What Is A Yeast Infection?

By Andrew Wilson

Yeast infections are a health condition that is broadly identified as candidiasis. Essentially, a yeast infection is a form of fungus that has developed and is present somewhere along the outer layer of the skin, or in a membrane area of the body. While many people tend to associate this type of infection with women only, the fact is that a man may also contract this type of fungus as well.

One thing to understand is that many people of both genders do have some amount of candida yeast present in the system at any given time. In situations where the individual is healthy, the human immune system and the ingestion of various forms of healthy bacteria from the daily diet help to keep the yeast from spreading into an infectious condition. It is when there is some compromise in the health of the body that the infection can begin to form and in turn cause problems for the individual.

A yeast infection can develop at several points around the body. For women, an infection in and around the vagina is relatively common. A man may also develop the infection around the genitals as well. The mouth area, esophagus and the pharynx may also be impacted. Internally, it is possible to acquire the infection in the intestines.

If left untreated, a yeast infection can lead to serious health situations. Fortunately, there are a number of medications that can help bring the infection under control with very little effort. In the event that someone becomes aware of the presence of yeast problems, it is imperative to see a doctor immediately and obtain a prescription for the correct dosage and type of treatment for the particular class of yeast issue.

When caught in the earlier stages, the infection will not cause any long term problems and can be dealt with in a very short period of time.