Candida Albicans (also called monila) is a type of fungus that can often be found on the skin and in moist areas of the body such as the mouth, vagina, and rectum. It can also get into the blood stream and make its way to the intestines, throat and heart valves.
Normally the amount of candida in our body is held in check by the other beneficial bacteria in our system but sometimes it can turn into an infection when a change occurs in the body’s environment that allows the candida to overgrow and get out of control. The way candida albicans symptoms present themselves depend on the location where they occur.
When it presents in the mouth it is referred to as “thrush” and will appear as creamy white patches on the tongue and throat. The tongue itself will become inflamed and appear to be a darker shade of red.
When this type of yeast infection happens to infants it usually results as diaper rash leaving a red and oftentimes scaly inflammation on the skin. In women it appears as “vaginitis” which is marked by a yellow or white discharge. The walls of the vagina and vulva become inflamed leading to a burning sensation and itching.
Infection may also appear in the toenails and fingernails. In general the nails will turn red and painful swelling will begin to occur. The candida overgrowth may also lead to a penis infection which is referred to as “balanitis” which is an inflammation of the head of the penis.
When candida albicans spread to the bloodstream it can have a detrimental effect on the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and other organs resulting in chills, high fever, anemia, rash and sometimes shock. Some of the specific problems for the organ affected are:
- Kidney infection can lead to blood in the urine
- Heart infection can lead to murmurs and valve damage
- Lung infection can lead to bloody sputum
- Infection of the eyes can lead to pain and blurry vision
- Brain infection can lead to seizure and severe changes in mental function and behavior
As you can see from the candida symptoms listed yeast infections are not something to take lightly. If you think you have a yeast infection I would urge you to see a doctor and get on a plan immediately.
