Although candida, or yeast, infections are commonly associated with women, men also suffer from them. Common yeast infections in men range from oral thrush, skin infections and penile infections to severe, life threatening ones of the bloodstream, brain, bones and urinary tract. While sexual intercourse with a candida infected partner could lead to penile infections, immunocompromising conditions such as antibiotic therapy, diabetes, AIDS or cancer could lead to other serious candida infections. Antifungals are the drugs of choice to treat candida infections in men.
Home Remedies
Certain simple yet effective steps can be taken at home to treat mild candida infections. Gargling with apple cider vinegar and avoiding high-sugar diets may provide relief from oral thrush. MayoClinic.com also recommends eating unsweetened yogurt or taking acidophilus capsules to lessen the infection. Taking steps to maintain immunity and overall health also plays a major role in the treatment of mild candida infections.
Antifungals
Antifungal drugs such as amphoterecin B, azole derivatives such as fluconazole and posaconazole, and nystatin are commonly used to treat candida infections in men. The type of the drug, dosage, duration of treatment and mode of administration depends upon the site of the infection and the condition of the patient.
Invasive and serious candida infections of the bloodstream, brain and bones are treated with a single dose of intravenous amphoterecin B for two to three days followed by oral antifungals until the infection is completely cured. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, amphoterecin B use can cause major side effects in the patient including gastric disturbances, renal failure, bone marrow injury and cardiac arrest; hence, patients should be hospitalized and monitored at all times. Floconazole is an alternative to amphoterecin B that can be administered orally or intravenously to treat mild as well as serious yeast infections in men. The side effects of fluconazole are relatively mild and commonly include upset stomach and skin rash.
Men with candida balanitis, an infection of the penis, can be treated with oral or topical azole derivatives such as fluconazole and clotrimazole. A research article published in the April 1996 edition of Genitourinary Medicine states that a single dose of oral fluconazole is comparable in efficacy and safety to clotrimazole cream applied topically for seven days to treat balanitis.
Antifungals in the form of lozenges, tablets or mouthwashes may be prescribed to treat oral thrush in men with reduced immunity.
Oxygen Therapy
Men with invasive candida infections of the lungs and the bloodstream may suffer from hypoxaemia, which refers to the presence of reduced levels of oxygen in the body. Hypoxaemia can be fatal and is treated by supplying oxygen to the patient from an oxygen cylinder using a face mask or a nasal canula.
Fluids
Fluids such as water and 0.9 percent saline solution can help restore blood volume and help treat low blood pressure that can occur due to candida bloodstream infections in immunocompromised individuals. Fluids can also help flush out candida from the urinary tract and can be given orally or intravenously, depending on the condition of the patient.
References
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Antifungal Drugs
- "Genitourinary Medicine"; Comparison of the efficacy and safety of oral fluconazole and topical clotrimazole in patients with candida balanitis.; A Stary, J Soeltz-Szoets, C Ziegler, G R Kinghorn, R B Roy; April 1996
- MayoClinic.com: Oral Thrush
