Utis And Yeast Infections Need Very Different Treatments
The issue is not just that these two infections require different medications to relieve you of your symptoms. Its also that if you try to treat what you think is a yeast infection with over-the-counter meds when its really a UTI , you could eventually be at risk for a kidney infection, or at the very least not actually get rid of your UTI. Youre not going to get better, Dr. Minkin says bluntly about using the wrong treatment.
So, first up, yeast infections: Getting rid of yeast infections really comes down to curbing that Candida overgrowth by using antifungal medications. Depending on the severity of your infection, you might only need a single dose of meds, either vaginally or orally. But if your symptoms are intense or you have recurrent yeast infections , you may need multiple oral or vaginal doses over the course of a few weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If you have a urinary tract infection, youll likely receive a prescription for a short course of antibiotics to help your body fight the bacteria, the Mayo Clinic says. If youre also experiencing pain, your provider might prescribe medication to numb your bladder and urethra when you pee, but the Mayo Clinic notes that, more often than not, your pain will lessen when you start taking the antibiotics. And this bears repeating: You should get treated ASAP because untreated lower urinary tract infections can turn into a painful and dangerous kidney infection.
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Is Thrush A Uti
No, despite similarities, thrush is not a UTI. Whilst both cause itching and pain when urinating, the infections differ in many ways. Thrush is a yeast infection, caused by a build up of a fungus in a moist area. Whereas a UTI is a bacterial infection, caused by bacteria entering your urinary tract.
How Is Uti Treated
For UTI treatment, your doctor will typically do a urine culture, to determine the type of infection. If the infection is caused by bacteria, the doctor may recommend antibioticsoral antibiotics for lower tract infection, and intravenous antibiotics for upper tract infection. If the infection is caused by a virus, then the doctor will recommend antiviral medication.
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Treatment For Urinary Tract Infections
Lower urinary tract infections can often be treated by taking antibiotics for a few days. Painkillers may also be taken to treat any associated stomach or back pain.
Upper urinary tract infections may be treated at home or in hospital depending on your condition.
Treatment will involve a longer period of antibiotics, at least a week. The pain can be treated with Paracetemol, however, some painkillers, such as Ibuprofen are not suitable as they can up the risk of damage to the kidneys.
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How Can I Prevent Vaginal Yeast Infections
You often can prevent vaginal yeast infections by making a few lifestyle changes. These changes can include:
- Not douchingdouching can kill bacteria that actually controls fungus.
- Avoiding the use of feminine deodorants.
- Not using deodorant tampons or pads.
- Changing out of wet clothing, especially bathing suits, as soon as you can.
- Using water-based sexual lubricants.
If you have diabetes, it is important to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. Controlling your diabetes can help prevent vaginal yeast infections.
The symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are similar to other conditions. If you have any questions, a physical exam by your healthcare provider will help.
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Should You See A Doctor
Both UTIs and yeast infections should be reviewed and diagnosed by your doctor to prevent them from getting worse. UTIs that are untreated could lead to a more serious kidney infection. Yeast infections may also be something more serious, or the symptoms may actually be from another condition, such as a sexually transmitted infection.
What Is A Bladder Infection
A bladder infection is a type of urinary tract infection, but not all UTIs are bladder infections. Bladder infections are the most common type of UTIs. A bladder infection may also be called cystitis and it is usually caused by bacteria.
Symptoms of a UTI can differ depending on what part of the urinary tract is infected. A bladder infection usually causes symptoms such as:
- Burning when urinating
- The feeling that you need to pee frequently, but when you go to the toilet very little urine comes out
- Pain in the pelvic area just above the pubic bone.
Bladder infections are usually considered simple UTIs and treatment is usually with antibiotics for three to five days. Symptoms usually resolve in a couple of days.
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When To Seek Medical Care For Yeast Infection
- If its the first yeast infection youve ever had. See a doctor to be sure its not a more serious problem that needs a different treatment, such as a urinary tract infection or an STI.
- Youre pregnant. Any medications, including over-the-counter vaginal creams, need to be approved by your doctor during pregnancy.
- You often get yeast infections. If you have four or more yeast infections in a year, doctors call it recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. If you have it, youll need treatment for up to six months with an anti-fungal medication. Frequent yeast infections can also be a sign that you have diabetes or another medical condition.
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How Do Doctors Diagnose Epididymitis
Your doctor may also perform the following tests and procedures:
- rectal examination, which can show if an enlarged prostate caused your condition
- blood tests, such as a complete blood count , to determine whether theres an infectious pathogen in your system
- urine sample, which can indicate if you have a urinary tract infection or an STI
Imaging tests may be done to rule out other conditions. These tests produce detailed images that allow your doctor to see structures in the body very clearly. Your doctor might order a testicular ultrasound to get images of the testicles and the surrounding tissues in the scrotum.
