Key Difference – Yeast Infection vs Gonorrhea
Yeast has been used for several centuries in making bread. This complicates the situation of us trying to think of it as a disease-causing pathogen. Regardless of that, the potential of yeast to become an opportunistic pathogen has been well and truly established. Yeast infection is a broader term used to address a group of illnesses caused by yeast (unicellular, ovoid/spherical fungi). Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by an intracellular diplococcus named Neisseria gonorrhea. The key difference between yeast infection and gonorrhea is that gonorrhea spreads through sexual contacts with infected patients, but the yeast infection does not to spread via that route.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Yeast Infection
3. What is Gonorrhea
4. Side by Side Comparison – Yeast Infection vs Gonorrhea in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Yeast Infection?
Yeast infection is a broader term used to address a group of illnesses caused by yeast (unicellular, ovoid/spherical fungi). This mainly includes Pityriasis Versicolor and candidiasis.
Pityriasis (Tinea) Versicolor is caused by unicellular fungi Malassazia furfur. Infection mainly occurs in humid and tropical conditions. It involves only the superficial keratin layer of the skin. In young adults, mainly the trunk and proximal parts of the limbs are affected. In fair-skinned people, pinkish spherical patches appear. On exposure to sunlight, the skin around the patch will tan. In people with dark skin, patches with hypopigmentation may appear.
Figure 01: Vaginal Yeast Infection
Diagnosis is primarily with KOH preparation. Mainly spherical yeast cells are found with dispersed short, curved, stout, unbranched filaments giving rise to the typical spaghetti and meatball appearance.
- Management- Topical application of imidazole, Dandruff shampoo containing Selenium sulfide.
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by an intracellular diplococcus named Neisseria gonorrhea. This pathogen has a special affinity towards the epithelium overlying the urogenital tract, rectum, pharynx, and conjunctiva and thus it causes infections in these sites. Humans are the only known host of this bacterium.
Clinical Features
A considerable proportion of the infected patients can remain asymptomatic. There is an incubation period of 2-14 days with a majority of the symptoms appearing between days 2 and 5.
In Males
- Anterior urethritis with dysuria and a urethral discharge
- Ascending infection can give rise to epididymis or prostatitis
- Rectal infection can cause proctitis with pruritus and a discharge
In Females
- Altered vaginal discharge
- Dysuria
- Pelvic pain
- Intermenstrual bleeding
Complications of gonorrhea in females include infertility, Bartholin’s abscesses, and perihepatitis. Both rectal and pharyngeal infections in women usually remain asymptomatic. The infection of the conjunctiva of the neonates born to infected mothers gives rise to a condition named ophthalmia neonatrum which can be a cause of permanent blindness. Disseminated disease is associated with arthritis.
Figure 01: Ophthalmia Neonatrum
Diagnosis
- Culturing the organism
- Nucleic acid tests
- Blood culture and the examination of the synovial fluid is required in the diagnosis of disseminated form of the disease
Treatment
- Single 500mg dose of ceftriaxone administered intramuscularly is usually sufficient to suppress the infectious agent
- In areas with a low antibiotic resistance, the use of single-dose oral amoxicillin 3g with probenecid 1g, ciprofloxacin (500 mg) or ofloxacin (400 mg) is recommended.In areas, with a high antibiotic resistance azithromycin, 1g oral should be added to the previously mentioned drug regimen.
- Depending on the duration of the disease, longer courses of antibiotics may be required.
- A follow-up assessment should be compulsorily carried out, and a culture should be performed at least 72 hours after the completion of the drug therapy.
What is the Difference Between Yeast Infection and Gonorrhea?
Yeast Infection vs Gonorrhea |
|
| Yeast infection is a broader term used to address a group of illnesses caused by yeast (unicellular, ovoid/spherical fungi). | Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by an intracellular diplococcus named Neisseria gonorrhea. |
| Cause | |
| This is caused by a fungus. | This is caused by a bacterium. |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases | |
| This is not a sexually transmitted disease. | This is a sexually transmitted disease. |
Summary – Yeast Infection vs Gonorrhea
Yeast infection is usually used to address a group of illnesses caused by yeast (unicellular, ovoid/spherical fungi). Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by an intracellular diplococcus named Neisseria gonorrhea. Although gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease yeast infection does not fall into that category. This is the main difference between yeast infection and gonorrhea.
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References:
1. Kumar, Parveen J., and Michael L. Clark. Kumar & Clark clinical medicine. Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders, 2009.
Image Courtesy:
1.”Yeast Infection” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum” By CDC/ J. Pledger – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Image Library (PHIL) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia