Thrush (or candidiasis) in men is much less common than in the fairer sex. This is attributed 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 round in shape, but unlike yeast, they can cause disease. Candida are representatives of the normal microflora in a he althy person. They are present on the surface of the skin, in the oral cavity, intestinal tract, on the genitals, without causing any discomfort. But if the immune system is weakened, fungi begin to multiply actively, which causes thrush.
What is this disease?
The most common way of infection with candidiasis is sexual. However, the disease can also develop endogenously, that is, inside the body. Therefore, in addition to the treatment of candidiasis, it is equally important to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis that will help determine the hidden cause of the disease.
No matter how creepy the photos look, candidiasis in a man is not as dangerous a disease as it seems. Its treatment must be taken seriously, but, as a rule, with timelytherapeutic measures, the disease quickly recedes. The danger is sometimes hidden in something else: along with infection with thrush, infection with other sexually transmitted diseases occurs.
Often candidiasis on the genitals becomes a sign of a chronic fungal infection of the body. In this case, not only the genitourinary system will suffer, but also the epidermis, mucous membranes, intestines, and lungs. That is why the symptoms of candidiasis should not be ignored. In men, a venereologist or a urologist deals with the treatment of thrush.
Pathogen
To date, scientists know more than 100 varieties of fungi of the genus Candida. These tiny single-celled fungi can live anywhere in the human body. The most common types of thrush pathogens are C. albicans and C. Tropicalis.
Each microorganism is a living oval cell, inside which bags with spores are formed - a kind of organs for reproduction. If the fungus enters a favorable environment for it, it begins to actively bud and spread to the surrounding space. The cells are elongated, become similar to semicircular sticks and unite in pseudomycelia, which parasitize in the human body and feed on glycogen. The main harm that these single-celled organisms cause is the destruction of cells by toxic enzymes.
If pathogenic fungi enter an unfavorable environment, they surround themselves with a dense shell. It allows them to protect themselves and survive the uncomfortable period, while maintainingviability. It follows from this that fungi of the genus Candida 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 on foods, especially those with a high sugar content. The ideal environment for Candida is slightly alkaline with high humidity and moderate temperatures
Candida is widely distributed in nature, especially a lot of them on food, sweet vegetables and fruits. Upon contact with the 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 weakened immune system plays a huge role. In a he althy person, the growth of fungi is prevented by the immune system.
What causes 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 characteristics of the occurrence of this disease in women. We are talking about many factors that inevitably lead to weakened immunity:
- hormonal disorders, diseases of the endocrine system;
- diabetes mellitus;
- congenital immunodeficiency and HIV;
- stressful situations,overwork, chronic fatigue;
- severe chronic infectious diseases;
- long-term antibiotic treatment;
- climate change;
- carbohydrate-fortified food;
- intestinal dysbacteriosis;
- minor mucosal damage, abrasions, chemical or thermal irritation.
It takes only one unprotected contact with a partner suffering from candidiasis to contract thrush. At first, the disease may be latent. The incubation period lasts on average about 2-3 weeks, but is often delayed up to two months.
How thrush manifests itself: the main symptoms
The first symptoms of candidiasis in men usually appear on the head of the 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 groin, scrotum, folds, under the knees, armpits, perineum and between the buttocks.
Despite the fact that the causes of thrush in men and women are almost the same, the course of the disease can be completely different. Candidiasis in men can manifest itself in the following pathological conditions:
- Candidiasis balanitis - what has already been said - the defeat of the fungus Candida heads. Inflammation increases over time, as it progresses, it can spread to other genital tissues.
- Candidal urethritis - fungal single-celled provoking inflammation in the urethra. Whereinpathogenic microorganisms appear on the mucous membrane of the urethra, causing hyperemia and swelling of tissues, pain. During urination, the patient may feel cramps. It is quite difficult to determine this type of candidiasis in men from a photo. On the head of the penis, sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
- Candidal cystitis - develops when a fungal infection spreads higher up the urinary tract and affects the bladder.
Most often, thrush affects the genitals, but, in addition to all of the above, the disease can manifest itself 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 excluded. Candidiasis in men and women in the oral cavity occurs due to a humid and warm environment - these are ideal conditions for pathogenic microorganisms of the genus Candida.
Rash on 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 blisters on the penis. If a man does not begin treatment for thrush, small erosive foci will be added to the spots and rashes. Pimples can burst, form areas with wetting and maceration. The skin becomes damaged, loosened, swollen.
Candidiasis in men in terms of symptoms (we cannot provide a photo for ethical reasons) resembles eczematous rashes - against the background of erythema, smallblisters and covered with scales. Often, such symptoms are of an allergic nature of origin, as they are associated with the body's reaction to the reproduction of opportunistic fungi and toxic substances that they produce in the course of their life.
What the patient feels
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 suffer from the same problems - debilitating itching, burning of the skin and mucous membranes, tingling, caused by 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, we must not forget that the genitals of men and women are equipped with nerve receptors, and therefore have a high level of sensitivity to any stimuli.