Treatment for epididymitis involves treating the underlying infection and easing symptoms.
Common treatments include:
- wearing an athletic cup for support
- avoiding lifting heavy objects
In cases of an STI, you and your partner should abstain from sexual intercourse until youve completed your course of antibiotics and are fully cured.
These methods are usually successful. It can sometimes take several weeks for the soreness or discomfort to go away completely. Most presentations of epididymitis clear up within 3 months. However, more invasive treatment may be necessary for some people.
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What Are The Treatment Options For This Infection
One of the ways to treat this infection is with antibiotics.
These antibiotics will kill off the infection in the short term but will not treat the infection itself.
Instead, there are natural remedies that you can use to cure this infection.
One of the best natural remedies for curing the infection is tea tree oil.
This remedy contains anti-fungal properties that are very effective.
Also, garlic capsules that you can buy at your local pharmacy should also help cure the infection.
Another natural treatment for this infection is apple cider vinegar.
This natural remedy is effective at killing the bacteria that have infected the area.
You should make sure you get enough Vitamin C, and zinc in your diet as well.
You should also try to avoid douching since the chlorine in the water will kill the good bacteria that help the yeast infections.
If you want to use the bathwater, then you have to add a couple of drops of tea tree oilor lavender oil to it to help kill the bad bacteria that may still be present.
Also, dont drink alcohol because it will kill all the good bacteria that will help you fight off the bad bacteria, and thus, your infection will spread.
So drink plenty of water throughout the day, and eat yogurt to help replenish your body with the nutrients that it needs to keep fighting off these yeast infections.
Another thing you should know is that chronic infections are often caused by stress.
Eat healthily and eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible.
How To Prevent The Occurrence Of Yeast Infection
Except in the cases of pregnancy and hormone therapy, it is possible to control the occurrence of yeast infections. By taking any of the following precautions, you can drastically reduce your chances of infection:
- Always wear neat, clean cotton panties that allow air to pass through
- Avoid tight-fitting clothes like pantyhose, especially during humid weather
- Avoid using scented pads and tampons.
- Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotic
Though they are often lumped together, UTI and vaginal infection are not the same thing. Both infections affect different systems of the body, and should be treated in a different manner. That said, eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water keeps you fit and helps you to fight the infections.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Epididymitis
Symptoms of epididymitis are noticeable typically within 24 hours of contracting the infection. The first sign of inflammation begins in the vas deferens, which is a small duct that transports sperm to the urethra. From here, the inflammation will spread to the epididymis itself. Because of the direction in which the inflammation spreads, the first sign of epididymitis is often abdominal or flank pain. Following this descent, the testicles will begin to swell.
The next noticeable symptom is often scrotal pain or swelling, and patients may see the scrotum enlarge to four times its size as the bacterial infection spreads. Other noticeable symptoms of testicular infection include:
- Pain or burning during urination
- Discharge from the urethra
Diagnosis Of Testicle Swelling
Your doctor will need to know all of the symptoms you have been experiencing, and when they appeared. They will conduct a physical examination to look for lumps and to determine if one or both testicles are affected.
Your doctor will need to know what you were doing before you noticed the swelling as well as your medical and family histories. Additional testing can include:
A scrotal scan to look at the tissues and to identify any abnormalities in the testicles or scrotum. These scans may identify the presence of tumors as well.
An ultrasound will also help the doctor determine if the swelling is caused by testicular torsion. This happens when the testicle becomes twisted and is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.
A rectal examination to check for prostate infections
Urine samples to test for sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea
Blood tests to test for infections like HIV and syphilis
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What Can I Do To Stop Or Prevent These Symptoms
Most women who get a urinary tract infection don’t get another one and don’t need to be on a prevention program. All they need is a few days of treatment with an antibiotic. Some women, however, get these infections over and over again, and they may get some relief from preventive efforts. Drinking 12 ounces of cranberry or blueberry juice every day decreases your chances of getting an infection. If you tend to get urinary tract infections after sexual intercourse, going to the bathroom right after intercourse or taking a single dose of an antibiotic may lessen your risk.
What Will My Doctor Do
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms to find out the possible cause of dysuria. If you have an infection, your doctor will give you a prescription for an antibiotic. For many patients, a physical examination may be needed. Often, a urine test will be done in the office or sent to a lab.
