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Yeast infections, caused by an overgrowth of Candida yeast, can be uncomfortable and distressing. While these infections are common and treatable, they can cause discomfort and disrupt daily life. If you suspect you have a yeast infection, fear not! Here we will discuss how to treat yeast infection and dive into the causes, symptoms, prevention, and various treatment options available to help you find relief and recovery from this bothersome condition. Understanding Yeast Infections What is a Yeast Infection? A yeast infection, also known as candidiasis, is a common fungal infection that affects people of all genders. It typically occurs in warm and moist areas of the body, such as the vagina, mouth, or skin folds. Candida yeast is naturally present in the body, but an overgrowth can lead to uncomfortable symptoms. Common Symptoms Recognizing the signs of a yeast infection is essential for prompt treatment. Common symptoms include vaginal itching, burning, redness, and white, cottage cheese-like discharge in women. Men may experience itching, redness, and irritation on the penis. Oral yeast infections (thrush) can cause white patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, or throat, making swallowing difficult. Preventive Measures Maintain Good Hygiene Practicing good hygiene is a crucial step in preventing yeast infections. For women, this includes washing the genital area with mild, unscented soap and water and avoiding the use of douches or scented feminine products, as they can disrupt the natural balance of vaginal flora. Wear Breathable Clothing To prevent excessive moisture buildup, choose loose-fitting, breathable clothing, especially in the genital area. Avoid tight-fitting underwear or pants, as they can create an environment conducive to yeast overgrowth. Balanced Diet Maintaining a balanced diet that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates can help prevent yeast infections. High sugar intake can contribute to yeast overgrowth, so focus on consuming whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins, and probiotic-rich foods like yogurt. (Credit: Depositphotos) Over-the-Counter Treatments Antifungal Creams and Suppositories Over-the-counter antifungal creams and suppositories are commonly used to treat yeast infections. They contain active ingredients such as miconazole, clotrimazole, or tioconazole, which help to eradicate Candida yeast and alleviate symptoms. Follow the instructions carefully and complete the full course of treatment to ensure complete recovery. Vaginal Antifungal Tablets Vaginal antifungal tablets are another effective option for treating yeast infections. These tablets are inserted into the vagina using an applicator and work to clear the infection from within. Like creams and suppositories, be sure to complete the full course of treatment to achieve the best results. Natural Remedies Probiotics Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help restore the balance of the vaginal flora, which is essential in preventing and treating yeast infections. Incorporate probiotic-rich foods like yogurt or take oral probiotic supplements specifically formulated for vaginal health. Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil possesses natural antifungal properties and may help combat yeast infections. Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil and apply it to the affected area, but avoid applying it directly to the vaginal area. (Credit: Depositphotos) Seeking Medical Attention Recurrent or Severe Infections If you experience recurrent yeast infections (more than four per year) or severe symptoms that do not improve with over-the-counter treatments, it’s essential to seek medical attention. A healthcare professional can properly diagnose the infection and recommend appropriate treatments or investigations if necessary. Those With Chronic Health Conditions For those who are prone to recurrent yeast infections or have chronic health conditions that make them more susceptible, a proactive approach to managing these infections is vital. It’s essential to work closely with a healthcare professional to identify any underlying health issues that may contribute to repeated infections. Conditions such as diabetes, weakened immune systems, and hormonal imbalances can increase the risk of yeast overgrowth. By addressing these underlying factors, healthcare providers can develop a personalized treatment plan to effectively manage and prevent future occurrences. Importance of Finishing Treatment One crucial aspect of managing yeast infections is understanding the importance of finishing the prescribed treatment, even if symptoms improve. Stopping the medication prematurely may allow the yeast to regrow and cause a relapse. It is equally important to adhere to the recommended dosage and follow the instructions provided by the healthcare professional or the product label. Avoid using over-the-counter antifungal treatments for self-diagnosed infections, as they may not effectively target the specific type of yeast present, leading to incomplete recovery. Lifestyle Factors To further reduce the risk of yeast infections, pay attention to lifestyle factors that can impact yeast overgrowth. For instance, reduce stress levels through relaxation techniques like meditation and regular exercise, as stress can weaken the immune system and contribute to infections. Moreover, avoid activities that can introduce bacteria or disrupt the vaginal flora, such as using scented products, excessive douching, or engaging in unprotected sexual activity. Adopting a holistic approach that combines healthy lifestyle habits with medical treatments, you can effectively manage and reduce the likelihood of yeast infections, promoting overall vaginal health and well-being. Remember, if you have any concerns or questions about yeast infections, consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance. (Credit: Depositphotos) Conclusion Yeast infections are common, but they can cause considerable discomfort and disrupt daily life. Understanding the symptoms and taking preventive measures is crucial in reducing the likelihood of infection. Over-the-counter treatments and natural remedies can provide relief and facilitate recovery in mild cases. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, seeking medical attention is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. With the right approach, you can effectively manage yeast infections and restore comfort and well-being to your life. Remember, maintaining good hygiene, a balanced diet, and proactive measures can go a long way in preventing future occurrences.

