What is Candida
Mycoses are diseases caused by fungi.
Candida is, in itself, a yeast that in some respects lives in symbiosis with the human organism, participating in the digestion of sugars, even if in reality it is more correct to call it a saprophytic organism.
Insights on Candida
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KNOW THE CANDIDA
Candida and candidiasis Risk factors for candida Candida symptoms Quiz: Candida, do you know how to prevent it? Video Candidiasis Lily of the valley, oral candidiasis Candida of skin and nails Candida digestive tract Candida uro-genital Respiratory candidiasis Disseminated candidiasis Other locations Sepsis and candida endocarditisFIGHT THE CANDIDA
Tips to fight candida Remedies for candida Drugs against candidiasis Drugs against candida vaginitis Drugs for the treatment of lily of the valley Diagnosis Candida Therapy, prophylaxis and control Diet and candida Caprylic acid against candida Sorbic acid against candida Candida: fight it with candida herbal tea herbal tea against candidaNormally the colonies of these fungi multiply with food intake and in particular sugar. However, the efficiency of the human immune system is sufficient to control its proliferation, even in the case of a high glucose diet.
Candida rarely becomes pathogenic and produces candidiasis. This condition is more easily established following prolonged use of antibiotics and during intense pysophysical stresses that lower the patient's immune defenses (such as HIV infection). In these cases the candidiasis can be cutaneous, subcutaneous, or systemic (diffused in more body tissues). Mouth infections are called thrush and are more common in children. However, candida can also cause vaginitis, enteritis, and, in more severe cases, pulmonary moniliasis and chronic endocarditis .
80% of cases of candidiasis are due to Candida albicans infection, while the remaining 20% are caused by other species of fungi belonging to the same family ( candida tropicalis 1% -5% and candida glabrata 10% ). Candida non albicans forms are on the rise and are more frequently associated with relapses or HIV infection. These two causative agents are associated with the selection caused by the use of antibiotics (imidiazoles) specific for Candida albicans and less effective in fighting other forms.
Risk factors
The transition from latent and asymptomatic colonization of these fungi (present in many healthy individuals) to symptomatic infection (candidiasis) is favored by the following predisposing factors:
- Drugs such as corticosteroids and antibiotic therapies: weakening of the immune system.
- Oral contraceptives: it seems that high levels of estrogen favor the growth of Candida.
- Hyperglycemia (untreated diabetes): the presence of sugars promotes the pathogenic action of these fungi.
- Decreased immunity defenses caused by diseases or large psycho-physical stress: HIV, chemotherapy, transplantation.
- Anemia, alcoholism, smoking, stress, pollution.
Some advices
A balanced diet combined with regular physical activity and healthy lifestyles helps to strengthen the immune system. On the contrary, a diet rich in simple sugars combined with a sedentary lifestyle, overweight, and incorrect living habits (smoking, alcohol, pollution, etc.) weakens the entire body, increasing the likelihood of contracting numerous diseases, including candidiasis.
As for the diet, it is important to choose wholesome foods, not to overdo the consumption of meat, adopt correct cooking methods by limiting grilling and frying and favor foods rich in fiber and antioxidants such as fruit and vegetables. Finally it is useful to take yogurt or other pro and prebiotic foods in order to favor the balance of intestinal bacterial flora.
Candida VulvoVaginale
Symptoms
To learn more: Candida symptoms
Vaginal vulvar candidiasis manifests as local itching where there is often excoriation from excessive scratching.
The itching is associated with atypical vaginal secretions that form the classic white speckles tenaciously adherent to the internal mucosa. Dysuria (difficulty in urinating) and dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse) are also often present, only occasionally linear perineal ulcers appear.
Diagnosis is made by physical examination by looking for the typical symptoms of the disease (colposcopy). The smear or culture in the laboratory can be used to confirm the diagnosis, especially in severe cases.
Care
To learn more: Candida Vulvovaginitis drugs
The treatment of vaginal vaginal candidiasis differs according to the severity of the pathology.
- If candidiasis is sporadic, caused by Candida albicans and does not occur during pregnancy or during systemic diseases, it is considered mild or uncomplicated.
- If instead it is associated with recurrent infections (more than 4 cases of candida per year), with non-albicans and arises during pregnancy or due to basic diseases such as diabetes and HIV, it is classified as a complicated form.
In uncomplicated forms one generally opts for a systemic or topical antifungal treatment of short duration. It appears that there are no significant differences between the various treatment options. Among the most used drugs we mention: Fluconazole (Diflucan ®), Clotrimazole, Itraconazole, Nystatin and Amphotericin B.
The approach for the more complicated forms is instead more complex and requires a prolonged therapy (cycles of 7-14 days) after culture to identify the type of candida and exclude other diseases.
Treatment of the sexual partner is also necessary for relapsing forms.
Other locations
Candida infection, as we have seen, can affect different body mucous membranes and depending on the infected area it takes on different names (vulvovaginitis, balanitis, balanopostitis, thrush).
At the male genital level (see in detail: candida in humans ) the infection can cause, especially in diabetic subjects, the appearance of balanitis (pain, itching redness on the surface of the glans) or balanoposthitis if the inflammation also extends to the foreskin.
