Thrush (or candidiasis) in men is much less common than in the fairer sex. This is due to the fact that the immune system of women is more susceptible to the causative agent of this disease, which is a fungus of the genus Candida.
These microorganisms are rounded, but unlike yeast, they can cause illness. Candidates are representatives of normal microflora in a healthy person. They are present on the surface of the skin, in the oral cavity, intestinal tract, on the genitals, without causing any discomfort. But in the case of weakened immunity, fungi begin to multiply actively, which causes thrush.
What is this disease?
The most common infection with candidiasis is through the genital. However, the disease can develop endogenously, that is, inside the body. Therefore, in addition to the treatment of candidiasis, it is equally important to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, which will help determine the hidden cause of the disease.
No matter how terribly the photos look, candidiasis in a man is not as dangerous a disease as it seems. Its treatment should be taken seriously, but, as a rule, with timely taken therapeutic measures, the disease quickly recedes. The danger is sometimes hidden in another: along with infection by thrush, infection with other sexually transmitted diseases occurs.
Often candidiasis on the genitals becomes a sign of chronic fungal damage to the body. In this case, not only the genitourinary system will suffer, but also the epidermis, mucous membranes, intestines, lungs. That is why the symptoms of candidiasis cannot be ignored. In men, a venereologist or urologist is involved in the treatment of thrush.
Pathogen
To date, scientists know more than 100 varieties of fungi of the genus Candida. These tiny unicellular fungi can settle anywhere in the human body. The most common types of yeast infections are C. Albicans and C. Tropicalis.
Each microorganism is a living oval cell, inside of which bags with spores are formed - original organs for reproduction. If the fungus enters a favorable environment for it, it begins to actively bud and spread to the surrounding area. Cells stretch out, become like semicircular rods and combine in pseudomycelia, which are parasitic in the human body and feed on glycogen. The main harm that these unicellulars do is the destruction of cells by toxic enzymes.
If pathogenic fungi fall into an environment unfavorable for themselves, they surround themselves with a dense shell. It allows them to defend themselves and survive the uncomfortable period, while maintaining viability. It follows from this that the fungi of the Candida genus are very tenacious, and they can be infected by any tactile contact with a sick person, as well as through household items. These fungi are found even in foods, especially those with a high sugar content. Ideal environment for Candida - slightly alkaline at high humidity and moderate temperature
Candideas are widespread in nature, especially a lot of them on food, sweet vegetables and fruits. When contacted with skin or mucous membranes, these microorganisms remain on them and begin to multiply. Fungi love a slightly alkaline environment, high humidity and a stable temperature of 36-37 ° C. If a man consumes a lot of foods high in carbohydrates, including flour and confectionery, the likelihood of thrush increases several times. But for the direct development of candidiasis in men, a weakening of immunity plays a huge role. In a healthy person, the growth of fungi is impeded by the immune system.
What triggers the appearance of thrush
A lot can be said about the causes of candidiasis in men, since this disease is polyetiological. The origin of thrush in the stronger sex has much in common with the features of the onset of this disease in women. We are talking about many factors that inevitably lead to a weakening of immunity:
- hormonal disorders, diseases of the endocrine system;
- diabetes;
- congenital immunodeficiency and HIV;
- stressful situations, overwork, chronic fatigue;
- severe infectious diseases occurring in a chronic form;
- antibiotic treatment for a long time;
- climate change;
- carbohydrate-rich nutrition;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- minor damage to the mucosa, abrasion, chemical or thermal irritation.
For infection with thrush, just one unprotected contact with a partner suffering from candidiasis is enough. At first, the disease can occur latently. The incubation period, on average, lasts about 2-3 weeks, but often drags on to two months.
How does thrush manifest: the main symptoms
The first symptoms of candidiasis in men usually appear on the glans penis. Over time, the disease affects the foreskin and the rest of the skin of the penis. In the summer, pathogenic microflora quickly spreads to the inguinal zone, scrotum, folds, under the knees, armpits, crotch and between the buttocks.
Despite the fact that the causes of thrush in men and women are almost the same, the disease can occur in completely different ways. Candidiasis in men can manifest itself in the following pathological conditions:
- Candidiasis balanitis - what has already been said - a defeat by the fungus Candida head. Inflammation increases over time, as it progresses, it can spread to other genital tissues.
