Chronic or Recurrent Vaginal Yeast Infection - Why does IT Occur?
Most infections are annoying and some are more difficult to deal with than the others. Recurrent or chronic vaginal yeast infection is certainly annoying. Is it dangerous? Well, it can be if not treated well or some other serious infection is misinterpreted as yeast infection.
Without proper diagnosis it is not appropriate to label a vaginal infection as yeast infection. There are clear symptoms of vulvar itching, redness and burning followed by a discharge characterizing a vaginal yeast infection.
What is Recurrent or Chronic Vaginal Yeast Infection?
If the vaginal yeast infection occurs 4 or more times a year then it is considered chronic. More than 5 % of women who suffer yeast infection have recurrent infection.
All recurrent vaginal yeast infections generally are a result of an underlying condition. Diabetes is one of the most common causes of the recurrent infections!
A lot of chemical irritants present in the creams, lubricants, spermicidal and sanitary products can cause similar symptoms as yeast infection. These chemicals include butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), cetyl alcohol, methyl benzethonium chloride, methylparaben, propylene glycol and sodium lauryl sulfate etc.
Most episodes of vaginal burning mistakenly assumed to be recurrent vaginal yeast infections are really irritant vulvitis caused by the above chemicals.
It is therefore important to do a culture test to establish presence of Candida. Once it is established that Candida was present in every case then it can be termed as chronic or recurrent vaginal yeast infection.
Another indication of misinterpretation can come at the time of periods. If the irritation and burning occurs at the time of menses then it may be because of allergic reaction to the sanitary pads. Eliminate that possibility before treating it for recurrent vaginal yeast infection.
Learn more about home remedies for vaginal yeast infection and other aspects in the other related articles:
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Chronic Vaginal Yeast Infection