Thrush in men: treatment, pills used

Candidiasis of the genital organs, or thrush, is an infectious disease caused by opportunistic yeast-like fungi belonging to the genus Candida. Most often, this pathology is encountered by female representatives, but it also occurs in men. In this article, we will talk about the main clinical manifestations of thrush in men, treatment, tablets used and local remedies.

How does thrush manifest in men?

Most often, thrush in men occurs in the form of balanoposthitis — an inflammatory lesion of the head and prepuce of the penis. Isolated inflammation of only the head or only the foreskin can also be observed. In this case, the infection is transmitted from a sick woman during sexual contact.

The patient complains of severe itching, burning sensation. The head of the penis and the fold of skin that covers it are edematous and hyperemic, covered with foci of whitish-gray plaque. Due to the infiltration of the foreskin, difficulties arise when trying to remove the head. In the affected area, weeping eroded foci often appear, which increases the risk of secondary bacterial infection. It is noteworthy that with candidal balanoposthitis there are no problems with urination.

This disease often becomes chronic. In this case, it can be complicated by the narrowing of the foreskin, which makes it difficult to remove the glans penis.

In some cases, in addition to the external genital organs, with thrush in men, the urethra may be affected. In such a situation, there are complaints of burning and itching in the urethra, not abundant, less often — abundant, liquid mucous discharge from the urethra.

When ureteroscopy can detect swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the urethra, the appearance of a whitish coating on it.

Basic principles of treatment of thrush

The treatment of genital candidiasis in both men and women is based on antifungal therapy. At the same time, we note that the use of any drugs is possible only as directed by a doctor. Self-medication of thrush is unacceptable.

Both local and systemic antimycotics can be used. Examples of local remedies include creams and ointments containing natamycin, nystatin, ketoconazole, and so on.

The most well-known systemic drug is fluconazole.

Sometimes combined medicines are used, for example, a cream or ointment based on hydrocortisone, natamycin, neomycin. In 2011, scientists from the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after. I.K. Akhunbaev published a work, the results of which established the effectiveness of the combined use of fluconazole and ointment with hydrocortisone, natamycin and neomycin in the treatment of candidal balanitis and balanoposthitis.

We emphasize once again that the choice of a specific drug, as well as the scheme for its use, is the task of the doctor. Self-use of antimycotics may not only not help, but also aggravate the problem.