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Candida is a genus of yeast that can cause opportunistic infections in humans. Symptoms include itching, burning, and discharge. Antifungal medication can treat the infection, but it can be dangerous for immunocompromised individuals. Candidiasis can appear in various places, and self-treatment is not recommended. Hospitals monitor patients with compromised immune systems to prevent infections.
The genus Candida includes a number of individual yeast species. Many of the members of this genus live normally on and in the human body, but can pose a risk to human health in the form of opportunistic infections. An infection can be irritating, but it is treatable with the use of an antifungal medication. Symptoms of a yeast infection include itching, burning, creamy discharge, and sometimes pain. If you experience these symptoms, you should see a doctor so the condition can be diagnosed and treated.
Under normal conditions, human skin and mucous membranes actually host a large number of microscopic organisms, including yeasts and Candida bacteria. Many of these organisms actually help the human body function more efficiently, while others are benign parasites, taking advantage of the nutrition offered by the human body. However, when a person is immunocompromised or their physical health is compromised, these organisms can start multiplying, causing an infection.
Candida albicans infections are the most common type of yeast infection. Doctors sometimes call the condition candidiasis or thrush and can culture scrapings from the infection site to determine which individual species is causing the infection. The patient is given an antifungal cream or oral medication and asked to take it for a specified period of time while avoiding trauma and stress at the site of infection.
Candidiasis can appear in several places. Bodily orifices such as the mouth are common places, as mucous membranes are notoriously prone to opportunistic infections. The infection can also appear in the skin folds. In all cases, itching and burning are common irritations, along with a thick, creamy discharge that often has an unpleasant odor. Although there are home remedies for yeast, self-treatment should not be undertaken, because the cause of the infection may not, in fact, be Candida.
In a healthy human being, a Candida infection is not life-threatening, although it can be uncomfortable. However, individuals with compromised immune systems, such as organ transplant patients and AIDS, are at serious risk of infections. In a hospital setting, staff try to keep the likelihood of infection low and properly diagnose the cause of an infection so it can be treated and cleared quickly. These patients are also closely monitored at home to ensure they live in clean, healthy environments where opportunistic infections are less likely to occur.
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