What does thrush look like in men
In principle, without diagnostics it is impossible to differentiate candidiasis from more serious sexually transmitted diseases. Hyperemia, swelling of tissues in a man on the head and foreskin is the result of a reflex expansion of superficial capillaries in the thin skin of the genital organs, that is, the body tries to remove toxins from fungal-damaged areas 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. It is possible to confirm thrush only by taking a laboratory scraping - the results of the analysis indicate the detection of pseudomycelial threads in this milk plaque. It can be powdered or curdled, sometimes resembling whitish films, the same as those found on the surface of milk. In men, plaque accumulates under the head, hidden by the foreskin. It becomes inflamed, poorly stretched, covered with painful cracks, in place of which scars subsequently form. This leads to narrowing of the foreskin. If the plaque is removed and the epithelium is exposed, bright red spots with erosive traces will become visible, which indicates the defeat of deeper tissues by candidiasis.
With advanced thrush, 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 of toxins and pathogens, they change their density to filter the lymphatic fluid. The patient feels soreness, inflammation in the groin, possibly a slight increase in temperature.
Urination is accompanied by cuts and pains. It is impossible to see this in the photo with candidiasis in men, but in the morning thick whitish mucus is released from the urethra. Thickened filaments of pseudomycelium are visible in it. Due to the accumulation of fungi at the mouth of the urethra, the mucosa is even more affected, so sometimes the symptomsthrush is confused with gonorrhea. However, compared to this venereal disease, candidiasis is less severe.
If the infection reaches the bladder, the urine will become cloudy. With the development of cystitis, blood impurities may appear. In addition, men feel 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 receded for a while, treatment must be completed, and both partners.
Today there are a lot of remedies for getting rid of thrush, which can be used both inside and for surface treatment of infectious foci. Many believe that they know how to treat candidiasis in men (according to photos of symptoms, advice from friends about certain drugs, information on the Web). But self-medication is still not worth it, if only because:
- Firstly, harmless thrush may 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 on the background of diabetes, 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 accountcharacteristics of the patient's body, age, contraindications and other points.
At home, it is easier to deal with 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: women are prescribed mainly vaginal suppositories, men - creams, ointments, gels. Both have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic effects.
At the same time, you need to understand 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 immunomodulatory drugs, which include immunostimulants, vitamin-mineral complexes. If you start treating thrush at the chronic stage, you will need to take both antifungal tablets and local antimycotic agents at the same time.
External treatment
Thrush remedies for men are used only in the early stages of the disease, but a single application is not enough to eliminate the symptoms of candidiasis. Antifungal ointments and creams are smeared on the affected skin for several days.
Before applying medicines to the foci of infection, it is necessary to carry out hygiene procedures and dry yourself thoroughly with a towel. Basically, with thrush, ointments and creams are used twice a day.
The most effective and popular means forTreatments for chronic candidiasis in men are:
- Clotrimazole;
- Miconazole;
- "Nystatin ointment";
- "Pimafucin";
- Econazole;
- Zalain;
- Ekodaks;
- Ketoconazole.
Before treatment procedures, it is worth eliminating bad habits in order to increase the effectiveness of recovery.
Other medicines
Systemic preparations give more reliable and long-term results. Every urologist knows how to treat candidiasis in men. The doctor will prescribe the appropriate drug to the patient, depending on the degree of thrush and contraindications. For men and women, the same pills for candidiasis are prescribed:
- "Fluconazole";
- "Mikosist";
- "Flucostat";
- Diflucan;
- Futsis.
Pills are taken at home. For a stronger therapeutic effect, the doctor may prescribe drugs in injectable form. For example:
- Itraconazole;
- "Irunin";
- Itrazol;
- "Natamycin".
Unauthorized and uncontrolled taking of pills is unacceptable - this can only exacerbate the problem. At the first symptoms of the disease, embarrassment and shame should be thrown aside. The sooner you start treatment, the easier it will be to cope with the disease.
Traditional medicine
You can overcome candidiasis with the help of natural remedies. Folk healers offer recipes for several remedies that help in the treatment of thrush in men:
Garlic tincture. Phytoncides in its composition actively fight againstfungi. To prepare the remedy, you will need a couple of cloves of garlic and half a glass of water at room temperature. Steep the mixture for an hour and drink in three doses before meals
- Infusion of calendula. Men use this medicine for washing their genitals and women for douching. For 2-3 tablespoons of flowers, take 2 cups of boiling water, pour the mixture and leave for half an hour. It is advisable to strain the infusion before use.
- 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 immunity, 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 to effectively treat candidiasis, so natural remedies are advised to be taken in combination with medications.
About prevention
In order not to allow opportunistic microflora to take over, first of all you need to take care of your immunity. In order to strengthen it, it is necessary to give up bad habits, eat right and treat chronic diseases in time.
The diet should contain the required amount of fermented milk drinks, fresh vegetables and fruits. Particularly useful are products with phytoncides. Natural antifungal actioncan render garlic, red pepper, nuts, grapefruit, lingonberries.
It is equally important for both men and women to observe the rules of personal hygiene, as well as to use barrier contraceptives. In addition, the use of a conventional condom will protect not only from infection with thrush, but also from other sexually transmitted diseases.