The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set newsroom policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com. Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry. Even as COVID has faded into the background for most of the public, our curiosity about the virus’s idiosyncrasies hasn’t waned. Why does one member of a household suffer a hacking cough but another not even a sniffle? Why does long COVID afflict some and not others? A cluster of new studies suggests some of the answers lie in our genes. What scientists are learning could help them develop better vaccines in the future — either for new variants of COVID-19 or entirely new forms of SARS. Mild cases or asymptomatic infections have been relatively unstudied. Scientists’ focus on the sickest patients wasn’t just because of the urgency to save lives, but because it’s simply easier to study people in a controlled setting like a hospital. Collecting DNA, sequencing it and then tracking healthy people out in the community is an impossibly tall order. A team of researchers, led by the University of California, San Francisco’s Jill Hollenbach, found a clever way of getting around that problem by tapping into a group of people who had already given up their DNA: bone marrow donors. The team invited donors to participate in an ongoing project at UCSF called the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study. Hollenbach’s team recruited nearly 30,000 volunteers to download an app and, when they eventually tested positive for the virus, complete a questionnaire about their symptoms. Although they’ve been collecting data from that cohort for years now, this study was limited to the time before people were vaccinated so the results could be cleanly interpreted, Hollenbach said. They were looking for differences in a group of genes called HLA (short for human leukocyte antigen) that carry the recipes for proteins that help our immune cells distinguish between our own biological detritus and unwelcome invaders. The proteins show little pieces of viruses to our T-cells, which take this as an invitation to attack. Because T-cells have a long memory, they swoop in again fast the next time a similar virus invades. The researchers found that people who carried one copy of a version of a gene called HLA-B*15:01 were more than twice as likely to remain asymptomatic after being infected with COVID. And people who inherited two copies of the gene (one from each parent) were eight times more likely to never suffer symptoms. Hollenbach’s team found that this particular flavor of HLA is very good at recognizing garden variety coronaviruses, and the T-cells exposed to those were later very good at detecting important bits of SARS-CoV-2. In other words, people with this variant who also had, say, a common cold “have this kind of superpower” of managing their COVID infection to the point where they don’t have symptoms, she explains. “I think their findings are very exciting,” said Jean-Laurent Casanova, a Rockefeller University scientist who studies the relationship between our genes and susceptibility to infectious diseases. “It suggests that T-cells are involved in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and that a strong T-cell response can blunt infection and prevent clinical manifestations.” @media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.block_64c05594055dc{min-height: 100px;}} Another study, yet to be peer reviewed, offers genetic ties to the other end of the spectrum: when people suffer lingering symptoms. Researchers compared about 6,500 people with a long COVID diagnosis to nearly a million people without. People were 1.6 times more likely to develop long COVID if they had a variant in a gene called FOXP4. That same gene is also known to be a culprit in lung cancer and severe COVID. While these studies help explain the wide range of responses to the virus, many questions remain unanswered. For example, why were some people not just asymptomatically infected, but never infected? Casanova is interested in, say, that “health care worker without a mask in 2020 that has repeatedly tested negative, negative, negative. They’re seemingly resistant to infection and we think there’s a genetic basis for that.” His lab is currently analyzing some 2,000 genomes among that group to try to fish out the gene responsible. Scientists would also like to understand if there are genes involved in other, rarer situations, like the people whose infections cause brain swelling, or others that get a form of heart inflammation called myocarditis after getting the mRNA vaccines. @media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.block_64c0559418de4{min-height: 100px;}} Like all science, understanding the genetic link to susceptibility is just pulling on the first thread. So much other work needs to be done to unravel the rest. Hollenbach’s findings about asymptomatic COVID, for example, should prompt more exploration into alternate approaches to vaccination. The existing vaccines all try to prevent infection altogether, but there could be merit in focusing on vaccines designed to take advantage of that memory T-cell response that seems to work so well for people with the right genetics. “Maybe you get infected, but manage it so quickly and effectively that you don’t experience illness,” she said. It is important to keep unraveling these mysteries. They teach us about better ways to address this virus, which we know is here to stay, and also contribute to the broader understanding of how genes shape the immune response. More articles from the BDN

