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What Is Candidiasis?
There are many kinds of fungi that live in the human body. One type is called candida. It's a type of yeast that normally lives in small amounts in places such as your mouth, belly, or on your skin. Usually, it doesn't cause any problems. But when the environment is right, the yeast can multiply and grow out of control.
The infection it causes is called candidiasis, which has several different types. Most can be easily treated with over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Oral thrush is most common in newborns, older people, and people with compromised immune systems. (Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images)
Candida is the most common fungus that infects people. But there are different types, or species, of candida. Candida species are closely related to each other but not the same.
The full list of candida species that can infect people is long. But nine times out of ten, if you have candidiasis, it will be caused by one of these five species:
Candida albicans causes more than half of all candida infections. But infections with other species are on the rise. They also can be harder for doctors to treat. On top of these five, experts are also keeping an eye on Candida auris, which is a growing health threat.
Your body normally hosts a natural population of candida. But when it grows too much and turns into a fungal infection, you may notice symptoms of candidiasis, including:
You'll notice these symptoms in the infected part of your body. Your symptoms also may vary depending upon where the candida is growing and what type of infection it is.
Candidiasis happens when the fungus that normally grows in or on your body starts growing too much. It's most likely when you have an imbalance of bacteria or other microbes. Causes of an imbalance leading to candidiasis may include:
Doctors identify different types of candidiasis depending on where the fungal infection is growing. These include:
In rare cases, candida can cause Candidagranuloma, a chronic infection, in different parts of the body, including your face, mouth, scalp, and nails.
If the candida yeast spreads to your mouth and throat, it can cause an infection called oral candidiasis, or oralthrush. It's most common in newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. You may be more likely to get it if you:
Symptoms of oral thrush include:
Thrush is treated with antifungal medicines such as clotrimazole, fluconazole , and nystatin . Rinsing your mouth with chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash may help prevent infections if you have a weakened immune system.
Three out of four people with vaginas will get at least one genital yeast infection during their lifetime. This happens when too much yeast grows in the vagina. (Men and those assigned male at birth can also get genital yeast infections, but it's much less common.)
A yeast infection typically happens when the balance in the vagina changes. This can be caused by:
Occasionally, the infection can be passed from person to person during sex.
The symptoms include:
Because these symptoms can be similar to other infections such as bacterial vaginosis (bacterial overgrowth in the vagina) and sexually transmitted diseases, it's important to visit your doctor if you're experiencing them.
Most times, an over-the-counter antifungal suppository, tablet, or cream will knock out the infection. Your doctor might also prescribe a single dose of a prescription antifungal medicine such as fluconazole. Tell your doctor if you get yeast infections more than four times a year. They may recommend regular doses of antifungal medication over several months to fight the repeated infections.
Candidiasis in men
Candida can infect male genitals, too. That shouldn't be too surprising as the fungus that causes it is normally present on your skin. But men are more likely to get candidiasis on the head of their penis if they have sex with a partner with vaginal candidiasis.
Candidiasis of your penis is also more likely if you:
Symptoms include:
"Cutaneous" means affecting the skin. So, any type of candidiasis on the surface of your skin falls into this type. Candidiasis infections most likely occur in places that are warm and moist, including:
Conditions that make cutaneous candidiasis more likely include:
You can treat candidiasis on your skin by keeping the area as dry as you can. You also can use antifungal creams. Ask your doctor which is best depending on where your infection is. If you're otherwise healthy, your candidiasis should go away easily. You can also take steps to make your infection less likely to happen again.
Though diaper rash is usually caused by leaving a wet or soiled diaper on for too long, once your baby's skin is irritated, infection is more likely. If their diaper rash isn't going away, check if their bottom is red and sensitive, and if there's a raised red border around the sores. If so, have your pediatrician check for candidiasis. It can be treated with an antifungal cream.
Keeping your baby's bottom clean and dry is a good start to help prevent diaper rash and candidiasis.
If candida enters your bloodstream (usually through medical equipment or devices), it can travel to your heart, brain, blood, eyes, and bones. This can cause a serious, life-threatening infection called invasive candidiasis.
People who have recently been admitted to a hospital or live in a health care facility, such as a nursing home, are most at risk. Like other types of yeast infections, your chances of getting invasive candidiasis are greater if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, kidney failure, or are on antibiotics .
The symptoms include fever and chills. It can be hard to diagnose because it's likely that a person with this infection is already sick with another condition.
Invasive candidiasis is treated with an oral or intravenous dose of antifungal medication. If you are having surgery and have higher odds of a yeast infection, your doctor might prescribe a series of antifungal medicines before the procedure.