- Candidiasis urethritis - fungal unicellular provoke inflammation in the urethra. In this case, pathogenic microorganisms appear on the mucous membrane of the urethra, causing hyperemia and swelling of the tissues, pain. During urination, the patient may feel pain. It is difficult enough to determine this type of candidiasis in men from the photo. On the head of the penis, sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
- Candidiasis cystitis - develops if a fungal infection spreads higher in the urinary tract and affects the bladder.
Most often, thrush affects the genitals, but, in addition to all of the above, the disease can occur on the nails and between the fingers. In this case, judging by the photo, the symptoms of candidiasis in men are not much different from other mycoses. The possibility of stomatitis or thrush in the mouth is not ruled out. Candidiasis in men and women in the oral cavity occurs due to a moist and warm environment - these are ideal conditions for pathogenic microorganisms of the genus Candida.
Rash on the genitals
The first signs of candidiasis in men almost always appear on the head of the penis. Rashes with thrush can be of a different nature. First, the patient develops red spots and small vesicles on the penis. If a man does not begin treatment for thrush, small erosive foci will be added to the spots and rash. Pimples can burst, form areas with weeping and maceration. The skin becomes damaged, loose, swollen.
Symptomatic candidiasis in men (we can’t provide a photo for ethical reasons) resembles eczematous eruptions - against the background of erythema, small vesicular blisters appear and are covered with scales. Often, these symptoms are of an allergic nature of origin, since they are associated with the body’s reaction to the propagation of opportunistic fungi and toxic substances that they produce in the course of their life.
What does the patient feel
First of all, itching and burning. This will be confirmed by any man who knows firsthand about thrush. Those who have had to deal with candidiasis know what terrible discomfort this disease brings.
Itching and burning occur not only in men with candidiasis. Women are tormented by the same problems - debilitating itching, burning of the skin and mucous membranes, tingling, the cause of which is irritation of epithelial tissues with fungal enzymes. These substances break down carbohydrates in human cells, and the result of a simple chemical reaction is acid, which adversely affects the skin affected by fungi. Plus, one should not forget that the genitals in men and women are equipped with nerve receptors, and therefore have a high level of sensitivity to any irritants.
What does thrush look like in men
In principle, without diagnosis it is impossible to differentiate candidiasis from more serious sexually transmitted diseases. Hyperemia, tissue edema in a man’s head and foreskin results from the reflex expansion of superficial capillaries in the thin skin of the genital organs, that is, the body tries to remove toxins from areas damaged by fungi through increased blood circulation.
With thrush, a characteristic whitish coating appears on the penis. It consists of fungi, immune and dead skin cells, plasma proteins. You can confirm thrush only by taking a laboratory scraping - the results of the analysis indicate the detection of pseudomycelium filaments in this milk coating. It can have a powdery or cheesy form, sometimes resembling whitish films, the same as they are on the surface of milk. In men, plaque builds up under the head hidden by the foreskin. It becomes inflamed, poorly stretched, covered with painful cracks, on the site of which scars subsequently form. This leads to a narrowing of the foreskin. If the plaque is removed and the epithelium is exposed, bright red spots with erosive traces will become noticeable, which indicates the defeat of deeper tissues by candidiasis.
When thrush is launched , men develop lymphadenitis - an increase in lymph nodes in the groin. Since the main task of these elements of the immune system is to cleanse the lymph from toxins and pathogenic microorganisms, they change their density to filter the lymph fluid. The patient feels soreness, inflammation in the inguinal region, possibly a slight increase in temperature.
Urination is accompanied by pains and pains. In the photo with candidiasis in men, it is impossible to see, but in the morning thick, whitish mucus is released from the urethra. It shows thickened pseudomycelium filaments. Due to the accumulation of fungi at the mouth of the urethra, the mucous membrane is even more affected, so sometimes the symptoms of thrush are confused with gonorrhea. However, in comparison with this sexually transmitted disease, candidiasis is less acute.
If the infection reaches the bladder, the urine will become cloudy. With the development of cystitis, the appearance of blood impurities is possible. In addition, men experience pain in the lower abdomen, which most likely indicates the destruction of the bladder mucosa by fungi.
General principles of therapy
To get rid of thrush, you need to start drug therapy as soon as possible. Very often, candidiasis becomes a chronic disease in women, but even if the disease recedes for a while, treatment must be taken, and both partners are required.
