Yeast Infections Explained

What may arguably be the most commonly known yeast infection or form of candidiasis in the world today is Thrush, which affects mostly female genitalia. (It is rare, though not impossible, for men to contract the disease.) But yeast infections actually do not limit themselves to either gender, and simply affect certain areas of the human body.

Candida Albicans lives peacefully with other flora in the human body, its growth kept in check by a certain bacteria. It makes its home inside the dark, warm, wet areas of the body. This is why yeast infections are found in areas such as the ears, the mouth, the blood, the gastrointestinal or "gut" area – and yes, the area "down there." However, it also likes human skin, particularly warm, wet sections which like skin folds and armpits.

Candidiasis is also called "yeast infection" is because Candida Albicans' normal form is that of single oval yeast cells. When in yeast form, it duplicates itself through budding. This means the cells create genetic clones of themselves through bulbs that "grow" out of them. These bulbs stay attached to the parent cells for a while before letting go.

So what actually causes yeast infection? First, the human body's temperature must be at a specific level and the pH levels must be balanced, two of the conditions necessary for Candida albicans and its partner bacteria to grow without disturbing other flora. But when the temperature and pH levels change, these bacteria die. This leaves the Candida albicans cells free to change into fungi and to replicate with no control over themselves.

The signs that you have yeast and fungus breeding in your body at a faster rate then usual don't take that long to appear. It usually starts with itching, soreness and burning in the areas where the fungus is breeding the most. These are warm, moist, dark areas of your body. What you must remember not to do is start scratching these areas as this can encourage the fungus to breed even faster, and make the symptoms a lot worse.

Apart from the obvious, physical, exte
al yeast infection symptoms you can also experience mood swings, depression, irritability, swollen joints, aching muscles. All these other symptoms make it very difficult for your doctor to actually diagnose a source of your problems, and make it even more difficult to prescribe a successful treatment. A lot of people with internal yeast overgrowth can suffer for years until they discover what the source of their symptoms is.

The overgrowth also causes specific side-effects in afflicted areas. Just for a quick overview of a few of them, fungal overgrowth causes white patches on the inside of the mouth. Your digestion can be effected as fungus will feed on the food that you eat causing fermentation of the food instead of it being properly digested. A white, cottage cheese like discharge coming from the genitalia is also a common symptom.