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- $Unique_ID{BRK03558}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Candidiasis}
- $Subject{Candidiasis Candidosis Moniliasis Thrush Yeast Infection Candidiasis
- of the Skin Cutaneous Candidiasis or Cutaneous Moniliasis Vulvovaginitis or
- Vaginitis caused by Candida Penis Candida Oral Candidiasis Thrush Candida
- infection around the nails Candidal Paronichia Chronic Mucocutaneous
- Candidiasis Candida Granuloma Systemic Candidiasis}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1987, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 352:
- Candidiasis
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Candidiasis) is not the
- name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate
- names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Candidosis
- Moniliasis
- Thrush
- Yeast Infection
-
- DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS
-
- Candidiasis of the Skin (Cutaneous Candidiasis or Cutaneous Moniliasis)
- Vulvovaginitis or Vaginitis caused by Candida
- Penis, infected by Candida
- Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
- Candida infection around the nails (Candidal Paronichia)
- Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (Candida Granuloma)
- Systemic Candidiasis
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
-
- Candida Albicans is a normally harmless yeast infection found in the
- mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina. Candidiasis is an infection caused by a
- fungus called Candida; most commonly the Candida albicans variety. The
- Candida infection (also known as a yeast infection) usually affects the skin
- and/or the mucous membranes of the mouth, intestines, or the vagina. Candida
- infections are rarely serious in otherwise healthy people. In rare cases it
- may spread through other parts of the body if the patient's immune system is
- not functioning properly. In the most severe cases it can affect the blood,
- the membrane lining the heart muscle (endocardium), or membranes around the
- brain (meninges).
-
- Symptoms
-
- A very wide range of symptoms can be caused by the Candida infection, from
- the mildest and more common forms that usually affect the mouth and vagina,
- to the most rare and severe forms which may affect the heart or brain.
-
- DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS
-
- 1) Candidiasis of the Skin (Cutaneous Candidiasis or Cutaneous
- Moniliasis).
- Superficial skin infection is a common location for this fungal
- infection. The lesions appear as well-circumscribed, red, sometimes itchy
- patches of varying sizes and shapes. The lesions are usually rimmed with
- small, red-based pustules and they commonly appear in folds of the skin;
- i.e., the underarms, under the breasts, the navel, groin or the folds of the
- buttocks (e.g. diaper rash), or the webbing between the toes and the fingers.
- Crusts may form on the scalp, possibly causing hair loss. The infection may
- spread to the face, fingertips or the trunk. When the area around the anus
- is involved, the infection is called Perianal Candidiasis.
-
- 2) Vulvovaginitis or Vaginitis caused by Candida.
- Pregnant women or women with diabetes are especially prone to this common
- fungal infection. It usually first appears as a thick white or yellow
- vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) with itching and redness of the female
- genitalia (vagina and vulva).
-
- 3) Penis, infected by Candida.
- Infection of the tip of the penis (Glans Penis) with Candida bacteria is
- less common than Candidal Vaginitis. This infection may be seen in men whose
- sexual partners have Candidal Vulvovaginitis and in men with Diabetes
- Mellitus.
-
- 4) Oral Candidiasis (Thrush).
- This form of Candidiasis affects the mouth. It usually first appears as
- creamy white patches or sores on the tongue or mucous membranes of the mouth.
- When the corners of the mouth are red (inflamed), eroded and cracked because
- of a Candida infection, the condition is called Perleche.
-
- 5) Candida infection around the nails (Candidal Paronichia).
- This form of the disorder may begin as a painful swelling that later
- develops pus. The infections may occur under the nails (subungual) possibly
- causing loss of fingernails or toenails.
-
- 6) Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (Candida Granuloma).
- This is a rare and severe form of Candidiasis, characterized by chronic
- infection of the skin, nails, scalp, and mucous membranes. This type of
- Candidiasis usually develops during infancy. It is characterized by red,
- pustular, crusted and thickened lesions, especially on the nose and forehead.
-
- 7) Systemic Candidiasis.
- This is the most serious Candida infection. It affects many parts of the
- body and is usually caused by an immune deficiency. Inflammation of the
- membrane lining the heart (endocarditis), the membrane lining the skull
- (meningitis), or rarely inflammation of the bone (osteomyelitis) may also
- occur.
