Since 1983, at the Critical Illness Research Foundation, Dr. Truss has been conducting candida research in the hope he can produce enough concrete evidence to persuade more of his colleagues of the yeast connection.

Dr. William Crook, a pediatrician and leading expert in yeast infections, was the first to make the problem widely known to the public. He founded International Health Foundation and has authored 12 very accessible books on the topic.

In Toronto, Dr. Carolyn Dean, a family physician, wrote a paper on her clinical findings of 2,000 patients diagnosed with chronic candida. Dr. Dean used a blood test for candida antibodies as well as a complete history and physical to make the diagnosis of candida. Unfortunately, the test for candida antibodies is not widely available at present and is not covered by most government medical plans.

Dr. Carol Jessop, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, at the University of California, treated 1,100 patients for chronic fatigue syndrome. Of these, 900 had a history suggesting chronic yeast infections so she treated them with ketoconazole, a strong anti-yeast prescription drug, for an average of five months. She was surprised by the results. Of the 900 patients she treated, "529 returned to their previous health and 261 reported significant improvement."

Dr. Jessop's current treatment of choice for severe yeast infections is fluconazole 100mg a day for three to six weeks. She believes this drug is highly effective and improves mental symptoms more quickly. She also uses grapefruit seed extract for her patients. This is a natural product available without a prescription and taken for five to nine months.

Don't Be Confused - Other Vaginal Infections That Are Not Yeast

TRICHOMONAS is another common cause of vaginal discharge. It is caused by a tiny pear-shaped parasite. It is usually sexually transmitted but can also be passed on in whirlpools, bathtubs and through wet towels and washcloths. The discharge from this infection can be whitish, yellowish, or greenish-yellow in colour and foamy or frothy in consistency. It can also be foul-smelling and cause itching of the labia and painful urination. Both partners should be treated.

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS. This refers to a condition in the vagina in which there is an imbalance of the normal beneficial vaginal bacteria, with an overgrowth of several other types of bacteria. The good lactobacilli are reduced, and other bacteria that grow without oxygen are found in their place. One of these is a rod-shaped bacteria called gardnerella vaginalis (also hemophilus vaginalis or corynebacterium vaginale).

Symptom-wise, there can be a greyish-white discharge with a fishy odour. Sometimes it just causes a whitish discharge with no odour.

Treatment is recommended for both partners, although it has not been proven to be sexually transmitted. The presence of bacterial vaginosis may be one factor that increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, but this has not yet been proven.

Some gynecologists recommended vinegar douches for woman with mild cases. Sometimes the infection will clear up on its own. Lactobacillus powder in 00 capsules and placed in the vagina every second night for two weeks may also be tried (this is sometimes irritating to the vagina).

GONORRHEA usually causes no symptoms. Occasionally, if the cervix is involved, it may cause a thick yellow discharge which may be foul-smelling and cause burning and irritation of the vagina and labia. All sexually active women should be routinely checked for gonorrhea at every PAP test and pelvic exam.

CHLAMYDIA is another recently discovered organism which causes infections similar to gonorrhea and is thus very serious. If it causes any vaginal symptoms at all, these will be similar to those described under gonorrhea. Chlamydia cultures are now available in most cities and should be done routinely in sexually active women.

HERPES is usually easy to tell from yeast because it causes painful clear blisters in the genital area and in the vagina which can usually be seen. However, when blisters form on the cervix, which are not possible to see, herpes can cause a copious white discharge which can be confused with yeast.