If your doctor suspects you may have invasive candidiasis, they'll take a blood sample. They may send your sample off to a lab where others will see if they can grow candida from your samples. This was the most common way to look for invasive candidiasis in the past.
Your doctor may also use other blood tests to look for signs of candida in your blood without waiting to see if the fungus will grow in the lab. Ask your doctor which test they'll use to see if your symptoms are caused by invasive candidiasis.
Candidiasis is a common condition; nearly 75% of people with a vagina will experience a vaginal yeast infection caused by candida in their lifetime. Most candidiasis infections can be easily treated with over-the-counter medications or a prescription, but if you get more than four fungal infections a year, talk with your doctor. They will develop a treatment plan to help prevent that type of yeast from growing too much on or in your body. Candidiasis won't go away on its own, so treat it as soon as possible.
How does candida go away?
You may use an antifungal medicine to get rid of it. You can get antifungal medicine in different forms, including pills or liquids you take by mouth or topical creams or ointments you put on your skin. The best option for you will depend on what type of candidiasis you have and how severe it is. Make sure you treat it as long as your doctor recommends even if your symptoms seem to go away sooner.
Is candidiasis an STD?
No. Candidiasis yeast infections aren't sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Everyone has candida growing naturally on their bodies. They turn into an infection when the fungus starts to grow too much. But it is possible for you to pass candidaon to a partner during sex.
Can candidiasis go away on its own?
Probably not. If you don't treat a candida infection, it's more likely that any itching, discomfort, or other symptoms you have will get worse as the fungus keeps growing. Invasive candidiasis is a serious and even life-threatening infection. If you have this type, you'll need treatment right away in the hospital until it goes away.
Vaginal Discharge: Warning Signs In Your Underwear Could Signal Common Health Problems
Vaginal discharge is a very common and completely normal occurrence that can strike at any age.
The NHS explains that the term refers to fluid or mucus that keeps the vagina clean and moist, protecting it from infection.
However, Dr Simi Adedeji, a women's health and wellbeing expert, shared on her YouTube channel that it's important to pay attention to any changes as discharge that it's unusual for you could be a sign of a health problem.
Therefore, the doctor explained what different colours of vaginal discharge could mean.
1.Yellow greenAccording to the doctor, this type of discharge is "not normal" and should ring alarm bells.
Yellow green vaginal discharge can be a symptom of sexually transmitted infection (STI), ranging from trichomoniasis to gonorrhoea.
"The STI that characteristically gives frothy, yellow green vaginal discharge is trichomoniasis," Dr Adedeji said in the video.
Mostly contracted through having sex without a condom, trichomoniasis is the "commonest, non-viral" STI, which is triggered by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.
Other symptoms this STI can trigger include fishy smell, burning and stinging when passing urine, sweeling and itching around vagina.
"If you have got these symptoms, you need to go and get yourself checked out at a sexual health clinic," the doctor added.
Red or pink vaginal discharge could be "completely" normal but it's important to consider the whole picture.
The doctor said: "So for example, if you are having a red or a pink discharge, around the time you're expecting your period, then this could just be completely normal. It just means there's blood around.
"Another time you can get pink or red discharge is shortly after sex - I'm talking about the first 24 hours."
However, some people can experience this type of discharge in between their periods which is called spotting and this could be a sign that it's time to go and see your doctor, Dr Adedeji advised.
Red or pink discharge could be a sign of pregnancy, miscarriage as well as endometrial cancer if you have been through the menopause.
Experience the Express like never beforeThe expert said: "If you have thick clumpy vaginal discharge, this is most likely to be thrush."
While the yeast that triggers thrush usually lives harmlessly in your vagina, sometimes it can be uncomfortable.
Dr Adedeji said: "Sometimes when there's just small amounts of thrush and it's not causing you any symptoms, it doesn't necessarily need to be treated because, it can clean up by itself."
However, you should treat it if you're pregnant, the expert advised.
4. Grey dischargeAccording to the medical professional, grey vaginal discharge can raise a red flag for bacterial vaginosis.
While this is not an STI, it can hike your risk of catching an infection like chlamydia.
"If you have this kind of discharge, please see your doctor because it can be treated," the doctor said.
5.Clear dischargeClear discharge is normal and it can have no smell, or it can have slightly acidic odour.
Dr Adedeji said: "It varies in the amount of smell and consistency depending on where you are in your cycle."
The good news is that this doesn't need any treatment, especially, if it's not associated with any itching or burning.
