When to call the doctor

For healthy individuals, if you try a medication and symptoms worsen, consult your doctor. People with weakened immune systems should contact their doctors with any new symptoms or infections.

Various conditions can cause nonmenstrual vaginal discharge in women, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis.

• If vaginal discharge lasts for more than 1 week, consult your doctor.
• If yeast infections recur, see your doctor for a thorough work-up. Recurring candidiasis may be a symptom of underlying diseases like diabetes, leukemia, or AIDS.
• Other symptoms like bloody discharge, abdominal pain, fever, and increased urination may indicate serious problems and require medical help.

Oral thrush needs prescription medication. If children don't consume fluids for more than 12 hours, contact your doctor. Diaper rash or other candidal skin infections can be treated with over-the-counter or prescribed antifungal products.

Fever, chills, vomiting, or rash spreading to other parts of the body may signify a more severe illness and should be investigated promptly.

When to go to the hospital

Most cases of candidiasis do not require hospital treatment. People with weakened immune systems may have more serious infections and might need hospitalization.

Women should go to the hospital if fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain accompanies vaginal discharge. These symptoms can indicate more serious problems such as kidney infections, appendicitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease and need prompt investigation.

If thrush interferes with eating or drinking, hospitalization might be necessary for aggressive treatment and fluid replacement. Candidal skin infections rarely require hospital treatment.

People with weak immune systems are at risk of systemic candidal infections. IV medication may be necessary to combat this and should be promptly investigated by a doctor.

Self-Care at Home

Most candidal infections can be treated at home with over-the-counter or prescription medication and can clear within a week. Consult your doctor if your immune system is compromised before attempting self-treatment.

Yeast infections

Most women can treat yeast infections at home with over-the-counter medication.

• Miconazole (Monistat-Derm, Monistat Vaginal)
• Tioconazole (Vagistat Vaginal)
• Butoconazole (Femstat)
• Clotrimazole (Femizole-7, Gyne-Lotrimin)

Massage these remedies into the affected area for 1-7 days depending on the formulation. Discontinue if irritation occurs.

If pregnant, consult your doctor before using these treatments. If symptoms persist for more than 1 week, consult your doctor.

Thrush can be treated by swishing antifungal agent nystatin in your mouth and maintaining good oral hygiene. Breastfeeding mothers should be evaluated for Candida of the breast.

For skin and diaper rash, clotrimazole creams can be applied. Keep the area clean and dry. Serious infections may need doctor-prescribed medication.

If your immune system is weak, consult your doctor for proper care.

Outlook

With proper treatment, most candidal infections resolve without issues. Vaginal yeast infections, thrush, and diaper rash usually clear in 1-2 weeks. In individuals with weakened immune systems, these infections can recur and become difficult to treat.