-
- Causes
-
- Candidiasis is caused by a normally harmless infection with the yeast fungus
- of the genus Candida, usually Candida albicans (Monilia albicans). The yeast
- is supposed to be present in healthy people. However, the fungus may
- multiply in the mouth or the bowels when a patient receives chemotherapy or
- broad spectrum antibiotics which suppress the bacterial flora which are
- normally present in the body. Other health conditions such as pregnancy or
- diabetes mellitus may also make the patient prone to a Candida infection.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Chronic Candidiasis usually affects people who are debilitated by
- predisposing health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, pregnancy or immune
- deficiencies. Newborn babies may also be affected with the disorder through
- maternal infection.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- People with suppressed immune systems can be affected by a wide variety of
- bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Since Candida Albicans is supposed to be present in healthy people, treatment
- is very rarely needed. The American Academy of Allergy and Immunology has
- stated that the concept of yeast allergy or Candidiasis hypersensitivity is
- speculative and unproven. Health foods and vitamins are not effective
- treatments.
-
- If the patient is taking a broad spectrum antibiotic, it is helpful to
- stop treatment so that the usual bacterial flora of the mucous membranes is
- restored. If possible, treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive
- drugs should also be stopped. Patients who are particularly prone to
- Candidiasis infections (e.g., diabetics) should particularly try to avoid
- taking the types of drugs that encourage growth of fungus.
-
- Treatment of Skin or Vaginal Candidiasis with local applications of
- nystatin, clotrimazole, or miconazole may be effective in many cases. To
- treat inflammation and itching simultaneously, antifungal and corticosteroid
- creams may be used together.
-
- To prevent and treat Candidiasis of the mouth, good oral hygiene is
- imperative, especially by denture wearers. To treat acute pulpar alveolar
- cellulitis (an infection of the connective tissue lining the root canal),
- removal of decayed and foreign matter from the mucous surfaces, rinsing with
- warm salt water or baking soda solution can be helpful. Medications applied
- through the root canal have also proven to be effective in some cases.
-
- Vaginal Candidiasis - Treatment of the vaginal discharge and itching in
- this type of infection consists of administering specific antifungal drugs.
- Proper hygiene habits and control of diabetes when applicable can help to
- avoid repeated infections in women who are particularly prone to this
- infection.
-
- To prevent Candida infection of the Vagina or Penis from spreading when
- one sexual partner is infected, nystatin may be prescribed to both partners.
-
- For candidal diaper rash, the skin should be kept dry by changing diapers
- frequently. Use of petroleum jelly and talcum powder should be avoided. In
- severe cases, plastic pants and plastic disposable diaper coverings should
- not be used. Certain creams and ointments may be prescribed by a physician.
-
- For treatment of Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis, amphotericin B,
- nystatin, clotrimazole, miconizole or 5-fluorocytosine are useful drugs.
- Antifungal and immune system-stimulating substances (such as the molecule
- that can transfer immunity from a sensitized to a non-sensitized individual)
- called transfer factor, thymosin, thymus epithelial cell transplantation, and
- levamisol, are also used in treatment. (For more information on these
- disorders, choose "immunodeficiency" as your search term in the Rare Disease
- Database.)
-
- A new drug for the treatment of Candidiasis, Cryptococcal Meningitis, and
- other persons with weakened immune systems such as AIDS patients has recently
- been approved by the FDA. The drug diflucan (fluconazole) has been found
- effective against these types of infections in persons with weakened immune
- systems.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through May
- 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
- entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
- check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
- information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information about Candidiasis, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5717
-
- Centers for Disease Control
- 1600 Clifton Road, NE
- Atlanta, GA 30333
- (404) 329-3534
-
- References
-
- HOST FACTORS IN DEFENSE AGAINST FUNGAL INFECTIONS: C.H. Kirkpatrick;
- American Journal of Medicine (October 30, 1984: issue 77,4D). Pp. 1-12.
-
- CLINICAL ASPECTS OF CANDIDA INFECTION IN DENTURE WEARERS: E. Budtz-Jorgensen;
- Journal of the American Dental Association (March 1978, issue 96, 3). Pp.
- 474-479.
-
- A NONTREATMENT FOR A NONDISEASE: Consumer Reports Health Letter (April 1990).
-
-