What is Candida? Signs to recognize and how to treat

Candidiasis is an infection that often occurs on the skin, in areas with folds such as the mucous membranes, women’s vagina and has a variety of different manifestations. Let’s learn about the concept, signs and treatment of Candida on the body through the article below.

What is Candida?

What is Candida?

According to Vinmec health website, Candida is a common infection caused by fungi belonging to the Candida albicans family . On the human body, Candida fungi are very small in size, live in the form of parasites and usually appear in warm and moist places such as the skin, mouth, vagina or the whole body . Among them, up to 75% of women have candidiasis in the genital area once in their life .

Under normal conditions, Candida always exists in the body and is controlled by the immune “barrier” and beneficial bacteria. When control is broken or weakened, Candida can grow stronger and cause discomfort but is usually easy to treat. Only a few cases are as dangerous as when this fungus enters the bloodstream causing sepsis and life-threatening.

Symptoms and signs of Candida infection

Identification marks on the surface of the skin

Identification marks on the surface of the skin

When candida appears on the skin, it forms red or white patches that are itchy, burning, and can cause swelling or inflammation.

Signs of recognition on the mouth and esophagus

Signs of recognition on the mouth and esophagus

Thrush is a common disease when the Candida fungus appears in the mouth, nasopharynx or esophagus. It can cause milky white spots on the tongue, palate, or around the lips. On the gums may appear red and white patches, when you scrape these patches will cause bleeding, may or may not cause pain.

If Candida is present in the esophagus, it can cause difficulty swallowing or pain behind the breastbone.

Identification marks on the genitals

Identification marks on the genitals

Some of the symptoms of a Candida infection that you may have in the vaginal area include itching, pain, redness or burning of the vaginal area, discharge in the form of a thick or lumpy . When having sex or touching this part will cause discomfort.

Men are also at risk for genital candidiasis, with some symptoms such as pain, itching, or stinging at the tip of the penis.

Candida infection in the blood

Candida infection in the blood

When Candida spreads into the bloodstream, the body can experience a variety of symptoms such as fever, chills, more dangerous can cause shock and multi-organ failure .

Causes of candida

Long-term use of antibiotics

Candida fungus is formed due to long-term use of antibiotics or corticosteroids, which unbalance the microflora. In addition, people with weakened immune systems such as people with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women or diabetics are at high risk for fungal diseases.

Other causes include obesity, hot weather, chemotherapy-induced agranulocytosis, humid living conditions, poor hygiene, or smoking .

How to treat candida?

Treatment of candidiasis with medications will vary depending on the area you have it. However, you should consult your doctor before using any medication for treatment. For skin and mouth disease that may clear up in 1-2 days, vaginal area may take up to 4-7 days.

Treatment of Candida on the surface of the skin

The most important thing to do when Candida appears on the skin is to keep the surface of the skin clean, dry and free of cracks . Besides, you can combine more topical drugs such as miconazole, nystatin, ketoconazole or clotrimazole.

Treatment of candida caused by thrush

You can combine topical creams and oral medications when treating thrush. In topical form, drugs such as nystatin and clotrimazole can be used when the disease is mild. In more severe cases, oral medications such as fluconazole or itraconazole may be prescribed every other day.

How to treat candida?

Treatment of candida in esophagitis

Oral medications such as nystatin, fluconazole, or itraconazole are used to relieve symptoms of esophageal candidiasis.

Treatment of Candida in the genitals

To treat vaginal candidiasis, you can combine the application of Clotrimazole or Miconazole tablets, oral fluconazole or Itraconazole, and the use of direct betadine cleaning solution.

However, the above drugs should not be applied to pregnant women in the first 3 months, not to have sex and drink alcohol during the use of the drug.

Treatment of Candida in the blood

You can treat it by using drugs such as voriconazole or fluconazole given intravenously . However, if you have a low white blood cell count, caspofungin or micafungin can be substituted.

How to prevent Candida infection?

How to prevent Candida infection?

With the possible causes and symptoms of candidiasis, Tnhelearning.edu.vn gives you a few ways to prevent the disease as follows:

• Keep the body and vaginal area clean and dry. Avoid wearing tight and tight clothing and underwear.
• In the vaginal area, use a suitable cleaning solution and only clean the outside, do not go too deep because it can cause more serious disease.
• Keep good oral hygiene , brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day, do not share toothbrushes with others. Gargle daily with warm salt water to disinfect the oral area more effectively.
• Blood sugar control in diabetics.
• Use antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Above is some information about Candida fungus that Tnhelearning.edu.vn sends to you. Follow Tnhelearning.edu.vn to receive more useful information.

Source: Vinmec

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