Candida is a kind of micro-organism that causes Candidiasis. It can affect any areas like mouth, throat, skin and genitals. The fungus by name Candida albicans often causes this infection multiplying several times in number. The yeast lives in our body in meager number, but when situations are favorable it grows high in number causing infection. Lowered immunity, intake of certain medications and various health issues can cause Candida infection.
Types Of Candida
Candidiasis is categorized into many types, depending on the area of the body that is affected.
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Oral Thrush
If the yeast infection affects your mouth or throat it is known as oral candidiasis or thrush. You have less chance to develop oral thrush if you are healthy with good immunity. It often attacks infants and elderly people who are with weakened immunity. A person who suffers from chronic diabetes or chronic infectious diseases like AIDS he/she has high risk of developing thrush. Patients who undergo chemo sessions for cancer are prone to get oral candidiasis. People who are taking steroid drugs for long term are at high risk of getting this problem.
Oral thrush is characterized by sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, few white spots in your tongue or mouth, inflammation of throat and oral cavity and cracking of lips and mouth corners. It can cause redness in your mouth causing great discomfort while talking and eating. Oral thrush can be treated with antifungal drugs and anti-inflammatory medications. Mouthwash can be used for reducing inflammation in oral cavity. It is advised to take prompt medical care failing which yeast infection can become severe causing complications.
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Genital or Vaginal infection
If the fungus affects your genitals it is known as genital infection. It would cause inflammation of vagina, redness and intense irritation on the area. Yeast infection can affect the soft mucous lining of the vagina. It is quite common for every woman to develop yeast infection in her vagina at least one time in her life. In case you have frequent infection you need to be careful.
Vaginal infection need not necessarily be sexually transmitted but it can affect you if there is imbalance in good bacteria or even through oral genital contact. For many women, it would show symptoms like intense itching of genitals, vaginal discharge (resembling cottage cheese), redness and discomfort and pain during sex. Not all the symptoms will be present in the same woman.