Treatments fo Thrush

The primary treatment these days is with an anti fungal agent. These are available as a capsule, a cream or a pessary. The most popular, these days, is a one capsule dose of anti fungal agent plus a cream to help with the soreness and itching.

This by itself may not be enough, though it should be the first thing to do. Typically a one dose capsule can contain fluconazole and the cream which is for the external vulval area may contain clotrimazole. There are also pessaries and creams for internal use which may contain econazole, fenticonazole, miconazole or nystatin. Anti fungal creams and pessaries can affect condoms or caps preventing them working as contraception.

Recurrent Thrush can mean that Candida has moved beyond the original location and has colonized some other part of the body, such as the intestines in which case oral anti fungal drugs will be needed, perhaps for a longer period of time.

Alternative or Complementary Treatments

Garlic.

Garlic has anti fungal and antibiotic properties. Peel garlic clove, wrap in muslin with a tail for removal and insert into the vagina overnight. Eating more garlic helps too. Chew a clove or two raw on a regular basis until symptoms diminish. You might smell a tad strong during this!

Yoghurt

Live yoghurt may be either eaten or even inserted in and around the vagina, or both. The lactobacillus acidophilus helps the body to regain its natural balance of gut flora and also encourages the PH of the vagina to return to its acidic state.

Tea Tree Oil

Inserted into the vagina on cotton wool or a tampon and wiped around the vulva, can bring relief

Aloe Vera

Applied externally and/or taken orally can help with the itching and soreness

Salt Water

A handful of salt water added to a warm bath can help enormously. A cup of white vinegar can be added if desired. This helps the vagina regain acidity which Candida does not like.

Boric Acid

Purchase In capsule form and insert into the vagina.

Fresh Air

Expose area to fresh air whenever you can do so respectably!

Prevention

Don’t take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary
Remove all sugar from the diet
Avoid yeast products
Avoid alcohol
Take probiotics as a dietary supplement and in ‘live’ foods such as yoghurt and other fermented foods.
Avoid tight fitting clothes and nylon underwear, especially tights or pantyhose. Change to 100% cotton pants.
Avoid strong smelling bath and shower products and soap. Change to baby products or mild hypoallergenic products.
Do not use scented tampons or coloured toilet paper
Do not leave tampons, pads or barrier contraceptives in too long
Dry your body thoroughly after bathing, washing or swimming, especially in folds
Pay special attention to hygiene, especially hand washing
Wipe from front to back when going to the toilet as Candida in the bowel can easily pass to the vagina

Treatments for Candidiasis or Candida

The first step is to look at the causes and risk factors and try to address them where possible.

Causes and Risk Factors

Lowered immune system for whatever reason
Use of steroids
The contraceptive pill
Antacids and anti ulcer medications
High sugar diet
Alcohol or drug misuse
Diabetes
Stress
Poor hygiene
Antibiotics

Of course it may not be possible to do much about some of these, but the important thing is to do what is feasible for you. As antibiotics can be the primary villain of the piece, try not to take them unless it is absolutely necessary.

There are a number of things you can do to treat Candidiasis or Candida related Complex if you feel you have this complaint.

Oral Thrush

Oral Thrush is quite common in babies and is thought to be contracted during passage through the birth canal. However, adults can get oral Thrush too. Candida Albicans is present in the mouth in around 50% of people. Anyone who wears dentures will have Candida in the mouth.

Generally Candida in the mouth does not cause a problem unless the chemical balance of the oral cavity is changed in some way. These changes can occur as a result of taking antibiotics, following chemotherapy, immune deficiency caused by old age or illness, and also by conditions such as diabetes. Denture wearers may be prone to getting small abrasions in the mouth which can allow Candida to penetrate. Oral Thrush can move down into the throat and cause soreness and hoarseness.

If you are not a denture wearer or elderly or belong to the other groups mentioned above, then Thrush in the mouth may be a symptom of an undiagnosed condition and should be investigated.

Symptoms

Small yellow or white spots may be visible on the tongue which when scraped off may bleed.
Soreness and general discomfort in the region of the mouth.

Treatment

Anti fungal pastilles, gels or suspensions held in the mouth before swallowing eg Nystatin oral suspension, Daktarin oral gel.
Antifungal tablets may be used in persistent or resistant cases
It can help to rinse the mouth with a diluted solution 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide.

Oral Thrush in Babies

Oral Thrush in babies is quite common and tends to show up at around four weeks of age. You may notice white spots or larger patches in the mouth or a more general whitish coating which looks like milk curd. This can occur on the tongue and cheeks and the roof of the mouth. This coating can be scraped off easily but will leave the tissue underneath raw and it may also bleed a little. It can make the baby reluctant to feed which is very distressing.

Candida can also be implicated in nappy rash. Nappy rash is caused by a reaction to urine and faeces and the skin becomes inflamed, sore and broken. These are just the conditions that Candida likes, so can move in and then make the condition much worse.

Causes

If the mother has been taking antibiotics, this can cause Thrush in a new baby. It may also be that a new baby’s immune system takes time to build up. Thrush is more common in premature babies. No one really knows why babies get Thrush.

Treatment

Oral Thrush in babies may just clear up by itself after a few days. If this does not happen an anti fungal gel like Miconazole may be presciribed or an oral suspension such as Nystatin.

References