Patient's question:
I am 21 years old this year, and I have never had a sexual life. I have been suffering from candidiasis for two years, and this condition has been tormenting me. I have tried various treatments, including taking Itraconazole orally and washing with baking soda solution, but none of them have worked. I am wondering if there is a better medication that can help me get rid of this pain. Please help me, experts. Can you help me? I am looking forward to your good news.Doctor's answer:
Hello:Common medications for candidiasis include nystatin suppositories, one suppository per night (10,000 units), inserted deep into the vagina, with a 10-day course of treatment. Additionally, you can take Nistatine tablets orally for one week. After completing a course of treatment, it is necessary to return to the hospital for a follow-up to determine if further medication is required. While maintaining good hygiene for the external genitalia, your partner should clean the penis before sexual activity.
Treatment for candidiasis can be approached with either purely Western medicine or a combination of Western and traditional Chinese medicine.
(1) General treatment: Actively treat other diseases that may cause candidiasis and eliminate predisposing factors. Maintain cleanliness and dryness of the external genitalia, avoiding scratching. Abstain from sexual activity during treatment. Avoid spicy and irritating foods.
(2) Adjusting vaginal pH: The optimal pH value for the growth of Candida is 5.5. Therefore, using alkaline solutions to rinse the external genitalia and vagina and adjusting the vaginal pH can inhibit the growth and reproduction of Candida. You can use a 2%–4% baking soda solution to rinse the vagina once or twice daily, with a 2-week course of treatment. After rinsing, dry the external genitalia to maintain dryness and inhibit the growth of Candida.
(3) Vaginal medication: Using imidazole-class suppositories for vaginal medication is highly effective for candidiasis. Clotrimazole suppositories, one per night, are inserted into the vagina after rinsing, with a 10–14-day course of treatment; or Daktarin suppositories, one per night, are applied to the vagina after rinsing, with a 7-day course of treatment.
(4) External ointments: Applying clotrimazole ointment or Daktarin ointment externally can treat fungal infections caused by Candida.