A Guide To Yeast Infection Symptoms

Yeast infection is a fungal infection; it can range from superficial infections to possibly life-threatening ones, though only in extreme cases. Yeast infection can occur in specific, usually dark, and moist places, like the oral cavity, the vagina, the navel, the intestines or for example the pharynx.

Yeast Infection Symptoms

Although, in most of the cases, yeast infections are not serious diseases, you should definitely look out for them, as they can develop into more serious or complex infections. A recurrent yeast infection for example can be a sign of diseases, in which patients are severely immunocomprised, that is, their immune system does not work properly, a serious yeast infection can be for example the first sign of a HIV infection.

Therefore, it is important to recognize yeast infection symptoms rapidly, after which, suitable treatment can be given. Yeast infection symptoms include severe burning, itching, irritation, and a whitish-gray discharge. The most common is perhaps the vaginal yeast infection, which can additionally be accompanied by the redness, inflammation of the vulvar skin, painful urination and sexual intercourse, and a discharge often smelling like bread or beer, which can range from thick and clumpy to clear and thin.

When experiencing any of these possible yeast infection symptoms for the first time, it is usually advisable to contact your doctor and ask for his/her diagnosis, as possibly, you do not have the necessary knowledge and experience. When experiencing the same yeast infection symptoms for the second, or third time, you do not necessarily have to go to a doctor, you could be able to treat yourself, with for example over-the-counter medicines or creams, however if your yeast infection symptoms do not disappear, you should go and see a doctor.

Some Possibly Similar Infections

Vaginal yeast infection is fairly common, as the vagina is an especially sensitive area of your body, and as many vaginal infections can have similar symptoms to yeast infection, you should definitely be aware of the difference between certain infections. With bacterial infections for example you can experience the same symptoms as with a yeast infection, itching, and burning, however, the discharge is different, it is usually darker, brownish, greenish, and will smell rather like fish, not like bread.

Urinary tract infections are usually accompanied by pain or a burning sensation, especially while urinating, the need to urinate often and pain in the abdomen for example; if you have these symptoms, you should go and see a doctor in place of trying to treat yourself at home. The burning and itching sensation can be accompanied by many other symptoms, which can be a sign of different diseases.

So, if you are not perfectly sure that you have the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection, which you have the experience to treat yourself, you should definitely see your doctor, as many serious infections can develop if you do not treat them properly or in time.