Posts Tagged ‘Treatments’
What is a yeast infection?
A yeast infection is the common name given to a condition called candidiasis or thrush. It is a fungal infection caused by any of the Candida species of fungi. Candida albicans is the most common of these fungi.
Candida yeasts are normally found in the human body anyway, but their growth is limited by our immune system. Certain things can cause candida cells to overgrow. Pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives can be risk factors. Thos suffering from diabetes or using antibiotics are also at risk.
Yeast infections can be superficial ones such as oral thrush and vaginitis but can also be systemic infections which are more problematic because they are not just on the outside of the body, and affect other important organs, which can be life threatening. Those who suffer from systemic infections are usually those who have a weakened immune system, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS or transplant patients. Most infections cause some discomfort such as itchiness and swelling, but can get worse if left untreated.
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