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Candidiasis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By: alien Definition
Candidiasis is an infection of a skin. It is caused by fungus. The name of the candidiasis fungus is genus Candida Oral candidiasis, which is also called thrush this is a fungal infection which mostly occur in the mouth and throat. If candidiasis happens in the throat then it is called esophageal candidiasis.

Candidiasis is the second most common cause of vaginal irritation or vaginitis. It is also occur on the male genitals, particularly in uncircumcised men. It is seen that mostly between 3 and 9 years old children can be affected by chronic mouth yeast infections. It is mostly seen when it occur in around the mouth it looks like white patches. However, this is not a very common condition.

Causes

Oral candidiasis is caused by the fungus called Candida. Everyone has small quantities of the fungus in their mouth, vagina, digestive tract and skin. In healthy persons, friendly bacteria and the immune system prevent the fungus from causing disease. However, a damaged or weakened immune system, as can be the case in HIV disease, makes it easier for Candida to grow and cause disease.

It mostly occurs due to ill patients in intensive-care units, in persons with severe granulocytopenia, and in hematopoietic stem cell and organ transplant recipients. Certain drugs can also cause of this illness it present as the natural organisms in the mouth, which can then promote the growth of Candida. These include the extended use of antibiotics, steroids and oral contraceptives with high estrogen content. Other factors that may stimulate Candida growth include: diabetes, pregnancy, iron, folate, vitamin B12 or zinc deficiency and using antihistamines. Factors that may weaken the immune system from cancer chemotherapy to stress and depression can also cause candidiasis.

Symptoms

The common symptoms include severe itching, burning, and soreness, and irritation of the vagina and/or vulva, and a whitish or whitish-gray discharge that may have a "yeasty" smell like beer or baking bread. It may resemble cottage cheese.

Many women mistake the symptoms of the more common bacterial vaginosis for a yeast infection. Women with VVC usually experience genital itching or burning, with or without a vaginal discharge. Males with genital candidiasis may experience an itchy rash on the penis.

Treatment

Treatment of candidiasis varies, depending on the area affected:-

If you are affected with this illness on thrust then it will treated with topical, antifungal medications such as nystatin and clotrimazole. For more severe cases, ketoconazole or fluconazole can be taken once a day by mouth.

If you are affected with the candida esophagitis. Then it is treated with ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox) or fluconazole.

If you are affected with cutaneous candidiasis. Then this skin infection can be treated with a antifungal powders and creams.

If you are affected with vaginal yeast infections. Then these vaginal yeast infections can be treated with antifungal medications such as butoconazole ,clotrimazole, miconazole, nystatin, tioconazole and terconazole.