Women (and even the occasional male) struggle with yeast infections. They are often confused with urinary tract infections, since they both attack the genital area and have a few similarities. Chances are high that a woman will experience one or the other during the course of her lifetime.
Symptoms
One of the main reasons why they are confused with one another is the similarity in symptoms. There can be intense pain, as well as burning and itching. Arming yourself with knowledge before these issues take place is crucial. Yeast infections and urinary tract infections tend to differ greatly, as far as courses of treatment are concerned. A trip to the hospital may be required, or you could be able to treat the ailment with over the counter medication.
When self-diagnosing a urinary tract infection, the first and most common symptom to watch out is the constant urge to urinate. However, when a person has contracted a urinary tract infection, this urge to urinate is marred by the inability to get anything to come out once they are in the bathroom.
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection originates in a patient’s urethra and from there, makes its way through the urinary tract. The next symptom that the patient typically feels after the aforementioned challenging urination are pains that emanate from their lower back region. Since this is the area of the body where the kidneys and the urinary tract meet, the person will usually feel a dull pain.
Once you begin to feel these pains, it is important to receive medical attention quickly. Failure to treat a urinary tract infection in a timely manner can lead to a much more serious ailment over the long haul. One of the main causes of kidney infections are urinary tract infections that go untreated.
If you are able to visit a doctor, they will typically prescribe the patient with a course of antibiotic treatment. For at least ten days, the patient is required to take medication, in order to reduce their infection. Women should be aware of the fact that these antibiotics can interfere with their birth control medications, so they may need to find a different method of birth control until they have gone through their next period.
Yeast Infections
When it comes to yeast infections, those who suffer from them are in for a completely different experience altogether. While there are instances of itchiness and pain in the genital area, the symptoms tend to be far more severe. The area surrounding the labia and vagina becomes extremely tender to the touch.
The condition also tends to worsen over the course of time and the vagina begins to produce a discharge that is foul smelling and has a similar consistency to cottage cheese. However, there is no reason to fret, because yeast infections do share one very crucial similarity with urinary tract infections: being easy to treat when detected at an early stage.
But unlike urinary tract infections, which can usually only be cleared up with the help of a doctor prescribed medication, a yeast infection can be treated by using over the counter medications. Since the symptoms of a yeast infection are much more severe, many patients assume the complete opposite. To treat a yeast infection, Monistat is able to be purchased from the drugstore and its generic equivalents work just as well.
While most treatments for urinary tract infections involve beginning a course of treatment that lasts for up to ten days (and sometimes longer), those who suffer from yeast infections are able to treat themselves at home and receive results within two to three days of using medication.
All that needs to be done is to place the recommended solution inside of the vagina before bed each night. This serves to soothe the person’s itching and suffering, allowing them to receive a good night’s sleep.
How They Differ
Each of these ailments is caused by different agents of infection. When bacteria experiences a surge of growth within the urinary tract, this is how urinary tract infections occur. On the other hand, a yeast infection happens when a particular fungus arises, which is known as Candida albicans.
A yeast infection is primarily centralized in the vagina, whereas a urinary tract infection can take place in any number of locations, including the kidney and bladder. The urethra can also experience infection. The spread of infection is far more common when it comes to urinary tract infections, as opposed to yeast infections, which are primarily known to remain in one particular area of origin, without continuing to spread to other areas of the body.
Most are already aware of the fact that a urinary tract infection can become a kidney infection if it goes untreated, but it can also leak into a person’s bloodstream and lead to a very serious, life threatening condition known as sepsis. A yeast infection is looked upon as more of a regular annoyance and there are no life threatening complications associated with its presence.
It is important to know about these differences, so that you can receive the proper medical attention when either of these infections takes place. When you are struggling with itchiness and pain in your genital region, it is best to receive medical attention immediately, so that you can be placed on the proper treatment course and clear the ailment as soon as possible. It is also recommended that you speak to a trusted physician about potential preventive measures.