Yeast Infections

Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. Usually, your immune system keeps yeast under control. If you are sick or taking antibiotics, it can multiply and cause an infection.

Yeast infections affect different parts of the body in different ways:

• Thrush is a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth
• Esophagitis is thrush that spreads to your esophagus, the tube that takes food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can make it hard or painful to swallow
• Women can get vaginal yeast infections, causing itchiness, pain and discharge
• Yeast infections of the skin cause itching and rashes
• Yeast infections in your bloodstream can be life-threatening

Antifungal medicines eliminate yeast infections in most people. If you have a weak immune system, treatment might be more difficult.

External Resources

Waldon Research - A non-prescription topical cream that acts against Candida albicans, which causes thrush and yeast infections. Includes medical studies, information and side effects.

Multi-Gyn-USA - Offering products for vaginal dryness, menopause relief, yeast infection and HRT alternative products.

Independent Sickness - Home of Yeast Infection, Festering Puke, Dismembered Fetus, Adnauseam, and The Porch Monkeys. Release information, reviews and links.

RXinsider - An informational monograph on Yeast Infections for patient education and counseling.

InteliHealth: Candidiasis - Thrush, esophagitis, skin infections, vaginal yeast infections and deep candidiasis information, symptoms and treatment. Reviewed by the faculty of Harvard Medical School.

eMedicine: Candidiasis Infection - Offers a physician's report and pictures of this common fungal infection caused by yeast-like Candida species. Patients may develop oral and cutaneous candidiasis, intertrigo, vaginal yeast infections, vaginitis, and other symptoms.

eMedicine Health - Yeast Infection - Consumer health resource center providing an overview of yeast infection and its causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Yeast Candida Infections UK - A campaign to raise the awareness of yeast infections and associated illnesses.

Cryptococcal Meningitis - Comprehensive information on this yeast-like fungus opportunistic infection, from AEGIS.

Diflucan - Oral treatment for yeast infection made by Pfizer.

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