Candida - Information on Candida

Candida Information

Candida is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Candida may occur to the people at any age. Candida is the name for a group of yeasts (a type of fungus) that commonly infect the skin. The name ‘candida' refers to the white colour of the organisms in culture. Candidal infection is known as ‘candidiasis', ‘candidosis' or ‘moniliasis'.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Candida. Candida depends on a living host for survival. It is a normal inhabitant of the human digestive tract from early infancy, where it lives without causing any disease most of the time. However, if the host's defences are lowered, the organism can cause infection of the mucosa (the lining of the mouth, anus and genitals), the skin, and rarely, deep-seated infection.

Predisposing factors for candida infection

Infancy or old age
Warm climate
Occlusion e.g. plastic pants (babies), nylon pantyhose (women), dental plates
Immune deficiencies e.g. low levels of immunoglobulins, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Broad spectrum antibiotic treatment
Contraceptive pill or injection, or pregnancy
Chemotherapy or immunosuppressive medications such as systemic steroids
Diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome and other endocrine conditions
Iron deficiency
General debility e.g. from cancer or malnutrition
Underlying skin disease e.g. psoriasis, lichen planus

Causes of Candida

The cause of the Candida is unknown. Candida problems are thought to be caused when the beneficial yeast form of candida albicans mutates to it's fungal form. As it grows out of balance it is said to produce toxins which affect the mucousal lining of the intestines leading to leaky gut syndrome and a whole host of problems. The list of suggestions of how to deal with the effects of candida is as large as the list of numerous symptoms that are said to be associated with the problem.

Treatment of Candida

Candida can be treated with following methods:

1) Topical administration of antifungal drugs such as clotrimazole (Femizole-7, Gyne-Lotrimin), miconazole (Monistat-Derm, Monistat Vaginal), nystatin, tioconazole (Vagistat Vaginal), or oral administration of drugs such as fluconazole (Diflucan) and amphotericin B.

2) Oral doses of fluconazole for vaginal candidiasis

3) For diaper rashes, use barrier creams and change the diapers frequently, use of antibiotics should be discontinued or minimised during a candida infection

4) More serious infections may need IV medications given at the hospital.