Winning The Battle Against Thrush
Start most women off on the subject of vaginal thrush, and they'll tell you that it can be one of the most irritating and troublesome conditions that a woman can experience.
And although some women endure only the odd bout, the lives of others are blighted by its stubborn recurrence.
The symptoms of thrush include vaginal itching, a thick, white discharge, swelling of the vulva, pain or soreness during intercourse and the need to urinate more often than usual, while some women also complain of extreme fatigue, feelings of depression and irritability, skin rashes, digestive problems and headaches.
Many cases of thrush are caused by the excessive growth of the Candida albicans fungus, a micro-organism that is commonly found on the skin and in the mouth, digestive tract and vagina, but whose numbers are normally kept at an undisruptive level by harmless bacteria.
Sometimes, however, the vagina can become overloaded with C. Albicans, prompting the symptoms of thrush to kick in, particularly after a course of antibiotics has zapped some of your body's good, defensive bacteria along with their unwanted pathogenic counterparts, after sex, during pregnancy or when you're on the pill (when the vagina's hormonal environment changes), or when your immune system is weak, perhaps following an illness.
The nutritional treatment of thrush is a controversial subject. Because some doctors, for example, are sceptical that C. Albicans can cause any adverse symptoms, they dismiss the notion of tackling it with a special diet.
As a nutritional practitioner who has treated a large number of women whose symptoms have been eased by a diet designed to decrease the growth of the culprit fungus, however, I have to disagree.
So what can you do to banish thrush? Speaking from experience, I'd recommend that you tackle two core issues: firstly, increasing the levels of C. Albicans-combating, probiotic bacteria within your body, and, secondly, starving the C. Albicans bacteria of their main sources of food, namely sugar and alcohol.
Probiotic bifido or lactobacilli bacteria, which are important components of the vagina's normal bacterial population, produce acids and antibiotics that make it hard for other micro-organisms, C. Albicans included, to thrive.
Although eating, or coating the vagina with, live yoghurt containing these good bacteria can be quite helpful in tackling thrush, it is not as effective as using a pessary containing either lactobacilli or an oligofructose prebiotic, which acts as both a cure and a preventative (consult your doctor about these treatments, as well as about taking a course of capryllic acid, a natural anti-fungal substance).
Together with including pro- or prebiotic bacteria in your daily routine (and I'd anyway recommend having a small pot of live yoghurt a day to maintain the health of your gut), try to avoid foods that contain high concentrations of sugar, notably such blatantly sweet products as cane sugar, honey, syrup, sweet drinks, cakes, biscuits and chocolate, and instead boost your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, lean proteins, oats, wholemeal bread, pasta, potatoes and rice.
Avoid alcohol for a few weeks, too, because it not only increases the concentration of sugar in the urine, so feeding the bad bacteria, but also contains yeast.
Because the evidence that thrush can be cured by avoiding yeast-containing foods (bread, Marmite, blue cheeses and mushrooms, for instance) is inconclusive, however, I'd advise simply minimising your intake of these and instead focusing on cutting sugary foods from your diet.
These twin strategies aside, remember that it's important to keep your immune system strong by having a well-balanced diet that includes oily fish (such as sardines, tuna, salmon, herrings and mackerel), studies also having indicated that the eicosapentaenoic acid that they contain seems to reduce inflammation and boost the body's immunity.
Finally, because garlic contains allicin, a potent combatant in the battle against yeast infections, try to have a couple of small cloves of raw or cooked garlic a day.
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RECIPE: New potatoes and garlic baked in a parcel
Each parcel serves 1 person
4 to 6 new potatoes, weighing about 100g in total
5 cloves garlic, unpeeled
5cm piece of lemon grass, peeled (optional)
small bunch thyme
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Wash the potatoes, but leave their skins on. If they measure 2.5cm or less in width, leave them whole, otherwise cut them into roughly equal-sized pieces.
Preheat the oven to 200C. Take a sheet of baking paper measuring approximately 28 x 48cm and fold it in half. Now open up the paper and place the potatoes on the lower half. Add the garlic, lemon grass (if you are using it), thyme, a little sea salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper and drizzle over the olive oil.
Fold the top section of the baking paper over the potato mixture and then tuck in and twist the edges to make a sealed parcel.
Place the potato parcels in the oven and bake them for 30 minutes. Remove the parcels from the oven, transfer them to serving plates and serve them immediately, while scented steam is still wafting from them.
You can also bake young carrots, leeks, beans and beetroots in this way, but remember that you will need to adjust the cooking times to suit their size.
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