Candidiasis Health Video

Candidiasis or a yeast infection is an infection caused by a group of microscopic fungi or yeast. There are more than 20 species of Candida, the most common being Candida albicans. These fungi live on all surfaces of our bodies. Learn about the different cause, symptoms, and treatment for candidiasis in this health video.

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About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Susan McGladerry. I'm the medical director from the FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary and I'd like to give you some information about candidiasis. The candida fungus is part of our normal flora, but at times it can become an invasive pathogen. Most people carry candida without having any problem, but in some cases, the balance is disturbed. An excessive candida causes infection. The range of infection caused by Candida species is very wide. It may cause a simple local infection of the mucous membrane or the skin, less commonly, it can cause disseminated disease that spread widely through the body. Severe disease is usually found in people who have problems with their immune systems for example, patients with AIDS or cancer or those who are taking immunosuppressant medication. What are the symptoms of candida infection? Thrush is a problem of the mouth where there are creamy white patches of candida lining the mucous membrane in the mouth. It's found in young babies and also sometimes in people who use steroid inhalers for asthma treatment. Vaginitis is a very common problem affecting about 75% of women at some time in their life, particularly after taking antibiotic treatment. Candida can also cause simple infections of the skin such as folliculitis or diaper rash in babies. Invasive candidiasis is a severe infection that can infect almost any organ system, the blood, the brain, the lungs, and the gastrointestinal tract. How do we diagnose candidiasis? It's usually just based on the typical appearance of any rash or simple mucous membrane infection, and then in addition, there are standard laboratory and special tests that we will make to confirm the candida infection. What sort of treatments do we give for candida infection? Mostly simple topical antifungal agents are all that is required and in some cases, maybe all the treatment is also needed. This is usually effective in restoring the balance until infection occurs again. In severe infections, however, patients need hospitalization and intensive therapy. It's a very serious condition when there is invasive candidiasis and there's a mortality of approximately 40% to 50%.

Candidiasis Health Video

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