什么Happens if You Don't Treat a Yeast Infection?

Untreated yeast infections may spread to other areas or other people.

Yeast infections arecontagious. They can be transmitted through sexual contact. Those with weak immunity have a high risk of the infection. Yeast infections can be vaginal (candidiasis), oral (thrush) or penile.

Mucocutaneous yeast infections (those affecting the body creases where moisture accumulates) may not be contagious.

Yeast infections are treated by medications and maintaining proper personal hygiene. The doctor may prescribe

• Local pessary:These are antifungal medicinal pills that are inserted inside the vagina. A typical course is 6 to 10 days. These are taken for vaginal yeast infections.
• Antifungal skin creams, ointments or powders may be used by men for penile infections.
• A single tablet of antifungal medicine taken by mouth for a severeyeast infection(except if a woman ispregnantor hasdiabetesor other diseases where immunity is weak).
• Probiotics(live lactic acid bacteria) to restore the natural vaginal bacteria.

The doctor may instruct the patient to control their bloodsugarlevels (if they havediabetes) and maintain a healthy weight and healthy skin hygiene.

If the patient has an oralyeast infection(thrush), the doctor may prescribe antifungal treatments such as

• Mouthwash (nystatin)
• Lozenges (clotrimazole)
• Syrup or pills (fluconazoleoritraconazole)

治疗皮肤真菌感染

• Spread the infection to other body organs
• Cause discomfort

Untreated vaginal yeast infections may

• Causeitchingand inflammation of a woman’s private parts
• Causebacterial infectionsfrom scratching
• Spread the infection toward the urethra (opening for urine)
• Increase the risk of premature delivery,miscarriageor premature birth in pregnant women
• Pass tobabiesduringchildbirth
• Pass to the sexual partner if a woman did not communicate her yeast infection

Untreatedoral thrushmay spread the infection to other organs in cases of patients with weak immunity. This population includes people withdiabetes,cancerandhuman immunodeficiency virus(HIV). The yeast may spread throughout the blood to other organs causing complications.

• Esophageal candidiasis may cause difficulty in eating and swallowing and cause malnutrition.
• Candidasepsis:This is a condition wherein the candida may infect other organs via the blood.
• Yeast may cause infections of organs such as theheartandlungs.

• Bloodsugarlevel control may prevent recurrent yeast infections in those who have diabetes.
• Keeping a healthy weight may lower the risk of a skin yeast infection.
• General hygienic rules such as using powders to keep skin dry and wearing loose, breathable cotton clothes must be followed to prevent skin yeast infections.
• It is best to avoid sex if your partner has a yeast infection to prevent catching the infection.
• Probioticscan help to keep any type of yeast infection away.
• In case of a recurrent vaginal yeast infection, aprobioticproduct may be either swallowed or inserted into the vagina to restore healthy vaginal flora.
• Eating yoghurt orover-the-counterprobiotic pills may help restore healthy mouth flora in case of a mild mouth yeast infection.
• Women should avoiddouching(洗澡的阴道用化学皂和water) that may increase the risk of infections.