Sepsis (Adobe Stock, unknown) A recent cost-consequence analysis in Critical Care Explorations has revealed that utilizing the IntelliSep Index (ISI) for early sepsis diagnosis in the emergency department (ED) is both more effective and less expensive in preventing mortality compared to procalcitonin. Christopher S. Hollenbeak, PhD, Department Head of Health Policy and Administration and Professor of Surgery and Public Health Sciences at Penn State University, answered questions from Infection Control Today® (ICT®) about the study. “Sepsis causes 270,000 deaths and costs $38 billion annually in the United States, “according to the authors of the study. “Most cases of sepsis present in the emergency department (ED), where rapid diagnosis remains challenging. The IntelliSep Index (ISI) is a novel diagnostic test that analyzes characteristics of WBC [white blood cell] structure and provides a reliable early signal for sepsis. This study performs a cost-consequence analysis of the ISI relative to procalcitonin for early sepsis diagnosis in the ED.” ICT: A summary of the key findings and why they are important. Christopher S. Hollenbeak, PhD, Department Head of Health Policy and Administration and Professor of Surgery and Public Health Sciences at Penn State University, (Photo courtesy of Cytovale) Christopher S. Hollenbeak, PhD: Our team performed a cost-consequence analysis to evaluate the health economics of using a new IntelliSep test to inform sepsis care in the ED. In this analysis, IntelliSep was compared to procalcitonin (PCT), a biomarker related to bacterial infection evaluated as a sepsis indicator and performed similarly to the standard of care. The study supported the hypothesis that using Intellisep as part of the sepsis diagnostic strategy may provide effective reductions in the clinical and financial burden of treating sepsis compared to a procalcitonin diagnostic strategy. The IntelliSep test could serve as an invaluable element of sepsis care by quickly and efficiently focusing care on those with the highest risk of sepsis while expediting the care of those with lower risk. ICT: What is the practical application of the key findings for infection preventionists from this study? CSH: The search for solutions and improvements in sepsis care has become increasingly complicated as the incidence of sepsis continues to rise due to increased awareness, changes in the population’s risk profile, such as increasing age and comorbidities, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pre-existing workforce shortages. Solutions that will safely reduce the cost of care without sacrificing outcomes will require addressing the many factors driving the soaring economic burden of the disease in this new, post-pandemic era of medicine. This study suggests that risk stratification informed by the IntelliSep test could improve survival for patients with sepsis as compared to that reported with PTC and do so with an expected cost of more than $800 less than that for PCT. This finding is important given that outcomes in sepsis have been proven dependent upon prompt recognition and action. ICT: What results surprised you, if any? CSH: One of the more surprising aspects of the study is that an IntelliSep-informed treatment process saves, on average, over $800 per patient tested while also providing a small mortality benefit. This indicates that the IntelliSep test may enable centers to decrease the economic burden of sepsis and achieve better clinical outcomes. And while the study design relies on many assumptions, it is a home run. ICT: What, if any, future research will there be related to this one CSH: Great question. This study approximates the health-economic outcomes of using the IntelliSep test to inform clinical care of potentially septic patients. The IntelliSep test recently received FDA Clearance. Applying the test in the care environment will offer another opportunity to capture clinical and financial outcome information and add additional information to this work. ICT: Is there anything else that you would like to add? CSH: In our evaluation, the IntelliSep test showed that using the test to inform sepsis care is clinically and economically superior to a strategy informed by PCT. This performance is encouraging, given that the test can be performed in under 10 minutes and utilizes whole blood from a standard EDTA draw. Given its performance and fit within hospital workflows, the trial represents a promising new development in managing sepsis patients.