Today, there are many means for getting rid of thrush, which can be used both inside and for the surface treatment of infectious foci. Many believe that they know how to treat candidiasis in men (according to a photo of symptoms, the advice of friends about certain drugs, information on the Web). But self-medication is still not worth it, if only because:
- First, a harmless thrush can actually be a more serious sexually transmitted infection. And there is only one way to find out - by passing laboratory tests.
- Secondly, candidiasis in men can be a secondary disease that has arisen against the background of diabetes mellitus, HIV or other dangerous diseases that the patient does not even know about.
- Thirdly, only a qualified doctor is able to draw up an effective treatment regimen taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body, age, contraindications and other points.
At home, it is easier to fight the initial stage of thrush - usually treatment is limited to the use of external creams or ointments for candidiasis. For men and women, antifungal drugs differ in the form of release: ladies are prescribed mainly vaginal suppositories, for men - creams, ointments, gels. Both those and others have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic effects.
It should be understood that local remedies will not help get rid of the root cause of the reduction of fungi in the body, therefore, in addition to creams for candidiasis, men are prescribed systemic antifungal tablets and immunomodulating medications, which include immunostimulants, vitamin and mineral complexes. If you start treatment of thrush at a chronic stage, you will need to take antifungal tablets and local antimycotic drugs at the same time.
External treatment
Remedies for thrush for men are used only in the early stages of the disease, but single use is not enough to eliminate the symptoms of candidiasis. Antifungal ointments and creams smear the affected areas of the skin for several days.
Before applying drugs to the foci of infection, it is necessary to carry out hygiene procedures and thoroughly wipe with a towel. In general, with thrush, ointments and creams are used twice a day.
The most effective and popular treatments for chronic candidiasis in men are:
- "Clotrimazole";
- "Miconazole";
- "Nystatin ointment";
- Pimafucin;
- Econazole
- "Zalain";
- Ecodax
- "Ketoconazole."
Before treatment procedures, it is necessary to eliminate bad habits in order to increase the effectiveness of recovery.
Other medicines
Systemic drugs give a more reliable and lasting result. Each urologist knows how to treat candidiasis in men. The doctor will prescribe a suitable drug to the patient, depending on the degree of thrush and contraindications. For men and women, the same tablets for candidiasis are prescribed:
- "Fluconazole";
- "Mikosist";
- "Flucostat";
- Diflucan
- Futsis.
Tablets are taken at home. For a stronger therapeutic effect, the doctor may prescribe injectable drugs. For instance:
- "Itraconazole";
- "Irunin";
- Itrazol;
- "Natamycin."
Unauthorized and uncontrolled taking of tablets is unacceptable - this can only exacerbate the problem. At the first symptoms of the disease, shyness and shame should be cast aside. The sooner you start treatment, the easier it will be to cope with the disease.
ethnoscience
Candidiasis can be overcome with the help of natural remedies. Folk healers offer recipes for several drugs that help in the treatment of thrush in men:
- Garlic tincture. Phytoncides in its composition are actively fighting fungi. To prepare the product, you need a couple of cloves of garlic and half a glass of water at room temperature. Infuse the mixture for an hour and drink in three divided doses before meals.
- Infusion of calendula. Men use this medicine to wash their genitals, and women use it to douche. For 2-3 tablespoons of flowers, take 2 cups of boiling water, pour the mixture and leave for half an hour. Before use, it is advisable to strain the infusion.
- Soda solution. With thrush, it helps relieve itching and burning. You can use it even with candidiasis of the oral cavity. A solution is prepared in the following proportion: for 1 tsp. take 1 liter of boiled, but not hot water.
- Onion juice. To strengthen the immune system, you need to regularly take a drink consisting of 5 tbsp. l onion juice, 5 tbsp. l lemon juice and 2 tbsp. l honey. Drink 3 tbsp. l three times a day before meals.
The use of folk remedies alone is often not enough for the effective treatment of candidiasis, therefore, natural remedies are advised to be taken in combination with medicines.
About Prevention
In order not to allow opportunistic microflora to take an advantage, first of all you need to take care of your immunity. In order to strengthen it, it is necessary to abandon bad habits, eat right and treat chronic diseases on time.
The diet should contain the necessary amount of fermented milk drinks, fresh vegetables and fruits. Especially useful products with phytoncides. Garlic, red pepper, nuts, grapefruits, lingonberries can have a natural antifungal effect.
Both men and women are equally important to observe the rules of personal hygiene, as well as use barrier contraceptives. In addition, the use of an ordinary condom will protect not only from infection with thrush, but also other sexually transmitted diseases.