Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, orange juice, spicy food and acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and strawberries. Eating garlic is a good idea, it has an antiseptic effect, and cranberry juice is though to prevent the bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls. Symptoms include itchiness and soreness around the vagina, a white odourless discharge and burning on passing water. It is caused by a yeast-type fungus called candida albicans that lives naturally in the vagina. When the vagina's natural balance is upset, the fungus multiplies, causing a thrush infection.
Antibiotics are a common cause since they kill the friendly bacteria that keep candida at bay.
Other triggers include the pill, spermicides, diabetes, pregnancy, alkaline soaps and bubble baths. No external treatment is required. Priced at 12.50 it is also available on NHS prescription. It is currently undergoing tests to gain a medical license as a treatment for thrush and other fungal infections. You can ask your pharmacist to order it for you if he doesn't stock it.