This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007)

Candidiasis Classification and external resources
Agar plate culture of Candida albicans
ICD-10	B37.
ICD-9	112
DiseasesDB	1929
MedlinePlus	001511
eMedicine	med/264  emerg/76 ped/312 derm/67
MeSH	D002177

Candidiasis, commonly called yeast infection or thrush, is a fungal infection (mycosis) of any of the Candida species, of which Candida albicans is the most common.^[1][2] Candidiasis thereby encompasses infections that range from superficial, such as oral thrush and vaginitis, to systemic and potentially life-threatening diseases. Candida infections of the latter category are also referred to as candidemia and are usually confined to severely immunocompromised persons, such as cancer, transplant, and AIDS patients, whereas superficial infections of skin and mucosal membranes by Candida causing local inflammation and discomfort is common in many human populations.^[2][3][4] While clearly attributable to the presence of the opportunistic pathogens of the genus Candida, candidiasis describes a number of different disease syndromes that often differ in their causes and outcomes.^[2][3] Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Candida_albicans_PHIL_3192_lores. ... An agar plate streaked with microorganisms isolated from a deep-water sponge. ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) is a coding of diseases and signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases, as classified by the World Health Organization (WHO). ... // A00-A79 - Bacterial infections, and other intestinal infectious diseases, and STDs (A00-A09) Intestinal infectious diseases (A00) Cholera (A01) Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers (A010) Typhoid fever (A02) Other Salmonella infections (A03) Shigellosis (A04) Other bacterial intestinal infections (A040) Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection (A045) Campylobacter enteritis (A046) Enteritis due to Yersinia... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The Disease Bold textDatabase is a free website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions, symptoms, and medications. ... MedlinePlus (medlineplus. ... eMedicine is an online clinical medical knowledge base that was founded in 1996. ... Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. ... toes infection brown with white markings ... Species C. albicans C. dubliniensis C. glabrata C. guilliermondii C. kefyr C. krusei C. lusitaniae C. milleri C. oleophila C. parapsilosis C. tropicalis C. utilis Candida is a genus of yeasts. ... Binomial name Candida albicans (C.P. Robin) Berkhout 1923 Synonyms Candida stellatoidea [1] Candida albicans is a diploid asexual fungus (a form of yeast), and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and vaginal infections in humans. ... Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva leading to vulvovaginitis. ... Systemic Relating to, or affecting a particular body system; especially the nervous system. ... Fungemia (also known as Candidemia, Candedemia, and Invasive Candidiasis) is the presence of fungi or yeasts in the blood. ... Immunosuppression is the medical suppression of the immune system. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... Transplant redirects here. ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... This article is about the organ. ... The mucous membranes (or mucosa) are linings of ectodermic origin, covered in epithelium, that line various body cavities and internal organs. ... An abscess on the skin, showing the redness and swelling characteristic of inflammation. ... In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. ... This article is about modern humans. ... Opportunistic infections are infections caused by organisms that usually do not cause disease in a person with a healthy immune system, but can affect people with a poorly functioning or suppressed immune system. ...

Manifestation

In immunocompetent persons, candidiasis is usually a very localized infection of the skin or mucosal membranes, including:^[1] persons with functioning immune system This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ...

• the oral cavity (oral thrush)
• the pharynx
• the esophagus
• the navel
• the intestines
• the urinary bladder
• the vagina

Candidiasis is a very common cause of vaginal irritation, or vaginitis, and can also occur on the male genitals. In immunocompromised patients, the Candida infection can affect the esophagus with the potential of becoming systemic, causing a much more serious condition, a fungemia called candidemia.^[4][3] The mouth, also known as the buccal cavity or the oral cavity, is the opening through which an animal or human takes in food. ... Oral thrush is an infection of yeast fungus, Candida albicans, in the mucous membranes of the mouth. ... The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea. ... The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences), sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. ... For other uses, see Navel (disambiguation). ... The intestine is the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ... This article is about the urinary bladder. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva leading to vulvovaginitis. ... A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, narrowly defined, is any of those parts of the body (which are not always bodily organs according to the strict definition) which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in an complex organism; namely: Male: penis (notably the glans penis... Immunosuppression is the medical suppression of the immune system. ... Endoscopic image of esophageal candidiasis in a patient after chemotherapy. ... Systemic Relating to, or affecting a particular body system; especially the nervous system. ... Fungemia (also called Candidemia/Candedemia and Invasive Candidiasis) is the presence of fungi or yeasts in the blood. ... Fungemia (also known as Candidemia, Candedemia, and Invasive Candidiasis) is the presence of fungi or yeasts in the blood. ...