Sometimes other tests are needed if the cause is not clear or if there are signs of more serious illness. These may include blood tests, imaging studies, and tests on samples from the urethra or from vaginal discharge in women. Some patients may need to see a bladder and kidney specialist or gynecologist.
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Can A Yeast Infection Spread To Other Parts Of The Body
If you are wondering about this, yes, a yeast infection can spread to other parts of the body.
Lets look at how this can spread.
1. If you have had a yeast infection, you know that it is caused by the fungus Candida Albicans, which lives naturally in your body.
The only way that it will become a problem is if you allow the Candida yeast to mutate into the fungus.
Now, before you panic, there is no need for panic.
Because there are ways for you to prevent the fungus from mutating into the dangerous fungus that causes all kinds of problems.
The reason why a yeast infection spreads to other parts of the body is that the fungus grows rapidly and spreads.
One of the things that you can do that will help prevent the fungus from spreading is to change your diet.
And reduce the amount of sugar and carbohydrates you consume.
This will kill the yeast naturally and stop the fungus from growing out of control.
Another thing you can do to help reduce the growth of the yeast is by taking garlic capsules or taking an anti-fungal spray.
These products will kill the fungus that causes the yeast to grow out of control and spread all over the body.
2. Another way that can a yeast infection spread to other parts of the body is by having unprotected sex with someone who has a yeast infection.
In fact, it can spread even further than that.
When you do this you are allowing the yeast to grow and spread to other parts of your body.
4. The most common cause is stress.
This includes the skin.
Tests To Look For Infecting Germs
A urine test will usually be done if a urine infection appears to be the root cause. A sample from the urethra or other tests may be done if a sexually transmitted infection is thought to be the root cause. Sexual partners of people with epididymo-orchitis caused by a sexually transmitted infection will also need testing.
Ideally, you should be referred to a sexual health specialist within one day to have an assessment unless your doctor thinks mumps orchitis is the cause of your symptoms.
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Can Irritation Of The Bladder Be Caused By A Vaginal Yeast Infection
An irritated bladder is certainly a very annoying symptom, as it can make you constantly feel like you have to go.
Another symptom is leakage of urine.
Frequent trips to the toilet provide only temporary relief, if at all.
When women experience bladder related symptoms, they often assume that the source is a urinary tract infection.
Overgrowth of vaginal bacteria or yeast can cause bladder symptoms, says Michael Ingber, MD, board certified in urology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and founder of The Center for Specialized Womens Health, division of Garden State Urology.
Any infection which causes inflammation of the vaginal wall can directly irritate the bladder and cause bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency or leakage.
Though these symptoms can also be caused by a urinary tract infection, a urinary tract infection cannot cause vaginal itching, dryness or burning.
Dr. Ingber continues, Sometimes, the vulvar vestibule can get affected as well. This is the region just inside the labia minora but not inside the actual vaginal canal.
The urethra opens up in this area. When the vulvar vestibule is inflamed from yeast infections, women can get symptoms of burning with urination.
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What Causes Epididymitis In A Child
In younger boys, it can be caused by a urinary tract infection. The infection may be linked to a structural problem in the genitourinary system. In older boys and teens, itâs often caused by a sexually transmitted infection , which is also called a sexually transmitted disease . Its most often caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia. These are bacterial infections.
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What Are The Main Causes Of Yeast Infections
One of the main causes of this infection is a hormonal imbalance in the body.
Other causes include antibiotics, birth control pills, certain types of steroids, pregnancy, or diabetes.
These hormonal imbalances will cause the natural growth of Candida Albicans to become out of control and begin to infect your body.
Abdominal Pain And Bloating
Although it sounds unlikely, abdominal discomfort is one of the symptoms associated with vaginal candidiasis. Candida overgrowth is a vaginal yeast infection that leads to gut symptoms. These include bloating after meals, constipation, and excessive gas. In addition, the candida overgrowth can lead to vaginal infection symptoms, cognitive impairment, and constant fatigue if left untreated.
The gut symptoms tend to last for years, with the patient relying heavily on antacids. The antacids can provide temporary relief, fooling patients into thinking its a simple case of indigestion and acid reflux. However, because the candida overgrowth remains untreated, the symptoms continue to appear and become more challenging to manage.
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What Are The Causes Of A Uti
A UTI is mainly caused by bacteria, though fungi and viruses can also be the reason. UTIs can be of two typeslower tract infection involving the urethra and bladder, and upper tract infection involving the ureters and the kidneys.
Any factor that can irritate the urinary tract can cause a UTI:
- Long-term catheter use