Myths About Yeast Infections

For several years I have accepted patients referred from health food stores. I found an amazing array of health problems that were falsely attributed to "hidden yeast infections."

I even did a number of yeast cultures and blood test, but usually found no yeast infections. Often depression or phobias can rob a person of energy. Food allergies can be misdiagnosed as "yeast infections" as can anemia, hypoglycemia, diabetes, and even more serious illnesses such as leukemia. The point of this addendum is to show that one needs to be open minded and think about the whole array of differential diagnoses without becoming one-sided. There is a great danger of attempting to self-diagnose a disease. It should be your family physician who diagnoses any illness in you, because he/she is trained to do this in a professional manner.

When I am sick I have to see my own physician, because I would be biased and too subjective about my own health. Health care is a serious business, where it is important to be objective. Not to be so introduces dangers of missing an important diagnosis, which could potentially be life threatening. My advice therefore is to seek health advice from your family doctor, not from the health food store or from other well meaning non medically trained persons.

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References

 1.The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beer s et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 158.

2.The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 113.

3. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 164.

4.David Heymann, MD, Editor: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 18th Edition, 2004, American Public Health Association.

Last Modified: Nov. 12, 2005