Health Topics A-Z

How Do I Know If I Have It?

To diagnose oral thrush, a doctor will examine the white patches and may take a sample for testing. To check for vaginal yeast infection, a doctor may take a vaginal wet smear. If your doctor thinks you have a systemic yeast infection, a blood, stool or tissue sample will be tested for the fungus.

What Are the Treatments?

Treatment will depend on your specific condition but will focus on counteracting the growth of the yeast organism that causes the infection.

Your doctor will probably treat oral thrush with an antifungal medication such as clotrimazole or ketoconazole. Babies with oral thrush are typically given nystatin with a dropper.

Infections of the skin can be treated with topical applications of clotrimazole.

For a vaginal yeast infection, an over-the-counter topical cream or suppository (a pill that dissolves in the vagina) containing miconazole or clotrimazole is typically suggested. If over-the-counter medications are not effective, your doctor may prescribe a cream with terconazole or an oral antifungal drug containing fluconazole.

If your doctor determines that you have a systemic yeast infection, you may get intravenous doses of amphotericin or flucytosine.