Children, mostly between the ages of 3 and 9 years, can be affected by chronic mouth yeast infections, normally seen around the mouth as white patches. However, this is not a common condition.^{[citation needed]}

Causes

Oral candidiasis on the tongue and soft palate.

Candida yeasts are usually present in most people, but uncontrolled multiplication resulting in disease symptoms is kept in check by other naturally occurring microorganisms, e.g., bacteria co-existing with the yeasts in the same locations, and by the human immune system. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 649 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1898 × 1753 pixel, file size: 555 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 649 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1898 × 1753 pixel, file size: 555 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... For other uses, see Tongue (disambiguation). ... The palate is the roof of the mouth in humans and vertebrate animals. ... A cluster of Escherichia coli bacteria magnified 10,000 times. ... A scanning electron microscope image of a single neutrophil (yellow), engulfing anthrax bacteria (orange). ...

In a study of 1009 women in New Zealand, Candida albicans was isolated from the vaginas of 19% of apparently healthy women. Carriers experienced few or no symptoms. However, external use of irritants (such as some detergents or douches) or internal disturbances (hormonal or physiological) can perturb the normal flora, constituting lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacilli, and an overgrowth of yeast can result in noticeable symptoms.^{[citation needed]} Pregnancy,^{[citation needed]} the use of oral contraceptives,^{[citation needed]} engaging in vaginal sex immediately and without cleansing after anal sex,^{[citation needed]} and using lubricants containing glycerin have been found to be causally related to yeast infections.^{[citation needed]} Diabetes mellitus and the use of antibiotics are also linked to an increased incidence of yeast infections.^{[citation needed]} Diet has been found to be the cause in some animals. Hormone Replacement Therapy and infertility treatments may also be predisposing factors.^{[citation needed]} A douche (IPA: ) is a device used to introduce a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons, or the stream of water itself. ... lactobacilli and a vaginal squamous cell. ... Species L. acidophilus L. bulgaricus L. plantarum L.reuteri etc. ... Species L. acidophilus L. bulgaricus L. plantarum L.reuteri etc. ... For the disease characterized by excretion of large amounts of very dilute urine, see diabetes insipidus. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a system of medical treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, based on the assumption that it may prevent discomfort and health problems caused by diminished circulating estrogen hormones. ...

A weakened or undeveloped immune system or metabolic illnesses, such as diabetes may predispose individuals to Candidiasis.^[5] Diseases or conditions linked to candidiasis include HIV/AIDS, mononucleosis, cancer treatments, steroids, stress and nutrient deficiency, among many others. Almost 15% of people with weakened immune systems develop a systemic illness caused by Candida species.^{[citation needed]} In extreme cases, these superficial infections of the skin or mucous membranes may enter into the bloodstream and cause systemic Candida infections. This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... Infectious mononucleosis (also known as mono, the kissing disease, Pfeiffers disease, and, in British English, glandular fever) is a disease seen most commonly in adolescents and young adults, characterized by fever, sore throat and fatigue. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... In chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. ... In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. ...

Antibiotic and steroid use are the most common reason for yeast overgrowth.^[6] The former kills the bacteria which would otherwise help maintain Candida at safe levels, thus allowing the fungus to overgrow. Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics test plate. ... This article is about the chemical family of steroids. ...

Since the Candida fungus thrives in warm, moist and dark places, exposed areas with these conditions such as the mouth, skin folds, armpits and vaginas are more vulnerable.

In penile candidiasis, the causes include sexual intercourse with an infected party, low immunity, antibiotics and diabetes. However, male yeast infection is less common and the risk of getting it is only a fraction of that in women.^{[citation needed]} However, yeast infection on the penis from direct contact via sexual intercourse with an infected woman is uncommon.

Symptoms

Symptoms include severe itching, burning, and soreness, irritation of the vagina and/or vulva, and a whitish or whitish-gray discharge, often with a curd-like appearance. An itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation felt on an area of skin that makes a person or animal want to scratch it. ... Burning may refer to any of the following: Combustion The use of a CD burner The Burning Man festival Burning-in of Photographic paper Immolation An insult (slang term) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... The vulva (from Latin, vulva, plural vulvae or vulvas; see etymology) is the region of the external genital organs of the female, including the labia majora, mons pubis, labia minora, clitoris, bulb of the vestibule, vestibule of the vagina, greater and lesser vestibular glands, and vaginal orifice. ...

