Candida - Causes, Clues And Cures

It's impossible to avoid Candida. It's always in the body and usually lives harmlessly with all the other bacteria that help us live healthy lives. It's when an imbalance occurs that Candida multiplies and causes infection. Numerous and varied symptoms make the Candidiasis difficult to self diagnose. Although it's usually considered a very 'annoying' medical condition, Candidiasis left untreated can invade the bloodstream with a possibly fatal outcome.

Candidiasis is usually called a yeast infection caused by common yeast, Candida albicans, which can flourish in the mouth, digestive tract, vagina, esophagus, and on the skin. Invasive candida infections in the body happen when the Candida enters the blood and spreads throughout the body and spread candida albicans toxin. In the United States, Candidemia is the fourth common bloodstream infection in hospital patients.

Thrush is actually a type of Oropha
ygeal Candidiasis, or OPC. Typical symptoms are white patches in the mouth that cause no pain. In some instances, there may be cracking of the skin at the corners of the mouth. OPC generally occurs in patients with weak immune systems. But it can also be a risk to people who use corticosteroid inhalers, people with dentures, newbo
s, and the elderly.

Candida esophagitis is also a form of OPC. An infected esophagus makes it painful to swallow. It is difficult to self-diagnose since the symptoms may indicate other conditions. OPC can result in invasive candidiasis if it is not treated.

Genital/Volvovaginal Candidiasis, or VVC, is a common yeast infection. In fact, about 75% of women have had this type of yeast infection at least once in their lifetime. And 45% of women have had it more than once. Although rare, VVC can also be transmitted sexually to men.

VVC causes itching or burning in the genital area. Sometimes, but not always, it is accompanied by a candida vaginal discharge. Besides a weakened immune system, pregnancy, diabetes, antibiotic and corticosteroid mediation use can contribute to the risk of infection. VVC can be confused with a urinary tract infection as symptoms are similar. Also, not all vaginitis is caused by a yeast infection. These same symptoms could indicated a sexually transmitted disease that must be treated professionally.

Commonly know as yeast infection of the skin, Cutaneous Candida, is usually found in damp places of the body such as the armpits, groin and skin creases. They can also be found in places where clothing may be tight, like, under the breast. candida is the most common cause of diaper rash. It can also cause intense itching. Most susceptible to candidasis, are diabetics.

You get systemic candida symptoms after the fungus has used the veins and arteries to infect other organs. It can happen that an infection will be the result of surgery. Symptoms alone will not indicate invasive candidiasis but when symptoms do not respond to antibiotics a blood and tissue culture study should be resorted to for diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control claim that 8 of every 100,000 people are infected with candida annually.

There are several options if you are conce
ed about candidiasis, but knowledge of the dangers and benefits must be a priority before making a decision. Self diagnosis and self treatment of Candida bring certain risks. Relief of irritation does not mean that the infection has been eliminated, causing reoccurrences of the symptoms. While most people with yeast infections are successfully treated with antifungal medication, patients with a weak immune system may find a cure for Candida more difficult.

Advocates of natural treatment believe in a strict elimination diet for a total candida cure by removing yeast from the body. Sugar is food for the yeast and must be eliminated from the body as much as possible. Since starch and carbs are converted to glucose they too must be restricted from the diet. Wheat must not be eaten at all. Other foods must be used to replace those eliminated in order to maintain your health. Brewer's yeast is something that can be added to the diet during candida treatment. It improves the immune system. It is also good to have a candida diet high in fiber to improve digestion.

With a Candida cleanse diet, you can also include various herbs and supplements. One such herb is garlic, which is great for your immune system and works as an antifungal. If you aren't a fan of the flavor of garlic, try it in the form of tablets.

Herbs such as oregano, rosemary and mint have essential oils that are useful in treating candida. Some spices such as clove, ginseng, ginger and cinnamon are sold as tablets and are safe when taken as recommended.

The berberine in Barberry and Golden Seal causes Candida to die off. Besides acting as an antibacterial and antifungal, these herbs assist digestion. Overuse of Golden Seal has been know to irritate the liver when ingested over time, but it can be made into a tea for topical treatment. Aloe Vera and Tea tree oil are other natural ways to soothe the discomforts of exte
al irritations caused by a yeast infection.

You can buy several candida treatments without a prescription. Butoconazole Nitrate is used to kill fungus on the surface of the skin and to treat Volvovaginal candidiasis. Clotrimazole is a cream applied to the vagina daily for one week. It can also be applied to the surface of the skin twice per day. Miconazole is currently available over the counter and is also applied to the skin area. As a cream or suppository it can be applied inside the vagina. Tioconazole is also applied to surface of the skin to kill or hinder the growth of fungus.

Oral drugs that can be purchased over the counter to treat most forms of Candida in the system include Fluconazole, Intraconzole and Imidazole Ketoconazole.

The danger in using unsupervised over the counter medication to treat a yeast infection is that the fungus develops resistance to that medication. Treatment of a misdiagnosis may lead to a resistant infection that is difficult to treat. If you have completed the recommended treatment period, or if your symptoms persist for more tha
2 weeks or reoccur, seek medical advice.