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Candidiasis - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis
Candidiasis - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis
Candidiasis - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis
com/condition/getcondition/candidiasis#
Candidiasis
(Yeast Infections, Thrush)
The Facts
Causes
The Facts
Candidiasis, also called thrush or moniliasis, is a yeast infection. Candida albicans is an
organism that normally makes a quiet home for itself on your skin and doesn't bother
anyone. We all carry this organism on our skin, in our mouth, in our gastrointestinal tract
(gut), and, in the case of women, in the vagina.
Occasionally the yeast multiplies uncontrollably, causing pain and inflammation. Candidiasis
may affect the skin. This includes the external surface skin and the skin of the vagina, the
penis, and the mouth. Candidiasis may also infect the blood stream or internal organs such
as the liver or spleen. By far the most common problems are skin, mouth and vaginal
infections. It also is a common cause of diaper rash. These can be bothersome infections,
but are not life threatening.
Candidiasis can kill if it reaches the bloodstream or vital organs such as the heart, but this is
rare even in people with damaged immune systems and is almost unheard of in healthy
people. Nevertheless, candidiasis is a constant nuisance, and sometimes a serious threat to
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people with AIDS and some cancer patients who lack the immune resources to fight it.
Causes
You don't catch candidiasis. The yeast is already there. A number of factors can increase
the chance of the yeast growing out of control, a common one being the overuse of
antibiotics. Yeast must compete for the right to live on us with various other organisms,
many of them bacteria. These bacteria, which live on the skin and in the intestine and
vagina, among other places, are harmless but good at fighting off yeast. When we take
antibiotics to deal with less friendly bacteria, we kill off these harmless ones as well. Yeast,
which is unaffected by antibiotics, moves into the vacated spots once occupied by bacteria,
and starts to grow and multiply.
Steroids and some cancer medications weaken the immune system and can allow yeast to
flourish. Candida albicans infections of the mouth (known as oral thrush) most often develop
in people with diseases such as cancer and AIDS. They can also develop in people with
diabetes or in people who have long-term irritation resulting from dentures. Taking birth
control pills increases your chances of getting vaginal candidiasis. Hot weather, poor
hygiene, and tight clothing are also risk factors, as they create the ideal environment for
candida.
Other conditions that tend to encourage yeast include obesity and pregnancy. Yeast
generally infects intertriginous areas, that is, areas where skin contacts skin. Overweight
people have more folds in their skin. They also sweat more, and Candida albicans is fond of
moist skin. Pregnancy causes an increase in the level of estrogen, increasing the risk of yeast
infections.
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A vaginal yeast infection may well result in a slow leakage of a thick, white, clumpy (cottage-
cheese-like) substance with minimal or no odour. The vagina may itch or burn, especially
during urination or sex. Pain or discomfort during intercourse is common.
Candidal paronychia is candidiasis of the fingernails. It often strikes people whose hands are
in water a lot. Sometimes it presents as a painful, red, swollen area around the fingernail. In
worse cases, the fingernail may separate, revealing a discoloured white or yellow nail bed.
Oral thrush causes curd-like white patches inside the mouth, on the tongue and palate
and around the lips. It may also cause cracked, red, moist areas of skin at the corners of the
mouth. Thrush patches may or may not be painful.
Yeast infections of the penis are rare but may cause the tip to be red, swollen, and painful.
Candidiasis is easy to identify. The yeast can be seen under the microscope after being
scraped off the affected area. However, since yeast is normally there anyway, your doctor
will want to be sure that it's candida causing the problem and not something else. The
appearance of the rash may be enough.
For infection of the skin, your doctor can give you an antifungal cream or prescribe you an
antifungal pill. For vaginal yeast infections, treatment consists of antifungal medications that
are administered directly into the vagina as tablets, creams, ointments, or suppositories, or
administered by mouth (e.g., fluconazole*). Speak with your pharmacist – you can buy many
of the products intended for minor infections without a prescription. For oral thrush, a
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For severe cases, antifungal medication taken by mouth for several days may be needed.
wipe from front to back after going to the toilet – the rectal area is full of yeast
dry yourself thoroughly after bathing, especially the pubic hair – use a hair dryer on low
setting if you have to
don't use soap around the vagina – soap kills the bacteria you want to keep, and has no
effect on yeast
sterilize or throw away underwear that you wore during your last infection – the washing
machine isn't hot enough, you must boil them if you want to keep them. You must also
replace any diaphragms or cervical caps.
avoid chemicals like scented tampons and especially vaginal douches, which serve no
purpose and may cause infection
your health care provider may recommend you eat live yogurt, especially if you have been
prescribed antibiotics or have other factors which increase your risk for yeast infections –
pasteurized yogurt isn't effective. Some stores carry lactobacillus acidophilus pills which
may help to keep yeast in check
consider changing "the pill" – if you've had recurring infections, talk to your doctor about
changing your birth control pill and see if it helps
don't ask for antibiotics if you've got a cold or the flu – the flu is caused by viruses, so
taking antibiotics won't help and they might provoke candidiasis
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product
(e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand
names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication,
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check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
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questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition
/Candidiasis
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