What Deficiencies Cause Candida?

What Is Candida?

Candida is the family name for a common yeast or fungus. It contains more than 200 individual species and is the single most common fungus to affect human beings. Although it is best known for vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush, Candida actually has the capacity to affect nearly every part of the body. Some species of Candida belong to a group called "gut flora," meaning they live in the digestive tract of humans and animals. Despite its prevalence, Candida is normally held in check by the immune system and other bacteria already present in the human body.

Catching it...

Candida, in its many forms, is a naturally occurring organism. It seems to require a human or animal host, though it has been recovered off of inanimate objects such as countertops and air-conditioning vents, so it can survive outside of the body.

A healthy immune system will kill most Candida fungus. However, a deficiency in the immune system thanks to post-transplant medication or HIV/AIDS infection can allow fungal Candida to flourish. It is extremely common for those with HIV or AIDS to come down with oropharyngeal candidiasis, an infection of the mouth, throat, tongue and gums.

Also a part of a healthy body is the presence of certain beneficial bacteria or 'gut flora'. These are the bacteria which are adapted to living in the small intestine, urinary tract, and vagina. Small amounts of Candida are included in this internal soup. Gut flora keeps more harmful things like the wrong type of Candida from having space and nutrients to grow. Unfortunately, this system can be thrown out of balance by things such as the overuse of wide spectrum antibiotics which cannot discriminate between good or bad bacteria as well as other medications and life style factors. When the system is out of balance, Candida goes from being beneficial to being an infection causing problems such as diarrhea, fatigue, joint problems, recurring infections, as well as other problems. (A complete list of symptoms can be found at www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/environmental-illnesses/candida-and-gut-dysbiosis/)

Curing it...

Only a doctor can accurately diagnosis a problem with Candida growth through the use of various laboratory techniques. So any suspicion should be taken to a health professional as soon as possible. A Candida infection is generally treated with some form of antimycotic (anti-fungal) treatment prescribed by a doctor. Also, because a Candida infection can be caused by the lack of appropriate bacteria/organisms in the intestinal tract, probiotics are coming into use to treat the condition. Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria directly back into the body through the use of live cultures in yogurt-based products, allowing them to work more quickly than oral medications, which have to be absorbed into the bloodstream.