Candida Guide: Types of Infections, How to Detect, Prevent and Treat Them
Candida is the scientific name for a very popular yeast. It is a type of fungus that lives in practically all tissues and surfaces, and also regularly in different parts of our body.
That is to say, most of the candidas live with us habitually and for this reason they do not give unpleasant symptoms nor is it necessary to eradicate them from our body. Of course, if these begin to grow in number, they can end up causing discomfort and even serious problems.
If the human immune system works well, it is capable of keeping the growth of these fungi in our body at bay. Only in cases where the immune system is less effective, these fungi can proliferate and cause a candida infection. This is called candidiasis or moniliasis.
It is one of the most common diseases that affect humans, both men and women. And it could be said that practically everyone will suffer from it at some point in their lives.
Vaginal yeast infection, for example, affects up to 3 out of 4 women at some point in their lives.
The person responsible for most of these infections is the subspecies called Candida Albicans. Its uncontrolled proliferation causes alterations, especially in the different mucosa of the human body.
Types of candidiasis
Lily of the Valley
It can be suffered in the oropharyngeal area, where it manifests itself in the form of white spots in the mouth. It is called thrush.
Thrush in the esophagus
It can also appear in the esophagus area, and cause pain or difficulties swallowing.
Candidiasis on the skin
It can appear on the skin and cause itching and rashes, especially in the large folds – armpits, groin, buttock crease, crease under the breast or around the neck – as well as between the fingers and toes or on the nails.
Invasive candidiasis or candidemia
It can even appear in vital organs (heart, brain, spleen, kidneys or eyes...) or in the blood, something very unusual and much more dangerous than the rest of candidiasis. These more serious types of candidiasis are known as invasive candidiasis, when it affects other organs, or candidemia, when it affects the blood.
Genito-perianal candidiasis
But, without a doubt, despite representing only 20-30% of cases, the most commented among women is genito-perianal candidiasis. The proliferation of fungus in the vagina ends up causing a really annoying and even disabling vaginitis.
Vaginal yeast infection is not considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, it is not recommended to have sex while the symptoms last because they could aggravate the symptoms. In addition, there seems to be a higher risk of vaginal yeast infection after the first sexual intercourse.
What does seem to be more indications is the possible contagion between individuals when practicing oral sex, being able to spread the infection to other parts of the body. In this case, the infected person could, in turn, transmit the infection to another person sexually, orally or vaginally.
How to spot candida
For its diagnosis, most of the time it is enough to analyze the symptoms. However, it is best to go to a health professional who can analyze the extent of the infection. In addition, a gynecological examination with a tissue sample will also help in the diagnosis.
Vaginal discharge samples can be examined directly under the microscope for a quick and more accurate diagnosis. Or a sample could be taken to perform a culture for a few days to confirm the infection. In addition, today there are molecular biology tests that not only detect the presence or not of candida but also. tells us the subtype and informs us of all the microbiota of the environment such as these tests of molecular biology LINK
Although results are usually available in a few days, some yeast infections are slow to develop and results may take several weeks.
There are also some more rudimentary systems to carry out at home, with which you can intuit if there is a candida infection. Even so, it is always advisable to go to a specialist:
1. Check the color of the tongue
A whitish color, especially in the background, could increase the chances of suffering from some type of candidiasis or fungal infection.
2. Carry out the saliva test
You can use your saliva first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything, to do this test. You only need a glass of water on which you must spit. Then you should observe what happens to the saliva over the next hour. Saliva should float during this entire period of time. In the event that there was an excessive colonization of candida, the saliva would form a type of thread that would sink until it accumulated at the bottom of the glass. Or they could also particles of saliva in suspension inside the glass.
3. Analyze the symptoms of yeast infection
The vast majority of the time, it is the symptoms that best guide us to detect a candidiasis.
This is a list of the most characteristic symptoms so that you can identify them:
- Intense itching or itching in the vagina and vulva.
- Burning sensation, especially when urinating or having sexual intercourse.
- Vaginal aches and pains.
- Vaginal rash.
- Thick, white but odorless or watery excess discharge.
- The scales can be analyzed through a smear or through a mycological culture of the vaginal sample that is taken.
Symptoms of yeast infection in men
In men, yeast infection of the penis is more common in cases of diabetes or in men who retain the foreskin (has not been circumcised). And symptoms include redness in the genital area, itching and/or burning, and a rash on the head of the penis, which can be painful.
Additional indicators of the presence of fungi
Often, there are also a series of indicators that appear when there are fungi -whether they are vaginal, oropharyngeal or cutaneous-, which are not localized. And they can serve to confirm a diagnosis. These are:
- Foggy mind or mental nebula: mushrooms produce neurotoxic substances such as alcohol, which make us feel slightly drunk.
