As we go on to look further into the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection, we must be clear about the term, vaginal yeast infection and what it stands for. As the name indicates, this infection is fungal in origin and the condition of yeast infection may be antibiotic induced. There is bacteria in the vagina which protects against the fungal infection and when antibiotic treatment is given, the bacteria is killed. It is when this bacteria is killed that the fungal infection proceeds unopposed and hence leading to vaginal infection.
Vaginal yeast infection is also called vaginal candidiasis. The culprit organism is present normally in the vagina and also in the gastro intestinal tract. There are four species of candida which cause the infection but the most important culprit is candida albicans. The disease manifests itself when the normal flora is lost and thus the organisms increase in number.
There are some conditions which allow the fungus to grow and multiply in certain regions of the body. The most important antibiotic in this regard is Tetracyclins which is the main predisposing factor which changes the balance between fungi and the bacteria and leads to the pathogenesis of vaginal yeast infection.
Some of the symptoms that a woman with vaginal yeast infection may incur follow: -
1. Patient may feel vaginal itching
2. Patient may observe rashes on the vagina
3. There may be vaginal irritation
4. Micturation reflex is very painful and the patient feels pain during urination
5. Patient feel pain during sexual intercourse
6. Odourless vaginal discharge
7. Vaginal discharge may vary in its nature. It may be watery, thick or cheese like.
8. Patient may feel itching on the vagina
9. There would be redness on the vagina especially on the lips of vagina
10. Sign of inflammation are present
11. If the urine touches the area, there would be the burning sensation
12. Itching is so much that a person can hardly walk
13. Discharge smells like bread or a cheese which shows that the infection is fungal in origin
because bacteria can not smell like that.
So far as the signs are concerned; on doing A pelvic examination, there would be inflammation of the vagina and also a white plaque formation on the vaginal wall. If we take the sample of vaginal discharge and observe that with a microscope, cadida species will be present. Before we make this diagnosis, some other diseases would firstly be ruled out like bacterial infection and urinary tract infection.
