| Yeast infection is the colonization of yeast fungi in body areas in such an amount and such a way that damages or symptoms are produced. Usually the yeast invades only body cavities and the lining of these cavities, but can in serious cases grow into deeper tissue layers.
Yeasts very often infect the vagina and outer female genitals. Yeast infection also often occurs in the mouth, and is then called trash. The male genitals may be infected, but usually with fewer symptoms. There can also be an infective over-growth of yeast in the digestive tract, skin areas and the nose. Small children often get yeast infection in the diapered area, and this is commonly called diaper rash. Diaper rash can also be caused by irritation from urine or stool, from food allergy, from allergy against washing media, or from a combination of several factors.
Sometimes yeast infect several body areas at the same time, such a systemic infection is often called candidiatis. A systemic yeast infection can develop into a serious condition where the yeast invades deeper layers of the skin, the deeper tissues of several organs and even the blood stream.
Systemic yeast infection usually occurs in patients with bad immune defense, like HIV patients, diabetics or patients weakened by cytostatic or steroid medication.
WHAT CAUSES YEAST INFECTION
Usually species of the genus Candida, and especially the species Candida albicans, are the infective agents. These yeasts are normally found in the body, but the amount is held down by the normal body chemistry by friendly bacteria inhabiting the skin and body cavities, for example bacteria producing lactic acid (the genus Lactobacillus). When the yeast become infectious, it often changes from a round cellular form to a thread-like or branched form that can grow into tissues.
A disturbed bacterial flora in the skin and body cavities can make it easier for the yeast to grow excessively and infect. The skin, the outer genitals and body cavities like the mouth, vagina, and the colon contain the bacterium types Bifidobacteria and Lactobacteria together with the Candida yeasts, but these bacteria hold the growth of the yeast in check.
Use of antibiotics can kill these friendly bacteria and make it easier for the yeast to grow. A too eager use of antibiotics in children can cause a chronic overgrowth of yeasts in the body that will affect the health negatively long into adulthood.
Use of corticosteriods can also make a person susceptible for yeast infection. Asthma patients using inhaled coricosteroids often get yeast infection in the oral cavity.
A too eager hygiene, using bacterial killers, can kill friendly bacteria and cause a yeast infection to occur. However, lack of washing can also cause yeast infection.
If skin areas are constantly held wet or sweaty, Candida infections can easily occur, for example in diapered areas of small children or feet covered by tight shoes during long walks.
A diet with an excess of sugar and other carbohydrates may nourish the yeast and cause an infective growth of the yeast.
Mental and physical stress can decrease the effect of the immune defense against yeasts and make a person more susceptible for yeast infection.
THE SYMPTOMS OF YEAST INFECTION
Yeast infection in the female genitals gives itching or burning sensations in the vagina and genital lips, red rashes in the external female genitals and a whitish badly smelling discharge. The discharge may also be the only symptom.
In the male genitals yeast infection often gives itching sores around the base of the penis head. There may also be a smelling whitish fluid substance present that is different in consistence from the white smegma normally produced by glands in the same area. Red rashes with scaling can be present on the outer genitals and especially on the underside of the penis.
In the mouth, yeast infection gives sores covered with a whitish layer that give an itching or burning pain, so called trash. There can also be white or yellow layers on the tongue without any sores underneath or other symptoms. One often sees cracks at the corner of the mouth.
Yeast infection in skin areas will give symptoms like rashes, itching, sore areas oozing fluid and blisters. The symptom will most often be seen in areas like the under-side of the shoulders, the inner side of the elbow, skin folds, in the pelvic region and other areas that are somewhat hidden.
Yeast infection in the digestive tract can give symptoms in the whole digestive tract from the esophagus to the anus. Symptoms that can occur are problems and pain during swallowing, breast pain, bloating, cramping, excessive gas production, diarrhoea, itching and sores in the rectal opening and lactose intolerance.
An overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract or a generalized yeast infection produces substances that can poison the whole body, and give symptoms also from body parts that are not directly infected, like: rashes, hives, and itching ... |
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