fungal infection and treatment caused by candida

1. Candidiasis, causes and treatment

BISHNU PRASAD KOIRALA

2. Candidiasis
 Candidiasis: Disease caused by the yeast Candida
albicans. Candida albicans can cause vaginal yeast
infections, diaper rash, skin rashes that emerge in
moist, warm folds of skin, and thrush (white patches
inside the mouth and throat). Candidiasis tends to
develop when the normal balance of bacteria is upset,
as sometimes occurs with the use of antibiotics.
Candidiasis is a fungal infection due to any type
of Candida (a type of yeast). When it affects the
mouth, it is commonly called thrush.

3.  Signs and symptoms include white patches on the
tongue or other areas of the mouth and throat. Other
symptoms may include soreness and problems
swallowing. When it affects the vagina, it is
commonly called a yeast infection. Signs and
symptoms include genital itching, burning, and
sometimes a white "cottage cheese-like" discharge
from the vagina. Yeast infections of the penis are less
common and typically present with an itchy rash.

4. Thrush
 Thrush (Oropharyngeal Candidiasis) is a medical condition
in which a yeast-shaped fungus called Candida
albicans overgrows in the mouth and throat.
 Thrush may be triggered to occur by a variety of factors,
including illness, pregnancy, medications, smoking,
or dentures.
 Thrush in newborns and infants is common and usually not
harmful.
 Risk factors for thrush include weakened immune systems,
medications, smoking, or stress.

5. What is thrush?
 Thrush (oropharyngeal Candidiasis) is a medical condition
in which a yeast-shaped fungus called Candida (the older
and less often used name for Candida is Monilia) overgrows
in the mouth and throat. Candida is normally present in the
mouth, digestive tract, and skin of most healthy people. The
immune system and the body's normal bacteria usually
keep Candida in balance. When this balance is interrupted, it
can result in an overgrowth of the Candida fungus, causing
thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth or throat.

6. What causes thrush?
 An overgrowth of the Candida species of fungus in the
mouth or throat is what causes thrush. This overgrowth may
be triggered to occur when the person experiences changes
such as illness, pregnancy, new medications, or changes in
the immune system.

7. What are thrush symptoms and signs?
Some general symptoms and signs of thrush are as follows:
 Characteristic white patches
 Redness under the white patches
 White tongue
 Cracking at the outer edges of the lips (cheilosis)
 Dry mouth
 Feeling of food stuck in the throat or sore throat
 Soreness in teeth
 Strange or unpleasant taste in mouth
 Bad breath
 Oral thrush can also lead to a condition called burning mouth
syndrome, which can have symptoms of a painful burning sensation,
mouth dryness, soreness, tingling or numbness throughout the mouth
and tongue, and sometimes an abnormal bitter or metallic taste in the
mouth.

8. What are risk factors for thrush?
 Healthy adults generally do not get thrush without having
some risk factors. Patients with weakened immune systems
are most at risk for getting fungal infections such as thrush.
Risk factors associated with thrush include the following:
 Illnesses, including poorly controlled diabetes, HIV/AIDS
infection, cancer, and dry mouth
 Pregnancy
 Taking medications such as
antibiotics, corticosteroids, chemotherapy or other cancer
drugs, radiation, and birth control pills
 Having an organ transplant
 smoking
 Poorly fitting dentures
 Stress