially dangerous chemicals is huge: starting from perfumes to inks used to color toilet paper. A good example is probably the most used by women chemical – the antibacterial soaps. The problem in the chemicals is that they upset the vaginal “ecosystem”. When you use a commercial douche to eliminate the bacteria which are the main cause of the odor, you, most probably, have no idea that bacteria causing the odor are benefic to your vaginal environment and are the barer that stop yeast overgrowth. Soaps, generally, are also harmful to the vaginal mucosa, so, next time think twice before you’ll soap your vagina. There are also chemicals which are not acting directly, but still have their share in the vaginal Candida etiology. Some good examples in this category of chemicals will serve detergents and softeners, which are used to wash the underwear. Even heavily promoted perfumed sanitary pads are dangerous from candidiasis point of view.
To avoid the danger of getting a yeast infection, just switch to some eco-brands.

4. Clothing. Yeasts just adore humidity, heat and darkness. So it feels like heaven in pantyhose or non-cotton, tight, dirty underwear. The perfect choice is a skirt with no underwear at all, but if you are too shy to walk around like this, the best choice would be natural cotton underwear, and breathable clothes. Try to change your underwear at least once a day, and don’t forget to wash it very good and to iron it after (high temperature will kill all the bacteria and yeasts). According to some sources, microwaving your underwear for 5 minutes on high will have the same effect (i.e. sterilization). I tried this and had to by some new underwear, because the old one turned into a black burned mass.

5. Weak or depressed immune system. No it is not all about persons with a compromised immune system due to AIDS. Anyone can suffer from an immune suppression due to a simple cold or due to a common flu. The difference is that HIV infected persons are always more susceptible to yeast infections such are vaginal candidiasis or thrush, and the non-infected population develops this immune suppression only temporary. Often, the flu or the cold need some antibiotic administration and in these cases you’ll be confused what caused the yeast infection first place: the compromised immune system or the antibiotic administration. Whatever is the cause, the result is the same, and we need treatment.

6. Condoms can be some other sources of vaginal yeast infection. It can be brought in by two ways: due to nonoxinol-9, which is a chemical substance that kills sperms and HIV virus. In this case switching to a different spermicide will solve the problem. The second way to get vaginal yeast infection through condom is being allergic to latex. It is quite rare, but you can make sure you are not allergic by temporary switch to special polyurethane condoms. If this helps, you are allergic, if not, search for some other cause of vaginal yeast infection.

7. Foods that we are eating. According to the most holistic healers, yeast containing foods can increase the intensity of Candida symptoms. Scientifically there is not a reason, as long as the type of yeasts used in foods is different from the one that causes your symptoms. Another thing that I just can’t understand is relation between sugar and Candida infection: the holistic theory is that sugar is eliminated in the urine and this cause yeast overgrowth by feeding the Candida. The physiology says that the only case sugar can be found in urine is poorly controlled diabetes. If you have any symptoms of diabetes, you should see a doctor. Another cause of yeast infection symptoms can be considered caffeine. I am a big fan of coffee, and did not notice any difference between time I drink coffee (all of my life) and time I don’t drink anything containing caffeine (the whole day, ha-ha).

8. Injury of the vaginal mucosa. Any injury if vaginal or even vulvar mucosa can be a cause of an yeast infection. This can happen mostly because of insufficient lubrication. So, don’t be shy and try to use some lubricants. Caution: oil based products can damage the latex, of which condoms are made, so use some non-oily sex lubricants.

9. Sexual transmission. As any infection Candida can be transmitted. It can be transmitted by direct contact (as example can serve transmission between lesbians) or by sexual contact, as we all know it: men can develop yeast infection too. And it can show no symptoms in men.
So be sure to use a condom and to keep your sexual toys as clean as it can be.

That is all I have to say about causes of yeast infection symptoms.

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Why do I start a Yeast Infection Symptoms Blog?

As a woman I just can’t stay to see daily dozens of women, suffering from yeast infection symptoms, who buy OTC (over the counter) products to treat their vaginal yeast infection. Most women are not getting the right or complete treatment for their yeast infections. Instead of that, women go to the pharmacy, buy an OTC product and try to cure their yeast infection. In most cases, the diagnosis will not be certitude.

Simple, accessible information on diagnosing, preventing and treating vaginal yeast infections are hard to find nowadays. If you’ll make a search on the internet, all that you’ll find are sites which are made to sell some affiliate books or products. The reason is that internet is mostly created by men and men are not experiencing vaginal yeast infections and all they try to do is not provide information, but to make some money selling e-books or holistic remedies to women suffering from yeast infection symptoms. That is the very gap I want to fill with my blog.
Not so long ago, the regulation about antifungals (drugs for yeast infection treatment) changed and everyone became highly aware of yeast infections, especially vaginal yeast infections. Due to the good work of the advertising agencies paid by pharmaceutical companies, everyone became familiar with yeast infection symptoms and now every woman thinks that any itch in the vulva or vagina is a sign of vaginal yeast infection.

These women don’t go to a physician or even better, gynecologist to make sure that is a yeast infection, it is much easier to ran to a local pharmacy, buy an OTC product, which are quite powerful, take it, and when the yeast infection symptoms are gone, they just drop out the treatment.

Due to this attitude, two problems arise:

1. The self diagnosis is not perfect. Even an experienced physician can have doubts before the lab results will come, and sometimes even after they come. The danger of this misdiagnosis can be an omitted STD, which can be transmitted but can not be treated by antifungals.


2. Starting and than just dropping the treatment will most probably lead to drug resistant stains of yeasts (normally Candida). Remember when penicillin was a drug that was perfect in any infection? Probably you don’t remember the time (you should be in your 70’s to remember that and I don’t think that are the women reading my blog), but you know that. What happened next? Most of the persons dropped their prescriptions after only 3-4 days of treatment, because the symptoms where gone. Farmers began to add the penicillin to animal food, so everyone who eat those animal’s meat took a small dose of penicillin. That dose was not enough to kill the bacteria in our body, but quite sufficient to develop a drug-resistance. Now penicillin is nothing, is an antibiotic you can not treat anything, even a cold.

The same thing can happen with antifungals. Some studies show already that up to 23 % of Candida Albicans (responsible for approx. 70 – 80% cases of vaginal candidiasis) are resistant to fluconazole, the most used oral antifungal agent.

So, if you want to know more about yeasts, read my next posts on Yeast Infection Symptoms Blog.

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