What is Candida Yeast Infection

This is infection is commonly found in women. A sudden differnce in the pH of their vagina can promote the uncontrolled growth of an unwanted microorganism - the Candida yeast. But first, let us understand what is a Candida yeast.

The symptoms brought about by Candida yeast infection are, obviously, caused by a yeast like fungus known as Candida albicans. Ironically, Candida ablicans are part of the normal flora of our body, which explains why most of us have it naturally in our bodies. These potentially harmful microorganisms are in safe numbers by a constant check. What keeps it in check? The good bacteria. Harmful Candida yeast growth is kept from doing us any harm by our body's friendly bacteria. But sometimes, due to external factors which could affect our body, it is when things get out of balance, the bad bacteria die and the harmful fungus grows out of hand. Without enough good bacteria, there can be nothing which could keep the fungus from proliferating to extent that it can cause harm ot the body, the fungus is basically allowed to overgrow. It's this overgrowth that causes your yeast infection.

Some of the underlying factors that can contribute to this imbalance and allow the fungus to spread are diseases or things like diabetes, antibiotics, poor diet, steroids, some medical conditions (e.g. HIV / AIDS, cancer), sex with an infected partner, scented sprays and douches, damp, sweaty, tight underwear, and a lot more.

Candida yeast infection also cause a lot of distressing symtoms. These symptoms can appear almost anywhere in or on your body, but especially the warm, moist areas that the fungus loves so much because these aid its growth. In women, the most common place is the vagina, then perhaps the mouth, but it can appear on the skin, anus, and under the fingernails, and on other body parts.

The most common vaginal Candida symptoms are extreme pruritus or itching, abnormal white discharge, inflammation, swelling, pain when urinating, menstrual pain, difficulty having sex. Oral symptoms include thick white coating on tongue, raised whitish spots on tongue and mucus membranes, and difficulty swallowing.

The popular treatment involves using over-the counter, or, prescription creams, lotions, pessaries, etc. is usually the first line treatment for most women. But they have been findings that, in a lot of cases, the Candida yeast infection is very hard to totally cure. In other words, it just keeps on returning. Those who had it most likely had it recurring or has become a chronic infection, thus it becomes harder and harder to clear. This is put down to the drugs just addressing the Candida yeast infection symptoms and not the root cause, plus, the fungus can develop a resistance to the drugs.

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