Vaginal Yeast Infection or Vaginal Candidiasis or Vaginal Thrush is a fungal infection or mycosis of vagina. It can be caused by any of the Candida specie. Candida albicans is the most common species which is most frequently encountered in the Infections. It leads to infections that may range from superficial infections like oral thrush and vaginitis, to some serious systemic and life threatening diseases.

The potential life endangering infections caused by the yeast is also referred to as candidemia as there will be the yeast in the blood of the patient; also the victims are only those who are immunocompromised. The patients who have compromised immune system are generally those who are suffering from the cancer, or they may have developed AIDS or those patients who have undergone the organ transplant as those patients will be on some immunosuppressant drugs. There may some superficial infections affecting the skin and the mucosa by some species of the candida yeast is quiet common and generally it may lead to some skin inflammation and patient may have a feeling of discomfort. While the infection caused by the opportunistic genus of the candida may lead to various different diseases and even syndromes which are known as candidosis, moniliasis, oidiomycosis.

Types of Candidiasis

• Oral candidiasis
• Candidal vulvovaginitis
• Candidal intertrigo
• Diaper candidiasis
• Congenital cutaneous candidiasis
• Perianal candidiasis
• Candidal paronychia
• Systemic candidiasis

Causes and Risk factors

• Use of some detergents and douches in the vagina can lead to the disturbance of the normal flora and makes someone more susceptible to the infection
• Pregnancy and some oral contraceptive use is also supposed to be a cause of the infection
• Diabetes predisposes a person to the infection
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is also a risk factor; proper precautions should be taken by the patients
• Other conditions include HIV, AIDS, Mononucleosis, some nutritional deficiency, and the patients who are on steroids and other immunosuppressant drugs

Signs and Symptoms

• White Flakes in the vagina
• Vaginal Itching
• Vaginal Burning
• Vaginal Irritation
• Painful Micturition
• Pain while involving in sexual intercourse
• Curdy white vaginal discharge
• Bad odor in the discharge
• There may be pain while attempting to put a tampon

Diagnosis and Investigations

• Viewing the swab mounted in the KOH which may show the pseudohyphae
• Culture may be done at 37 degree where on a suitable medium a colony of the yeast can be developed

Treatment and Medications

• Common Antimycotic drugs that are used to treat the patients are topical nystatin, clotrimazole, fluconazloe and topical ketoconazole
• In some severe infections amphotericin B, caspofungin, or voriconazole can be used
• Local application may in the form of vaginal suppositories