CANDIDA ALBICANS - virtually all of us play host to it!!!

Facts :
        - Its a yeast infection and predominantly focuses on GI tract invasion
        - People having H-pylori infection also has candida overgrowth (60%-70%)
        - By age of 6 months, about 90% of the babies are positive for candida test
        - And by adulthood virtually we all have become the host of it
        - Our GI bacteria act in part to keep Candida growth in check in our body ecology

Features :
      Medium used :
                - Lownstein-Jensen medium

                - Two tubes of Sabouraud’s dextrose agar, SDA, one incubated at 37°C and the other at 20°C

     Upon culture :
                - After incubating for 48 hours typical creamy pasty colonies appeared on the blood agar and     both tubes of SDA.

                - it was then isolated and identified by the germ tube test

Disease caused by it is called Candidiasis, also called thrush or moniliasis, is a yeast infection

 Clinical pictures : for clinical pictures of candidiasis click on the below highlighted names
               1.    ORAL CANDIDIASIS
               2.   CANDIDIAL ESOPHAGITIS
               3.   YEAST VAGINITIS
               4.   CANDIDA GRANULOMA
               5.   CUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS 

 

Symptoms : 

            1. Infection of skin : well defined patch of red, itchy skin, often leaking fluid

            2. Vaginal yeast infection : slow leakage of a thick, white, cheese-like substance, itching or burning sensation during urination and intercourse

            3. Infection of fingernail : painful, red, swollen area around the fingernail. In worse cases, the fingernail may separate, revealing a discoloured white or yellow nail bed.

            4. Oral thrush : curd like white patches in mouth, palate, tongue and around the lips

Investigations :

          - Proper diet history

          - History of medication and antibiotics which may weaken the immune system

          - History of diabetes, cancer, HIV, or other chronic disease

          - Microscopic examination after being scraped off the affected area

Treatment :

                 Candidiasis is not normally a dangerous disease except in rare cases when it enters the blood and spreads to vital organs of people with weakened immune systems

                Anti-fungal cream or powder

Precaution :

           - wipe from front to back after going to the toilet - the rectal area is full of yeast

           - take baths not showers - sitting in the bath can clear yeast from the vaginal area

           - dry yourself thoroughly afterwards, especially the pubic hair - use a hair dryer on low setting if you have to

          - don't use soap around the vagina - soap kills the bacteria you want to keep, and has no effect on yeast