I have been feeling an itchiness in my private area and it makes me uncomfortable have stayed for three days without medication what can i use since i dont have money to buy the creams to use please help me am so scared that it might become so serious and is it a sexually transmitted dieseas is it a symptom of HIV? am so scared is there something i can use at home to heal it What is thrush?
Thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis, or OPC) is a yeast infection that develops in the mouth and throat and on the tongue.
Thrush is most common in newborns, infants, and older adults, but it can occur at any age. In healthy newborns and infants, thrush is usually not a serious problem and is easily treated and cured.
What causes thrush?
Thrush occurs when a yeast called candida grows out of control. Candida normally is present in small amounts in the mouth and on other mucous membranes. However, under certain circumstances, candida can grow rapidly, causing thrush.
Thrush can be a recurring problem for people who have chronic illnesses or who take medications that impair the body's ability to fight infection (weakened immune system). Since these people have difficulty fighting infections, the fungus that causes thrush can spread throughout the body, causing life-threatening blood or organ infections.
What are the symptoms?
Some babies and young children with thrush do not have any symptoms. Others will have general symptoms of not feeling well, such as acting cranky and not eating very much. White patches on the tongue or other areas in the mouth are the most obvious symptoms of thrush. These patches may look like cottage cheese or milk curds. In infants, thrush is often mistaken for milk or formula. The patches adhere to the tongue and mouth and cannot be easily wiped away. However, with scraping or rubbing (during brushing, for example), the patches may come off. The tissue around and under the white patches may be red and raw-looking and may bleed. If thrush becomes severe, it can extend into the throat, causing pain and difficulty swallowing.
How is thrush diagnosed?
A visual examination is usually all that is needed to diagnose thrush. In addition to looking in your mouth, your doctor will ask you questions about your health.
How is it treated?
Medications that inhibit the growth of fungi (antifungals) are the standard treatment for thrush. These medications are either applied directly to the affected area (topical) or swallowed (oral).
Thrush - Treatment Overview
Thrush is a yeast infection that can develop in the mouth and throat and on the tongue. Thrush is most common in newborns, infants, and older adults, but it can occur at any age. In healthy newborns and infants, thrush is usually not a serious problem and is easily treated and cured.
Except for the mildest cases, you should treat thrush to keep the infection from spreading. Antifungal medications, which inhibit the growth of yeast, are the standard treatment for thrush. Thrush is most commonly treated with medications that are either applied directly to the affected area (topical) or swallowed (oral).
Your or your child's general health, the severity of the infection, and the persistence or recurrence of the infection determine how the medication will be given.
Infants are nearly always treated with topical antifungal medications. Topical medications don't work as well in adults because they have bigger mouths and it is hard to cover the affected areas.
Mild thrush
In adults, mild cases of thrush may clear up with simple treatment that can be done at home. This treatment usually involves using an antifungal mouth rinse or lozenges. Treatment usually lasts about 14 days.
Mild thrush in infants is usually treated with topical medications until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have gone away.
Moderate to severe thrush
More severe thrush infections that have spread to the esophagus are treated with an oral antifungal medication. A topical antifungal medication may also be used.
For some severe infections, a treatment period longer than 14 days may be needed.
Oral antifungal medications are almost never used during pregnancy because the fetus may be harmed. However, if a pregnant woman has a rare, severe thrush infection that has spread to her blood, oral antifungal medications may be used. In this case, the risk of harm to the mother and fetus from the severe thrush infection may be greater than the risk posed by the use of antifungal medications.
Persistent or recurrent thrush
Persistent or recurrent cases of thrush may:
Need to be treated twice as long as the symptoms last.
Require treatment with both oral and topical antifungal medications.
People with weakened immune systems can take an antifungal medication on a continuous basis to prevent thrush infections.
It is very important to get rid of any sources of infection, or thrush will continue to come back. Do this by cleaning toys, pacifiers, bottles, and other items a child may put in his or her mouth or share with another child. Itching is most likely a sign of a yeast infection not an STD or HIV. Most STD's don't have really obvious symptoms and HIV symptoms aren't in your private parts. You will have to get something to kill the yeast and they are not that expensive. You can get them without a prescription at the drugstore for $10 or so. Yeast infections CAN be spread through sex but not strictly through sex. You need to see your doc. Believe me it's easy and necessary. Thrish is not a STD its just an overgrowth of bad bacteria. You can get it in your mouth or genitals. You can get it treated really easily. I had a similar problem and went to the doctor and got meds to clear it up. When I went to get it checked out it wasn't HIV or a sexually transmitted disease. I think it was a yease infection from drinking milk and eating cheese. |