- Rhinitis, stuffy nose, itching, eczema: due to another neurotoxic metabolite (acetaldehyde) the endogenous production of histamine increases and with it, the symptoms of allergies.
- Tiredness, chronic pain, headaches and migraines due to activation of the immune system.
- Irritable colon, diarrhea, gas and repeated urinary tract infections.
- Premenstrual syndrome.
- Anxiety, depression and lack of concentration.
How do you get a vaginal yeast infection?
The main reasons why a person gets a yeast infection could be grouped into four:
Changes in the acidity of the tissues of the vagina.
It is known as the vaginal pH and should always be kept slightly acidic.
pH is short for “potential of Hydrogen” and indicates the acidity of a substance on a scale of 0 to 14. The lower the number on the scale, the more acidic the substance.
When the vagina loses its usual acidity, the right environment is created for different types of microorganisms to proliferate, including fungi. This loss of acidity can occur physiologically just before menstruation, for example.
But it can also occur in a "not so physiological" way, by using soaps and perfumed products or by using vaginal showers. Tight-fitting underwear or other conditions that increase moisture in the vaginal area also promote a change in pH.
On the other hand, correct hygiene prevents pH changes and limits the spread of bacteria in the anal area. It is important to wash your hands both after and before using the bathroom. And, after urinating, you have to make sure you wipe from front to back and not the other way around.
If your symptoms increase after sexual intercourse, semen may have something to do with it. It has a more alkaline pH than the vagina and can favor a temporary decrease in the acidity of the area.
Hormonal changes
Yeast infection is more common in women who have a higher estrogen level. This can occur in women who are taking birth control pills with high doses of estrogen, taking estrogen hormone therapy, or using a hormonal IUD.
It must be taken into account that, naturally, the estrogen level rises during ovulation or just before the period, as well as during pregnancy.
For other different reasons, but also hormonal, menopause is also a risk factor for yeast infection.
Loss of the natural balance of bacterial flora
The use of antibiotics changes the normal balance of existing microorganisms in the intestine and also in the vagina. Antibiotics are intended to kill excess bacteria in the body. They kill the bacteria that normally live in the body and that compete with Candida and keep it at bay.
Therefore, its use weakens this self-control function among bacteria and allows the Candida fungus to proliferate uncontrollably.
For this same reason, digestive alterations maintained over time, which also affect the intestinal microbiota, can be the origin of repeated Candida infections. And, in the same way, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy also tend to alter these bacteria that control candida, making these patients more susceptible to suffering from it.
Immune system decrease
If the person's immune system is impaired, it will be more sensitive and prone to infections of all kinds, including candidiasis. Thus, situations that compromise the efficiency of the immune system can favor the appearance of candidiasis.
These situations may be the use of corticosteroids in a sustained manner over time; suffering from chronic infections (HIV and others), autointoxication processes due to excessive intestinal permeability or a regularly altered digestive system.
Other risk factors in candidiasis
As we said, the amount of yeast, as well as many other microorganisms that normally live in the vagina, is naturally balanced. This is thanks to the proper functioning of the body, which is designed for it.
Therefore, everything that can alter the natural way of functioning of the organism is a distorting element, which can favor the appearance of candida. Some of the most important:
Inadequate diet
Mushrooms "love" glucose and all those foods that raise blood sugar: from pastries, bread and pasta to sweets, soft drinks or alcohol.
Eating these foods, rich in sugars and carbohydrates, stimulates the growth of microorganisms that alter the state of our mucous membranes. And with this, they also favor the development of candida in the vaginal mucosa.
In the same way, cereals -especially those that contain gluten- have the ability to irritate and make our mucous membranes more sensitive. This slight but constant inflammation makes these tissues vulnerable to the attack of different types of pathogens.
In addition, the abuse of these foods can decrease the effectiveness of the immune system, with all that this entails.
Chronic stress
Stress maintained over time is clearly immunosuppressive.
The state of chronic stress is too expensive for the human body, which is forced to neglect certain functions in order to keep this condition active. This prevents the correct functioning of the basic organism.
In addition, the hormones we generate when we are stressed have a devastating effect on immune function. It makes us less protected beings against the attack of any pathogen and less active when it comes to reacting to fungi such as Candida.
Obesity and/or diabetes
Women with high blood sugar are at higher risk of getting yeast infection.
Women with uncontrolled diabetes are even more at risk of developing it. In these cases, the mucous tissues contain more sugar than in other people. And we have already discussed how sugar is gasoline for Candida, among other microorganisms.
Exposure to toxic
It is believed that exposure to heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic or lead favor candida infection processes.