Many women mistake the symptoms of the more common bacterial vaginosis for a yeast infection. In a 2002 study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, only 33 percent of women who were self treating for a yeast infection actually had a yeast infection. Instead they had either bacterial vaginosis or a mixed-type infection. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal infection (vaginitis). ...

In men, symptoms include red patchy sores near the head of the penis or on the foreskin, severe itching and/or a burning sensation. Candidiasis of the penis can also have a white discharge, although uncommon. However, having no symptoms at all is common and usually, a more severe form of the symptoms may emerge later.

Diagnosis

Medical professionals use two primary methods to diagnose yeast infections: microscopic examination, and culturing.

For the microscope method, a scraping or swab of the affected area is placed on a microscope slide. A single drop of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution is then also placed on the slide. The KOH dissolves the skin cells but leaves the Candida untouched, so that when the slide is viewed under a microscope, the hyphae and pseudo spores of Candida are visible. Their presence in large numbers strongly suggests a yeast infection. The chemical compound potassium hydroxide, (KOH) sometimes known as caustic potash, potassa, potash lye, and potassium hydrate, is a metallic base. ...

For the culturing method, a sterile swab is rubbed on the infected skin surface. The swab is then rubbed across a culture medium. The medium is incubated for several days, during which time colonies of yeast and/or bacteria develop. The characteristics of the colonies provide a presumptive diagnosis of the organism causing symptoms.

Treatment

It is important to consider that Candida species are frequently part of the human body's normal oral and intestinal flora. Treatment with antibiotics can lead to eliminating the yeast's natural competitors for resources, and increase the severity of the condition. An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ...

In clinical settings, candidiasis is commonly treated with antimycotics—the antifungal drugs commonly used to treat candidiasis are topical clotrimazole, topical nystatin, fluconazole, and topical ketoconazole. For example, a one-time dose of fluconazole (as Diflucan 150-mg tablet taken orally) has been reported as being 90% effective in treating a vaginal yeast infection.^[7] This dose is only effective for vaginal yeast infections, and other types of yeast infections may require different treatments. In severe infections (generally in hospitalized patients), amphotericin B, caspofungin, or voriconazole may be used. Local treatment may include vaginal suppositories or medicated douches. Gentian violet can be used for breastfeeding thrush, but pediatrician William Sears recommends using it sparingly,^[8] since in large quantities it can cause mouth and throat ulcerations in nursing babies, and has been linked to mouth cancer in humans and to cancer in the digestive tract of other animals.^[9] An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm and candidiasis (thrush), as well as serious systemic infections like cryptococcal meningitis. ... An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, and others. ... Clotrimazole is a potent, specific inhibitor of p450 enzymes. ... Nystatin (Nystan®, Infestat®, Nystamont®) is an polyene antimycotic drug Nystatin is considered one of the clean drugs as it has no proven side effects. ... Fluconazole (INN) (IPA: ) is a triazole antifungal drug used in the treatment and prevention of superficial and systemic fungal infections. ... Ketoconazole is a synthetic antifungal drug used to prevent and treat skin and fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients such as those with AIDS. Due to its side-effect profile, it has been superseded by newer antifungals, such as fluconazole and itraconazole. ... Amphotericin B (Fungilin, Fungizone, Abelcet, AmBisome, Fungisome, Amphocil, Amphotec) is a polyene antifungal drug, often used intravenously for systemic fungal infections. ... Caspofungin (INN[1]) (brand name Cancidas worldwide) is an antifungal drug, the first of a new class termed the echinocandins from Merck & Co. ... Voriconazole (Vfend®, Pfizer) is a triazole antifungal medication used to treat serious fungal infections. ... Suppository casting mould A suppository is a drug delivery system that is inserted either into the rectum (rectal suppository), vagina (vaginal suppository) or urethra (urethral suppository) where it dissolves. ... A douche (IPA: ) is a device used to introduce a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons, or the stream of water itself. ... Methyl Violet 10B Gentian violet (crystal violet, Methyl Violet 10B, hexamethyl pararosaniline chloride) is an antifungal agent. ... Suckling redirects here. ... Dr. William Sears (fl. ...

While home remedies may offer relief in minor cases of infection, seeking medical attention may be necessary, especially if the extent of the infection cannot be judged accurately by the patient. For instance, oral thrush is visible only at the upper digestive tract, but it may be that the lower digestive tract is likewise colonized by Candida species.

