Trush, Candida and Diarrhoea

I’m a 24 yr old female. I’ve treated myself for thrush starting 3 weeks ago with cream and tablets. My symptoms worsened and my doctor said it was definitely thrush - discharge, swelling very red. I’ve been on tablets and cream and the swelling has gone down, itching more or less settled but I’ve now developed tummy pain, still have some discharge and now diarrhoea as well and general feeling unwell. Is it still thrush causing this or something else? Please note I rarely drink and usually smoke 3-4 cigarettes a day.

About Thrush

Thrush is an infection with a fungus called Candida albicans. This is a common infection in women causing vaginal thrush. It can occur without reason, but is more common if you have been unwell, feeling run down or receiving medications (particularly steroids, antibiotics or immunosuppressant drugs). Symptoms of thrush affecting the vagina include redness, itch, soreness and passing curd-like, white discharge. This can be very uncomfortable.

Thrush Treatment

Treatment of thrush is with antifungals in the form of tablets, pessaries, powders and cream. Common antifungals include Clotrimazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole and Miconazole. The main tablet treatment is with Fluconazole and I note you have been treated with antifungals.

Thrush and Diarrhoea

Candida and diarrhoea have long been thought to coexist. Whether Candida actually causes diarrhoea or not remains controversial, but certainly there does appear to be a connection. This maybe through excessive growth of Candida in the small bowel and certainly Candida can be isolated from stool samples in some sufferers. Symptoms are similar to the Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS. However, confounding factors such as coexistent illness, recent antibiotic use and other drug use including the antifungals used to treat thrush can actually induce diarrhoea as well.

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Treatment of Diarrhoea Associated With Thrush

Treatment of the diarrhoea can have several approaches. The first is direct treatment of Candida with antifungal tablets. If ineffective, probiotics such as VSL#3 may help to repopulate the small bowel. Pulsed antibiotics may also have a role if small bowel bacterial overgrowth is thought to be complicating this. Use of diet changes may help and often following an IBS diet may be helpful. Use of anti-diarrhoeal medications can sometimes help too.




My name is Dr Peter Thatcher MBBS, MRCPI and I am a consultant physician and gastroenterologist in the UK. I have an interest in internet based medicine and administer this site in my spare time. I hope you find this site useful and informative. If you have any suggestions, please Contact Me or if you would like to comment on my site, please do so by Clicking Here. If you like the site and would like to make a donation to support what I am doing please do so by Clicking Here. Thank you for visiting and please drop by again!