Question: I have a chronic yeast infection that never goes away. I have taken oral medicine, antiviral medicine, and always take probiotics. But what else can I try?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:

Failure to clear a yeast infection is a clue to look further to possible underlying causes. Oral yeast is normal, but overgrowth is seen with immune deficiency, or HIV, and can be a threat to seriously ill adult patients taking antibiotics.

Infants commonly have oral yeast infections, especially after antibiotic use, and aren’t usual serious.
But, in adults, yeast overgrowth in warm moist areas of the body are often associated with diabetes and obesity. Women who may have vaginal yeast infections usually find relief in oral and /or topical agents. Yeast overgrowth in the bowel is possible, but it is usually associated with underlying disease with antibiotic use.

Yeast infections are kept in check from invading our blood stream by our immune systems, but when found in the blood stream, they can rapidly become fatal, by settling in our heart’s valves, the lungs, and brain.

Fungal sepsis — a bloodstream yeast infection — can be deadly without aggressive management, which usually requires hospital care.

Probiotics are useful in preventing yeast overgrowth, when antibiotics are used, but have no long-term benefits for the average healthy patient.