Article: If you suspect you have a vaginal infection, pay attention to your symptoms. Not all women with BV have symptoms, but the following symptoms are often associated with BV: Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant or "fishy" odor Yellowish discharge Burning or discomfort when urinating Itchiness and irritation in and around the vagina The symptoms of a yeast infection are similar to BV. They include: Abnormal vaginal discharge which can range from a thin, watery, white discharge to a thick, white, and chunky discharge (often described as looking like cottage cheese) Itching and burning of the vagina and labia Painful intercourse Painful urination Redness and swelling of the area just outside of the vagina. While many people with a trich infection have no symptoms, these symptoms are signs of an infection: Vaginal discharge that is smelly, frothy, bubbly, or foamy Vaginal itching Yellow or gray-green discharge Painful urination There is not always a specific cause for BV or a yeast infection other than a bacterial imbalance. Trich is an STI that is caused by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Most women have probably had at least one bacterial infection. The risk of getting BV increases with a new sexual partner (or multiple partners), douching, having sex without a condom, or using an intrauterine device (IUD) as a method of birth control. If you are diagnosed with trichomoniasis, you'll need to inform any sexual partners so they can be treated. Yeast infections and BV can be caused by antibiotic use. Antibiotics disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your vagina which can allow "bad" bacteria or yeast to thrive. Other causes may include: wearing tight underwear or non-cotton panties (which can increase the temperature around the vagina and increase the moisture levels), a weakened immune system, using vaginal douches or perfumed feminine hygiene sprays, or vaginal trauma (scratches in the vagina caused by inserting objects like tampons or during rough sex). You should also tell any sexual partner about any vaginal infection, but you aren't required to. Since different infections often have similar symptoms, it's critical that your doctor make a diagnosis so you get the correct treatment. See your doctor if you have any symptoms of a vaginal infection. Your doctor will prescribe a course of treatment, but if you don't notice an improvement after three days, have a fever, if the discharge symptoms worsen, or a new rash appears anywhere on your body contact your doctor. Keep in mind that recurrent yeast infections can be a sign of a more serious underlying disorder such as diabetes, cancer or HIV-AIDs. Recurrent yeast infections might suggest there's a problem with your immune system. At the doctor's office, your physician will probably take a sample of the vaginal discharge, ask for a urine sample and perform a vaginal exam. This exam may be uncomfortable but it is usually over quickly. The discharge will be tested for the presence of bacteria, yeast or other organisms such as Trichomonas. Your doctor will also ask about your sexual history, menstruation, vaginal hygiene, and any medications you're taking. Since different types of vaginal infections are treated differently, it's critical to get the correct diagnosis from a doctor before you start any treatment. Usually, after your first vaginal infection, you'll be able to tell when you have an infection, but it's still important to find out the type of infection. Untreated or incorrectly treated bacterial infections can cause complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pre-term births and low-birth weight babies and can put a woman at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, herpes simplex virus (HSV), chlamydia and gonorrhea. Untreated or incorrectly treated trichomoniasis infections can also lead to increased risk of HIV.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Look for symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV). Pay attention to signs of a yeast infection (candidiasis). Look for signs of a trichomoniasis infection (trich). Consider the cause of your bacterial infection. Know when to get medical attention. Get a physical examination. Learn how to handle recurring infections.
Article: Like many viral infections, the first line of defense against spreading HFMD is simply to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Your hands are most likely to come into contact with other people throughout your day and HFMD is spread primarily through direct contact. Teach your children the proper way to wash their hands to help them avoid contracting HFMD at school. To properly wash your hands, run them under warm water to wet them, then apply soap. Lather the soap over your entire hands, including the backs. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing them. Sing "Happy Birthday" at least once while you're washing your hands to determine this time approximately. Dry your hands thoroughly. When there's a risk of HFMD infection, it's important to avoid direct physical contact with anyone that may be carrying the virus. HFMD transmits easily through close contact with others. Tell your kids not to hug or wrestle with other children at school. Do not share eating utensils or drinking glasses with anyone. In order to prevent the transmission of the virus that causes HFMD, you will need to regularly disinfect common areas where people infected with the virus may have been. It is a good habit to regularly disinfect any high traffic areas, particularly in schools and daycares. Use soap and water to clean areas, then disinfect them with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach and water. Disinfectant sprays also do a good job of eliminating the virus that causes HFMD on most surfaces. Make sure to clean counters, doorknobs, children's toys and anything else people touch regularly. You and those around you will need to exercise good cough and sneeze etiquette in order to minimize the chances of infecting one another if anyone were to become infected with HFMD. Use your arm to cover your mouth so as not to cover your hands in germs. Dispose of tissues you use immediately and don't leave them anywhere others may come in contact with them. Wash your hands after you cough or sneeze into them to prevent the spread of the virus. If you know someone that is exhibiting the symptoms of, or has been diagnosed with, HFMD you should keep them separate from others, particularly small children. While HFMD is usually a mild viral infection, it can lead to more serious issues. If one of your children exhibits symptoms of the illness, quarantine them in a room separate from any other children until they have recovered. Limit the exposure of people exhibiting symptoms to all others, particularly children. Keep sick children home from school so as to prevent them from spreading it to others. Stay home from work or school if you recognize the symptoms in yourself. It can be very easy to transmit infections like HFMD at school because of the number of children and their lack of understanding about sharing germs. Teach your kids good practices at home so they are better prepared while in class. Teach your children proper cough and sneeze etiquette. Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently, especially immediately before eating. Make sure they know not to share beverages or utensils at school. Tell your children to keep their hands and other objects away from their face and out of their mouth.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Wash your hands often. Avoid direct contact with others. Disinfect common areas. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Separate contagious people. Teach children how to avoid infection at school.