Treating candidiasis solely with medication may not give desired results, and other underlying causes require consideration. For example, oral candidiasis can also be the sign of a more serious condition, such as HIV infection, or other immunodeficiency diseases. Following the health tips at vulvovaginal health can help prevent vaginal candidiasis. Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... Vulvovaginal health is the health and sanitation of the human female vulva and vagina. ...

It is possible for Candida Albicans to develop a resistance to the drugs used to treat it, as seen from research done^[10] involving fluconazole, one of the drugs that is used to treat Candidiasis. In this case, the recurring infection would have to use a different prescription and it is possible that resistance is slowly built to many of the available medications used to treat the yeast infection.

Babies with diaper rash should have their diaper areas kept clean, dry, and exposed to air as much as possible. Sugars assist the overgrowth of yeast, possibly explaining the increased prevalence of yeast infections in patients with diabetes mellitus, as noted above. As many Candida spp. reside in the digestive tract, dietary changes may be effective for preventing or during a Candida infection. Due to its requirement for readily fermentable carbon sources, such as mono- or dimeric sugars (e.g., sucrose, glucose, lactose) and starch, avoiding foods that contain these nutrients in high abundance may help to prevent excessive Candida growth. This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ... For the disease characterized by excretion of large amounts of very dilute urine, see diabetes insipidus. ... Flash point N/A Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 Â°C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references Sucrose (common name: table sugar, also called saccharose) is a disaccharide (glucose + fructose) with the molecular formula C12H22O11. ... Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is an important carbohydrate in biology. ... Lactose is a disaccharide that consists of β-D-galactose and β-D-glucose molecules bonded through a β1-4 glycosidic linkage. ...

History and taxonomic classification

The genera Candida, species albicans was described by botanist Christine Marie Berkhout. She described the fungus in her doctoral thesis, at the University of Utrecht in 1923. Over the years the classification of the genera and species has evolved. Obsolete names for this genus include Mycotorula and Torulopsis. The species has also been known in the past as Monilia albicans and Oidium albicans. The current classification is nomen conservandum, which means the name is authorized for use by the International Botanical Congress (IBC). Christine Marie Berkhout (1893–1932) was a mycologist. ... Utrecht University (Universiteit Utrecht in Dutch) is a university in Utrecht, The Netherlands. ...

The full current taxonomic classification is available at Candida albicans. Binomial name Candida albicans (C.P. Robin) Berkhout 1923 Synonyms Candida stellatoidea [1] Candida albicans is a diploid asexual fungus (a form of yeast), and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and vaginal infections in humans. ...

The genus Candida includes about 150 different species. However, only a few of those are known to cause human infections. C. albicans is the most significant pathogenic (=disease-causing) species. Other Candida species causing diseases in humans include C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. dubliniensis, and C. lusitaniae.

Alternative views

Alternative medicine proponents frequently diagnose people with "systemic candidiasis" using methods not deemed valid by mainstream western medicine. Belief in widespread "systemic candidiasis" was promoted by a book published by Dr. William Crook,^[11] which hypothesized that a variety of common symptoms such as fatigue, PMS, sexual dysfunction, asthma, psoriasis, digestive and urinary problems, multiple sclerosis, and muscle pain, could be caused by subclinical infections of Candida albicans.^{[citation needed]} Crook suggested a variety of remedies to treat these symptoms, ranging from dietary modification to colonic irrigation. Mainstream western medicine has ignored these alternatives, since they have not been proved using scientific methods.^[12][13] Alternative medicine has been described as any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain.[1] Alternative medicine practices are often based in belief systems not derived from modern science. ... See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that treat patients. ... For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ... Premenstrual stress syndrome Pocahontas Middle School ... Sexual dysfunction or sexual malfunction (see also sexual function) is difficulty during any stage of the sexual act (which includes desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution) that prevents the individual or couple from enjoying sexual activity. ... Myalgia means muscle pain and is a symptom of many diseases and disorders. ... In medicine, a subclinical infection refers to an inapparent, asymptomatic infection, or an infection that has such a mild course that it doesnt alert the patient enough to consult with a physician. ... This rectal bulb syringe may be used to administer small enemas. ...

References

MedlinePlus (medlineplus. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• National Institute of Allergies and Infections (June 27, 2007). Vaginitis. Retrieved on 2008-02-21. - fact sheet on vaginitis/vaginal infections
• Oral Thrush Mayo Clinic
• DermAtlas candidiasis images
• InteliHealth page on candidiasis Presented by InteliHealth reviewed by Harvard Medical School
• Links to pictures of Yeast Infection (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa)
• Yeast Infections. VaginaPagina. - info on treatments