Even if this topic may not be the most pleasant one, you have wondered at least once in your life what candidiasis is, what its risks are and how this infection can be prevented.

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by any of the members of the genus Candida, the most popular of which is the Candida albican, which form part of the intestinal flora and influence the digestive tract. Absence of this can leave us unprotected against disease caused by bacteria. The fungus Candida albican exists inside the throat, mouth, intestinal tract and the vagina in small quantities. Abnormal growth is controlled by “friendly” bacteria that live in the human body such as lactobacillus acidophilus.

Candida, as yeast is scientifically known, thrives almost everywhere, including the body and their growth is placed under check by the immune system. Candidiasis happens when a person’s immune system is low, thus it can multiply in an atypical number and cause infection of the mucous membrane and tegument.

Candidiasis appears in women because of the production of the female hormone, progesterone. Progesterone levels increase significantly during pregnancy. Glycogen present in the vaginal mucous membrane is increased due to progesterone and becomes an ideal environment for Candida production because of the acid Ph.

Candida albicans are among the many organisms that can be found in the body such as in the mouth or intestinal tract. However, its uncontrolled growth, under certain conditions, can result in candidiasis. Some of these conditions could be the weakening of the immune system due to long term illnesses like diabetes, AIDS, or continuous ingestion of medicines such as immune depressant drugs, steroids, anti-cancer pills or antibiotics. In addition, Candida can develop in mucous membrane wounds and due to diets that are rich in starch (bread, pasta, root crops), which is in turn converted to sugar, food with high sugar content, yeast-based food such as natural vitamin B, preserved fruits, alcoholic beverages or any food that is processed through fermentation or subjected to humid conditions such as mushrooms, cheese, cream, vinegar, mustard, hot tomato sauce and spices. Taking of hormones, birth control pills, or giving birth can also set off candidiasis.

If you want to know what reactions your body has at these aliments, avoid them for 5 days, then add them to the diet in huge amounts. Even if it is part of the body, the immune system considers candida a foreign body, which must be kept under control. The effort to take control over will exhaust immune system in time, sometimes leading to AIDS or cancer.

Vaginal candidiasis is signaled by having white cheesy-like discharge in large quantities, burning pain in the vagina, agonizing premenstrual syndrome, burning pain while urinating, recurrent urinating, infection of the bladder and burning sensation during sex.

When the immune system is compromised, candidiasis can spread throughout the entire body and experience symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, disorientation, headache, lack of direction, muscular pains, moodiness, various allergies erupting simultaneously, skin inflammations, fungal infections and sensitivity to various food and chemical substances.

Candidiasis can be treated intravenously or orally, for a period of three to five weeks. There are also anti-fungal creams that can be applied locally, as prescribed by your doctor.

As far as home remedies are concerned, yogurt applied locally has led to very good results. However, it would be much better if you prevented this disease occurrence instead of facing it, getting informed from a multitude of resources available.

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