THRUSH AND TRICHOMONIASIS
While thrush is not often considered to be a venereal disease it can be spread sexually.
Thrush is caused by a yeast organism, known as Candida or Monilia, which is a normal inhabitant of the bowel. It is an opportunistic organism which rarely causes primary infection but tends to invade areas when the natural resistance has been lowered by other factors.
Thrush may affect the vagina during pregnancy, in diabetes, when the woman is on the Pill or following antibiotics taken for infection elsewhere.
It may be due to the wearing of tight synthetic briefs, pantyhose and tight jeans. It causes severe irritation or itching in the vagina. The woman’s sexual partner may contract the disorder and develop a rash on the penis.
Thrush responds rapidly to the use of specific drugs applied locally as ointment or pessaries. Gentian violet is an old but still effective remedy. However, it is messy to use and has been superseded by the newer drugs.
Sometimes these drugs are also given by mouth to reduce the numbers in the bowel.
Trichomonsas vaginalis is a minute one-celled animal which can cause a distressing vaginal infection.
It causes an offensive, frothy, yellowish-green discharge which is intensely irritating.
Although about 60% of male sexual partners may carry the organism, only about 4% have symptoms. When the woman is treated, her sexual partner should also receive treatment or else re-infection is common.
Metronidazole taken for a week or tinadazole taken in one dose are effective drugs in clearing trichomonas infections.
*605/71/1*