Yeast infections happen to 3 in 10 people. This is one of the reasons why many do not know about them. The ones that do have either experienced it themselves or know someone that has. Yeast infections are caused by fungi. It is caused by about 20 species of fungi.
There are three primary regions that the yeast infects. These are the throat, the genital area and the nails. Each area is infected by a different species of the yeast. The fungi spores are naturally present in the human digestive system. They are kept under control by the body's immune system. Yeast infections occur when the immune system can no longer keep the fungi in check.
Throat Infections: Children are more susceptible to this form of yeast infection. It manifests in the form of lesions on the inside of the mouth and on the tongue. The lesions are white and resemble cottage cheese. The lesions can bleed if scraped and can be quite painful. Diagnosing this condition is simple. The doctor looks for lesions and may take a sample to confirm the diagnosis. A similar condition known as strep throat also has the same symptoms and hence a sample is needed. Most often treatment is not required in children. Adults are prescribed medication to kill off the yeast.
Genital Infections: These happen to both men and women though they are more common in women. There are a number of ways that it can manifest such as vaginitis, vulvavitis, etc. it can also manifest in the form of gastrointestinal tract infection, urinary bladder infection or on the genitals. The initial symptoms are redness, itching and discomfort. This is followed by the appearance of red patchy sores on the head of the penis. In women the symptoms are itching, burning, soreness and a white or grey curd like discharge. A swab or scrapping is taken in order to diagnose the species of yeast and medication is accordingly prescribed.
Nail Infections: occur mostly to the toe nails. This is because the toes are closed in shoes and socks for a great part of the day. This creates ideal conditions for the yeast to grow. The yeast starts growing under the nail. It consumes the nail as it spreads. This makes the nail appear discolored, jagged and ridged. The nail also starts separating from the nail bed. If left untreated the nail will eventually fall off. This can be treated by applying topical creams to the affected nail. In severe cases oral medication is prescribed as well. Laser treatments are also available to cure nail yeast infections.
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