Thrush is a very common vaginal infection, caused by an overgrowth of yeasts that normally live in the bowel and may be present in other parts of the body, such as the mouth, skin and vagina. The most common cause of thrush is Candida albicans, but other types of yeast sometimes are involved.
Small amounts of Candida are usually present in all people and does not cause symptoms, but sometimes overgrowth of Candida occurs, and symptoms develop. Some people with vaginas may be more sensitive than others to the presence of Candida and can develop symptoms even when only small amounts of yeast are present.
Circumstances that encourage the overgrowth of Candida albicans include:
Thrush is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The yeasts that cause thrush may be present all the time. It is changes in the person’s body that allow the condition to develop.
Symptoms of thrush include:
Other conditions, such as genital herpes or urinary tract infection may have similar symptoms, so it is important to have the diagnosis confirmed.
Diagnosis of thrush is usually made following examination of the affected area by a doctor. Sometimes the doctor will take a swab to send to the laboratory for testing to confirm a diagnosis of thrush.
(time between becoming infected and developing symptoms)
The yeasts that cause thrush may be present all the time. It is changes in the person’s body that allow the condition to develop.
(time during which an infected person can infect others)
Person-to-person spread does not usually occur.
Effective treatments with vaginal creams and vaginal tablets are available.
Patients with frequently recurring thrush should seek medical advice to make sure they do not have a medical condition such as diabetes mellitus. A longer course of treatment with oral tablets may be required.
There is no evidence that dietary changes help prevent thrush.
To help prevent thrush:
