Types of Yeast Infections-You should really know about it

Yeast or Candida is a unicellular fungus. The yeast that is normally found in the mouth, intestinal tract and the vagina is known as Candida albicans.

The yeast found in the body do not cause any harm. It co-exists along with some other microscopic organisms such as the acidophilus bacteria.

The acidophilus bacteria are quite beneficial to us. They help in controlling the yeast overgrowth. However in certain conditions these beneficial bacteria get destroyed. The yeasts are opportunistic and hence they start reproducing rapidly. When this happens they may cause infections in the moist and warm areas, where they are usually found in our body.

The different types of yeast infections that may affect men, women and children are as follows:

  1. Oral thrush is a yeast infection in which white patches appear in the mouth. It occurs mostly in those people who suffer from chronic ailments.
  2. Oesophageal thrush occurs when the oral thrush spreads to the oesophagus.
  3. Perleche or angular cheilitis affects the corners of the mouth. It results due to the use of ill-fitted dentures and the habit of thumb-sucking and lip-licking. It can be caused due to diabetes and obesity.
  4. Intertrigo affects the skin folds. It leads to skin inflammation that gets worse due to heat, moisture and maceration.
  5. Diaper rashes are candidal infections that affect infants. When the skin is exposed to moisture for long periods it results in maceration or softening of the skin. The skin of the infant may turn sore, scaly and tender.
  6. Candidal paronychia affects the folds of the nails and makes the area red and swollen. It is generally treated with antifungal drugs. The hands need to be kept dry to control it.
  7. Erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica is a yeast infection that affects the finger webs. It is a severe yeast infection of the oral mucosa, skin and the nails.
  8. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is the most intractable of all infection. It is a severe yeast infection of the oral mucosa, nails and skin.
  9. Balanitis is a male yeast infection that affects the foreskin of the penis.
  10. Vaginal candidiasis is quite common amongst women. It leads to redness and itchiness in the vaginal area. There is a white cheese like discharge.
  11. Antibiotic candidiasis can result from overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics.
  12. Candida is a secondary skin eruption. It is an expression of hypersensitivity to infection with Candida somewhere else on the body.

There are various treatments options for the different types of yeast infections. The over the counter drugs may seem to be an easier option to some people. However, their prolonged use leads to allergies and there are chances that these yeast killing drugs may develop drug resistant strains of Candida. On the contrary the home remedies are natural and safe to use.

Vaginal candidiasis needs a proper diagnosis because its symptoms are non-specific. They are similar to the symptoms of some other vaginal ailments.

General awareness about the various types of yeast infections helps us in their identification and early cure.

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