Thrush Infection – The Facts
The Truth About Thrush Infection
Do an Internet search on “thrush infection” and you will find a wealth of information. Despite this, few people really are properly informed about thrush, which is a real shame, given that it is such a common complaint that has such a wide variety of symptoms and such a large number of sufferers – it’s estimated that around 90% of the US population suffers from some type of thrush infection at some time.
So what is it thrush infection?
Thrush infection is also known as yeast infection, yeast overgrowth or Candida Albicans (to give it the correct scientific name). It’s actually a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of the candida bacteria. As with most bacterial fungi, it is most likely to occur in areas of the body where there is a lot of warmth and moisture. This is why the most common infections take place in the mouth and the vagina.
Vaginal thrush infections are particularly common, recurrent and troublesome, and often occur when the vaginal balance changes from acid to alkaline (sugary), due to by such things as the use of antibiotics, hormonal changes, stress, monthly periods, lack of sleep and diabetes. Other causes include birth control pills, pregnancy, poor hygiene and sexual intercourse. Diet is also a major factor – overuse of foods such as sugar, caffeine, cheese and yeast-based foods can cause problems.
What are the symptoms?
There are many more symptoms of thrush infection than people realise. Symptoms vary from mild, to acute, with sudden, nasty embarrassing symptoms, or chronic, with more systemic symptoms. However, the most common symptoms are itching, burning, soreness, swelling of the vagina and vulva (outer area of the vagina), and a yeasty-smelling discharge. Amongst men, telltale symptoms include red patchy sores near the head of the penis or on the foreskin as well as the itching and soreness. Pain during urination is also common for both male and female sufferers.
Another common problem is nipple yeast infection, particularly among breast-feeding mothers. Symptoms include sore nipples, red or pink nipples, itchy or burning nipples, puffy, dry, or flaky nipples and breast pain during or after feedings.
Oral thrush infection symptoms include a thick white coating on the tongue and white or red patches on the inner surfaces of the mouth.
Treatment
There has been significant growth in the use of natural and holistic therapies for treating the main types of thrush infection. This is due to the fact that standard anti-fungal drugs and creams will treat the symptoms rather than the root cause of the infection, often leading to recurring problems. Sufferers are increasingly beginning to realise that long-term cures require attitudinal and lifestyle changes, including changes of diet, rather than just popping and few pills or applying a cream.