People with many gray fillings in their mouths for years may develop a greater sensitivity to Candida infections and other pathogens.
In the case of arsenic, the abuse of brown rice consumption could become a risk factor. And drinking tap water from older lead-based plumbing systems can also create increased susceptibility.
How to fight yeast infection
The conventional treatment to resolve a candidiasis is through medication. There are several and topical treatments can be or are usually combined with systemic treatments taken by mouth. In both cases, the healthcare professional who treats you will recommend the most suitable one for your specific case.
Medical treatments against candida must be prescribed by your doctor and are usually commonly found in all pharmacies, so it is not usually difficult to find the right preparation for you.
In cases where topical or oral medications prove ineffective or if the infection is very severe, other antifungal medications administered intravenously in a hospital setting are used. It is not usual to reach this point, but we comment on it so that you can see that there is a specific therapeutic arsenal for each type, moment and need.
As you can see, the pharmaceutical part is prepared to respond, however, it is important to carry out many other healthy practices to avoid reaching this point or to strengthen therapeutic efficacy. Here we give you several recommendations.
Recommendations to avoid candidiasis
Even if you are already undergoing medical treatment for candida, it will be very useful to study the possible causes that led your body to allow an exorbitant growth of these fungi. From here, take measures so that the body can avoid these outbreaks of infection permanently.
Eat a healthy, low-sugar diet.
That implies that it is even low in sugars from the fruit. Also, consume enough quality protein (fish, shellfish, poultry, and eggs) and adequate fats (EVOO, coconut, ghee, nuts, oily fish). Another recommendation is to avoid processed (sausages, hamburgers, sausages) and fermented products of all kinds (beer, cheese, yogurt, vinegar, wine). It is also advisable to avoid fried foods and industrialized foods, such as canned foods, snacks, chips, frozen meals, fast food and concentrated broths. And avoid mushrooms because they are fungi.
Minimize the use of antibiotics
As we have seen, antibiotics kill bacteria (also those that are beneficial and fight the growth of Candida). Therefore, the use of antibiotics should always be prescribed by a doctor, and only in necessary cases.
And if they have to be taken, it is interesting to combine them with taking probiotics.
Strengthen the immune system
It is important to fight the growth of candida by increasing and strengthening the immune system and adrenal glands (this includes rest, reducing stress, eating a proper diet and exercising).
Avoid tight and synthetic clothing.
It is important to avoid sweating excessively or wearing wet clothes for a long time. In this sense, pads or cups must be changed regularly during menstruation, in addition to using breathable materials (cottonlike).
Maintain proper mucosal hygiene
Hygiene is always interesting, but in the case of intimate areas, highly aromatic personal hygiene products should be avoided. Washing with water would suffice.
The prospects for a cure are good as long as these two approaches are taken into account: the one that reduces the existing fungus load and the one that enables a better base condition so that these crises do not repeat themselves. If the factors that have predisposed to candidiasis are not treated, it is very likely that the infections will become recurrent and successive.
In all cases, it is essential to improve the state of the mucosa. For this, it is necessary to re-educate the person in healthy habits for their maintenance. It is essential to maintain optimal mucosal pH levels. And, finally, repopulate the flora that has been deteriorated with probiotics.
Candidiasis treatment from natural medicine
From the most natural medicine, these processes can be accompanied in various ways. In mild cases they can be a very interesting remedy and, in all cases, they can contribute positively to the treatment.
- Essential oils capable of generating a hostile environment for fungi such as tea tree, oregano or mint oils can be used.
- In addition, it can be positive to use foods ancestrally used to eliminate pathogens from the body such as garlic (aniline), grapefruit seeds or lapacho tea, also called Pau d'Arco.
- Antifungal infusions are less powerful, but they are equally positive for the process and are easy to maintain over time as preventatives. Cumin, fennel, thyme, bay leaf, sage or mint could be used.
- It is important to help rebalance the variety of flora for the self-control of microorganisms. For this, caprylic acid can be used, especially present in coconut oil. Or take probiotics like the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 strains.
The appearance of candida, especially when it recurs over time, can be a symptom that other things are failing in the body. Without a doubt, let yourself be guided by a professional in the field who knows how to assess the extent of your infection and knows how to assess what would be the best approach for your particular case.
Courage and patience! Sometimes these processes take longer than we would all like.
References:
- May Cinic
- University of Navarra Clinic
- Xavier Verdaguer
- Vargas, SL. et al. Modulating effect of dietary carbohydrate supplementation on Candida albicans colonization and invasion in a neutropenic mouse model. NIH National Library of Medicine. 1993.
- Martinez, R. C. et al. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Letters in Applied Microimmunology. 2009. Mar;48(3):269-74.