Candidiasis

Candidiasis
Other namesCandidosis, moniliasis, oidiomycosis
Photo of a light-skinned human sticking tongue out where the tongue is mostly colored light yellow due to an oral candidiasis infection
Oral candidiasis (thrush)
Medical specialtyInfectious disease
SymptomsWhite patches or vaginal discharge, itching
CausesCandida (a type of yeast)
Risk factorsImmunosuppression (HIV/AIDS), diabetes, corticosteroids, antibiotic therapy
MedicationClotrimazole, nystatin, fluconazole
Frequency6% of babies (mouth) 75% of women at some time (vaginal)

Candidiasis, often called yeast infection or thrush, is a type of infectious disease. It is a fungal infection (mycosis). The disease is caused by any of the Candida species of yeast. Candida albicans is the most common species.

Causes

Candida yeasts are common in most people. The yeast is usually controlled in the body. When the yeast grows without control, the candidiasis infection happens.

Agar plate culture of candida albicans

A weakened, unhealthy, or young immune system may allow candidiasis to develop. HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, steroids, stress, and not enough nutrients may cause candidiasis.

Antibiotic and steroid use are the most common reason for uncontrolled yeast. Antibiotic kills some bacteria, and changes the balance of microorganisms in the body. This change can allow the yeast to multiply.

Candidiasis in the throat and mouth

Throat

Esophageal candidiasis is an infection of the esophagus by Candida albicans. The disease happens in unhealthy people. Sometimes people will get the infection when they are treated with chemotherapy. People with AIDS can also get this infection more often.

One sign of esophageal candidiasis is painful swallowing. Weight loss can happen when a person has esophageal candidiasis for a long time.

Mouth

Oral candidiasis is a yeast infection of the mouth. It is located on the mucous membranes of the mouth. It is caused by Candida albicans, Candida glabrata or Candida tropicalis.

Signs

Candida may appear as thick white or cream-coloured areas on mucosal membranes. The infected mucosa of the mouth may look inflamed. In babies the condition is called thrush. For babies, it is usually painless. Adults may feel discomfort or a burning sensation.

Body parts

In healthy persons, candidiasis is usually an infection of the skin or mucous membranes. These areas include:

Candidiasis is a very common cause of vaginal irritation, or vaginitis. It can also occur on the penis or scrotum.

In unhealthy patients, the Candida infection can affect other areas like the esophagus. It could get anywhere in the body. When the infection reaches important organs, this is a much more serious health condition called candidemia.

References

  1. ↑ James, William D; Elston, Dirk M; Berger, Timothy G; Andrews, George Clinton; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. pp. 308–311. ISBN 978-0-7216-2921-6.
  2. ↑ "Vaginal Candidiasis". Fungal Diseases. United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 24 Dec 2019.
  3. ↑ "Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus". Fungal Diseases. United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 24 Dec 2019.
  4. ↑ "Candidiasis". Fungal Diseases. United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 24 Dec 2019.
  5. ↑ "Risk & Prevention". United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Treatment & Outcomes of Oral Candidiasis". United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Oral Candidiasis Statistics". United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Genital / vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC)". United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  9. 1 2 Walsh, Thomas J.; Dixon, Dennis M. (1996), Baron, Samuel (ed.), "Spectrum of Mycoses", Medical Microbiology (4th ed.), Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, ISBN 978-0-9631172-1-2, PMID 21413276, retrieved 2022-04-12{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  10. ↑ "Medline Plus at the U.S. National Library of Medicine". Archived from the original on 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  11. ↑ Odds FC (1987). "Candida infections: an overview". Crit Rev Microbiol. 15 (1): 1–5. doi:10.3109/10408418709104444. ISSN 0045-6454. PMID 3319417.
  12. ↑ "National Candida Society Article". Archived from the original on 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2007-10-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ Medline Plus
  14. ↑ Wong, Jeremy (2008), Penile candidiasis - yes, yeast infection in men, archived from the original on 2010-02-23, retrieved 2009-01-20
  15. ↑ Pappas PG (2007). "Invasive candidiasis". Infect Dis Clin North Am. 20 (3): 485–506. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2006.07.004. PMID 16984866.
  16. ↑ Fidel PL (2002). "Immunity to Candida". Oral Dis. 8: 69–75. doi:10.1034/j.1601-0825.2002.00015.x. PMID 12164664.

Other websites