Candidiasis is a yeast infection caused by fungi of the Candida family, most commonly Candida albicans. These are very common fungi, living everywhere, on the human body candida usually occurs in the skin, mouth area, digestive tract, and genital area. Normally, candida will live in balance with other microorganisms in the body without causing harm. Let’s explore the causes of yeast infection in females in this article!
However, when conditions are favorable, candida will have the opportunity to thrive and cause disease in many other parts of the body. Symptoms will vary depending on the site of infection. Diseases caused by candida infections are usually:
Thrush: Thrush is the common name for an infection of the mouth caused by the fungus Candida Albicans. The fungus will affect the moist surfaces around the lips, inside the cheeks, on the tongue, and on the roof of the mouth.
Esophagitis: Candidiasis from the mouth can spread to the esophagus, causing esophagitis.
Skin candidiasis: the most commonly infected areas of the skin are those that are poorly ventilated or wet, such as the hands of people who often wear gloves, the rim of the nail at the base of the fingernails in frequent contact. with water, the skin around the groin, the wrinkles in the buttocks, and the skin folds under the breasts.
Vaginal candidiasis is a common gynecological infection. Over 75% of women have at least one candida infection in their lifetime. The risk of vaginal candidiasis is increased if a woman is pregnant or has diabetes.
Systemic candidiasis: Candida fungi can enter the bloodstream through a tracheostomy, ventilation tube, or surgical wound, infecting the bloodstream, and then spreading throughout the body, causing severe infection. It usually occurs in low birth weight infants and people with severely weakened immune systems.
Diseases caused by candida infections of the skin, mouth, esophagus, and genitals, cause unpleasant symptoms, are usually easy to treat, and are rarely life-threatening. A serious condition is when candida enters the bloodstream causing many dangerous complications, this is an emergency condition that requires prompt intervention.
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Common causes of yeast infection in females
The causes that lead to the growth and pathogenesis of candida are:
Long-term use of antibiotics or corticosteroids disrupts the balance of microorganisms in the body, creating conditions for candida to grow.
The immune system is weakened, and the resistance to pathogens is reduced, such as pregnant women, people with diabetes, people with HIV/AIDS, etc.
Because the fungus grows in places with high humidity and temperature, the genital area is not well-ventilated and humid will create conditions for candida to grow and cause disease.
Symptoms of Candida infection (yeast infection)
Depending on the area infected with the fungus and the extent of the infection, symptoms will vary. Some common symptoms are:
Skin candidiasis: Red or white spots appear on the skin, which is often itchy, burning, and sometimes swollen.
When gynecological candidiasis: when women have vaginal candidiasis, there will be symptoms of itching, redness, and burning in the vaginal area, especially when urinating. Sex can be very painful and uncomfortable. Vaginal discharge is usually milky and lumpy.
Men can also get candida in the genital area, with common symptoms being a pain, itching, and a stinging sensation at the tip of the penis.
When oral candidiasis occurs, the tongue is often referred to as thrush. Symptoms are white, curd-like patches on the inside of the mouth, especially on the tongue, roof of the mouth, and around the lips. If you try to scrape off this white layer, you will see the lining is inflamed, red, maybe slightly bleeding. Gums can also become sores, and red and white patches appear around the gums.
Candida infection in the esophagus can make swallowing difficult and painful, possibly causing chest pain behind the breastbone.
When systemic candidiasis: when candida spreads into the bloodstream, it can cause fever, chills, shock, and multiple organ failure.
Patients need to go to medical facilities to be examined when:
Symptoms appear for a week but do not go away on their own or symptoms get worse day by day.
White lesions appear on the tongue, inner cheeks, and roof of the mouth. This thrush leads to sores that cause inflammation, pain, and difficulty eating. Cracks, red swelling in the corner of the mouth.
When scraping or accidentally touching wounds on the skin, there is bleeding.
The private area is itchy and burning, and the discharge is lumpy, white, and has a bad smell.
Transmission route Candida infection (yeast infection): Gynecological candidiasis is not sexually transmitted. An infected person can get a yeast infection through wet utensils, towels, or clothing, or through an anal infection.
Subjects at risk for yeast infection
Candida fungi will often have the opportunity to grow and cause disease in the following subjects:
- Everyone is at risk for Candida infection, but women have a higher rate
- People with weakened immune systems such as diabetics, pregnant women, infants, and people with HIV/AIDS
- Long-term use of antibiotics and corticosteroids
- Cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy and radiation
- Poor body hygiene
- Women have increased levels of the female sex hormone estrogen
- Denture wearer
Prevention of Candida infections (yeast infections)
Most people can prevent a Candida infection by taking the following measures:
Keep skin clean and dry and avoid wearing tight clothing or undergarments. Keeping the vagina clean and dry, cleaning the vagina with the right cleaning solution, only cleaning the external genital area, and douching deep inside the vagina can increase the risk of candida infection or worsen the condition. exacerbation of fungal infections.
Maintain good oral hygiene: brush teeth twice daily, gargle with warm salt water, change toothbrush frequently, and do not share a toothbrush with others.
Use antibiotics as directed by your doctor.
Good control of blood sugar, especially in patients with diabetes.
Follow a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and exercise to improve physical fitness.
Final thought
To diagnose candidiasis, your doctor will ask about your medical history, diet, and recent use of antibiotics and other medications. If symptoms of a fungal infection appear on the skin, the doctor will ask about the state of skincare, whether the skin is often exposed to water, is moist, and is not too well ventilated.
Your doctor can diagnose thrush, cutaneous candidiasis, or vaginal candidiasis through clinical symptoms and routine physical examination. However, in some cases, the doctor may order to take samples from the infected sites for culture and testing. In addition, the doctor may prescribe other tests such as blood tests, blood sugar tests, HIV tests, etc. if suspected that these diseases are the cause of the patient’s fungal infection.
To diagnose candida esophagitis, the doctor can use an esophagoscope to look at the inside of the throat, possibly a combination of endoscopy and tissue sampling from the injured area for examination in the room. experiment.
To diagnose systemic candidiasis, your doctor will order a blood sample to test for candida growth in the blood.
Top News hopes this article can help you learn more about the causes of yeast infection in females and wishes your health is always good!
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