Candidiasis

A lot of people have mistaken yeast infection to be caused by yeast that is found on breads. While the microorganisms that causes a yeast infection in human maybe from the same family as those used as leavening agent in baking bread, the particular kind of yeast that causes suffering to a large portion of the world population world wide is called Candida albicans.

Yeasts are a form of unicellular microbes classified in the Fungi family. Roughly 1500 species are known to mankind and each have their own attribute with some useful to us and some are just trouble-causing microorganisms. One particularly useful yeast from the fungi family is usually known as Baker’s yeast. Bakers in bakeries have used this strain of yeast in bakeries for centuries to make dough ‘rise’ and providing us with bread in the form that we see today.

Candida albicans or the fungus that is the source for yeast infection, strives on moist regions on human skin. Areas where such fungus is usually found includes the mouth, private parts, armpits and fold of the buttocks.

While yeast infection is usually found on women, it has been known to affect man too. Candidiasis or yeast infection affects women mainly because of the moist area around the female private part. Research and studies have revealed that at least 75% of the female population will suffer from vaginal candidiasis or thrush at least once in their lifetime.

Thrush can range from annoying to great pain. Medical records have made known that there are cases whereby the infection reaches a point of extreme pain that it even renders the sufferers to not be able to walk.

While this type of yeast are also found on healthy human skin, good hygiene habit can usually prevent the yeast from growing and spreading to a point that it can cause yeast infection. Sometimes, even with proper hygiene, an alteration in the diet or recent use of antibiotics can cause the PH level of the skin to change and therefore forming an environment that allows the fungus to strive.

Some common symptoms of a yeast infection are itchy skin, cheesy discharge, burning sensation and even pain and swelling. If you experience such symptoms, it’s best to go see a doctor as soon as possible before it gets any worse.