Yeast infections.pmd

FactSHEET
YEAST INFECTIONS
Yeast infections are very common fungal infections in HIV positive women. There is awide variety of treatment options available.
What is a yeast infection?
Prevention
A yeast infection is the common name for a Because the Candida fungus naturally lives in fungal infection of the vagina or vulva. It is or on our bodies, it is impossible to avoid it.
caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a fungus However, there are several ways to help keep gastrointestinal tract and vagina, as well as on the skin. Candida is part of the normal • Cutting down on sugars and starchy food “flora” of bacteria and fungi that live in or on has been suggested as a way of helping to the human body. Candida causes health problems only when there is an overgrowth.
• Unsweetened yogurt with live bacterial culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus) is a What are the symptoms of a
popular remedy for yeast infections. Eating yeast infection?
8 ounces of “live” yoghurt every day may help reduce yeast infections. Supplements A yeast infection can cause an itching or of Lactobacillus acidophilus are often burning feeling of the skin outside the vagina, and a thick, white vaginal discharge. Many women get yeast infections, but HIV positive women may get them more often and they may be more difficult to control. Yeast infections can appear at any CD4+ count, but they may Treatment
become more severe as the count drops.
The treatments for yeast infections can be Diagnosis
Yeast infections may be diagnosed on the basis • topical treatments (creams and lozenges),
of symptoms and the patient’s history. The where the drug is in direct contact with the doctor may also take a swab of the vagina • systemic treatments (pills or capsules),
microscope to be certain that Candida is the where the drug is circulated throughout the CATIE FactSHEET
Yeast Infections, page 1 of 3
Topical treatments are cheap and have almost
Disclaimer
no side effects. However, they can be messy and often take longer to work than systemic Decisions about particular medical treatments should always be
treatments. Although they are convenient, made in consultation with a qualified medical practitioner
knowledgeable about HIV-related illness and the treatments in
systemic treatments are more expensive and question.
they may cause side effects or interactions The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) in good faith provides information resources to help peopleliving with HIV/AIDS who wish to manage their own health The most common topical treatments for yeast care in partnership with their care providers. Information accessed through or published or provided by CATIE, however, is not to be considered medical advice. We do not recommend (Micozole, Monistat) creams or suppositories or advocate particular treatments and we urge users to consultas broad a range of sources as possible. We strongly urge users to consult with a qualified medical practitioner prior toundertaking any decision, use or action of a medical nature.
The most effective systemic treatment for yeast
infections is 150 mg fluconazole (sold under We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of anyinformation accessed through or published or provided by CATIE.
the brand name Diflucan) taken once a day for Users relying on this information do so entirely at their own one to three days. Systemic treatments may risk. Neither CATIE nor Health Canada nor any of their also be prescribed for yeast infections that don’t employees, directors, officers or volunteers may be held liable clear up with topical treatments or for infections for damages of any kind that may result from the use or misuseof any such information. The views expressed herein or in any article or publication accessed or published or provided by fluconazole (Diflucan) or 400 mg ketoconazole CATIE are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the (Nizoral) are taken daily for up to 14 days.
policies or opinions of CATIE or the official policy of the Ministerof Health Canada.
Permission to reproduce
This document is copyrighted. It may be reprinted and distributed in its entirety for non-commercialpurposes without prior permission, but permission must be obtained to edit its content. The followingcredit must appear on any reprint: This informationwas provided by the Canadian AIDS TreatmentInformation Exchange (CATIE). For more information,contact CATIE at 1.800.263.1638. CATIE FactSHEET
Yeast Infections, page 2 of 3
Contact CATIE
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CATIE FactSHEET
Yeast Infections, page 3 of 3

Source: http://www.aidsguelph.org/Websites/acguelph/files/Content/1080261/yeast%20infections.pdf