FUNGAL INFECTION 1: CANDIDIASIS

oral candidiasis

Fungal infections also known as mycoses are diseases caused by fungi. Candidiasis is one of fungal disease that people suffer and is caused by candida fungi with candida albicans being the most common among the candida fungi.
Candida fungi is of yeast origin and they are normal flora found in skin,intestinal tract and mucosa etc without causing infection but overgrowth of these organisms can cause symptoms to develop. Symptoms of candidiasis vary depending on the area of the body that is infected. The overgrowth maybe due to suppress immunity or killing of other body flora which compete with them for survival. Candida fungi require moisture for it's growth and someone that always wears wet pant and underwear is in higher risk of getting the infection. Candidiasis is transmissible but the fungi is opportunistic pathogen in our body that wait to strike when the opportunity comes their way like abuse of antibiotic and immune suppression.
Other factors that increase the chance of getting the infection include stress,steroids,cancer treatment,diabetes, and nutrient deficiency. Hormone replacement therapy and infertility treatments may also be predisposing factors.
Candidiasis affect different part of the body where it stays but they commonly affect the skin,the vaginal,the penis while it can become invasive and spread to other body parts.
Candida albican which is a yeast origin small,oval in shape and measuring 2-4 micro meter.the yeast is a single budding of cells and if stained in a smear you may likely see yeast attached to pseudohyphae

THRUSH
The candidiasis that affect the mouth is called thrush is the most common oral opportunistic fungal infection in humans. It's common in newborns and the elderly. Although oral thrush can affect anyone, it's more likely to occur in babies and older adults because they have reduced immunity; in other people with suppressed immune systems or certain health conditions; or people who take certain medications.

SIGNS
Signs of oral thrush include white or yellow patches on the tongue,side of the mouth and if this white patches are scraped bleeding may .the mucosa may appear swollen and slightly red. The spots may be raised. There may be discomfort or a burning sensation. There maybe loss of taste, pain and irritation under dentures,denture mean artificial teeth.
People who are at more risk of suffering thrush are people with weak immunity like children, HIV/AIDS patient and also people suffering from diabetes because large amount of sugar in the mouth encourages the growth of the yeast.
ways of reducing probability of getting thrush

always rinse your mouth especially when using corticosteroid inhaler
dentures are artificial teeth,always clean them and make sure it fit properly to avoid irritation.
always visit your dentist for regular check up
try to regulate what eat. Since sugar encourages candida albican growth, try to limit eating food that contain large sugers.
also dry mouth enhance the growth of the Candida try to treat dry mouth if your suffering from it

CUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS
Cutaneous candidiasis affect the skin and is common among obese and individuals with diabetes. It's normally seen area around finger nail, toenail, body folds, axilla, gluteal fold and around the groin, belly of an obese indivivdual. typically manifests as reddish light brown or brown, smooth to slightly scaly patches in the groin and axilla . moist body also enhances or encourages its growth on the body surface so it's important to always dry the body.
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VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS
It affect the vaginal region and it's often called vaginal yeast infection. It's not sexually transmitted but sexual contact can spread it. it normally occur when the bacteria which control the growth of the fungi is reduced thereby giving more opportunity for Candida to multiply. Every woman have the potential to suffer it care is not taken the fungi is a normal Flora in the body.

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Women that suffer it normally present symptoms like whitish clumpy or watery vaginal discharge, pain during sex, swelling around vaginal, redness and vaginal itching.

TREATMENT
Like other fungi infections, candididiasis is treated with anti-fungal drugs such as fluconazol, Itraconazol, Nystatin, Amphetericin B, ketoconazol etc. This drugs uses different mechanism in it's action to cure fungal infection.

REFERENCES
Vaginal yeast infection
Thrush
Cutaneous candidiasis
Megahit