Kandidiasi (Maambukizi ya Chachu)

Candidiasis is an infection by Candida yeast. Because yeast is a type of fungus, candidiasis is a fungal infection, but it's usually referred to as a yeast infection. Candida yeast usually live on your body in small amounts without causing symptoms. But sometimes an overgrowth or infection can happen.

• Yeast infections usually happen on the surface of your body, including your skin, mouth, or vagina

• Sometimes people with a weak immune system get yeast infections of their internal organs (systemic candidiasis), which can be life-threatening

• A yeast infection may cause redness, rash, itching, swelling, or creamy white patches

• Some diaper rashes are caused by yeast infection

• Doctors treat yeast infections with creams or medicines taken by mouth

A yeast infection is caused by Candida yeast, a fungus that usually lives on your body in small amounts. In small amounts, you don't notice it. If the yeast grows too much, you get a rash.

Some causes of too much yeast growth include:

• Wearing tight underwear, bras, or other clothing that holds sweat close to your body

• Keeping babies in wet or dirty diapers too long

• Having diabetes

• Having a weak immune system because of disorders such as HIV infection or cancer

• Taking antibiotics

Yeast likes to live in dark, moist areas of your body. So yeast infections are more common in these areas:

• Under folds of skin in people with obesity

• In the mouth

• Under women's breasts

• In the groin area or vagina

Symptoms depend on where the yeast infection is:

• On your skin: Bright red, raw rash

• Inside your vagina: White patches and white, cheeselike vaginal discharge

• Inside your mouth: White patches (thrush)

• Corner of your mouth: Cracks in the skin

Maambukizi ya Chachu

Ugonjwa wa kuvimba ndani kwa ndani

Creamy white patches are seen inside the mouth and may bleed when scraped off. This finding is typical of thrush, which is caused by infection with Candida.

Creamy white patches are seen inside the mouth and may bleed when scraped off. This finding is typical of thrush, which

... soma zaidi

Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.

Kuvimba na kupasuka kwa pembe za midomo

This photo shows angular cheilitis (sometimes called perlèche) caused by Candida infection at the corners of the mouth.

This photo shows angular cheilitis (sometimes called perlèche) caused by Candida infection at the corners of the mouth.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Maambukizi ya kucha (kandidiasi)

Nail infections caused by Candida can affect the nail plate (onychomycosis—seen at the bottom of the nail), the edges of the nail (paronychia), or both.

Nail infections caused by Candida can affect the nail plate (onychomycosis—seen at the bottom of the nail), the edges o

... soma zaidi

Image courtesy of CDC/Sherry Brinkman via the Public Health Image Library of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Upele wa Nepi Unaosababishwa na Kandida

This photo shows a rash caused by the fungus Candida.

This photo shows a rash caused by the fungus Candida.

Photo provided by Thomas Habif, MD.

Kandidiasi ya Ukeni

This photo shows swelling and redness of the vagina and a white discharge caused by a yeast infection.

This photo shows swelling and redness of the vagina and a white discharge caused by a yeast infection.

BIOPHOTO ASSOCIATES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Ugonjwa wa kuvimba ndani kwa ndani

Creamy white patches are seen inside the mouth and may bleed when scraped off. This finding is typical of thrush, which is caused by infection with Candida.

Creamy white patches are seen inside the mouth and may bleed when scraped off. This finding is typical of thrush, which

... soma zaidi

Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.

Kuvimba na kupasuka kwa pembe za midomo

This photo shows angular cheilitis (sometimes called perlèche) caused by Candida infection at the corners of the mouth.

This photo shows angular cheilitis (sometimes called perlèche) caused by Candida infection at the corners of the mouth.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Maambukizi ya kucha (kandidiasi)

Nail infections caused by Candida can affect the nail plate (onychomycosis—seen at the bottom of the nail), the edges of the nail (paronychia), or both.

Nail infections caused by Candida can affect the nail plate (onychomycosis—seen at the bottom of the nail), the edges o

... soma zaidi

Image courtesy of CDC/Sherry Brinkman via the Public Health Image Library of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Upele wa Nepi Unaosababishwa na Kandida

This photo shows a rash caused by the fungus Candida.

This photo shows a rash caused by the fungus Candida.

Photo provided by Thomas Habif, MD.

Kandidiasi ya Ukeni

This photo shows swelling and redness of the vagina and a white discharge caused by a yeast infection.

This photo shows swelling and redness of the vagina and a white discharge caused by a yeast infection.

BIOPHOTO ASSOCIATES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Doctors can usually tell if you have a yeast infection just by looking at it. To know for sure, doctors may scrape off a tiny bit to view under a microscope.

Treatment depends on where the yeast infection is.

For infections on your skin, doctors will have you:

• Apply antifungal creams, powders, or other products to the infected area

• Keep the skin dry (for example, by changing a baby’s diaper more often)

• Take medicine by mouth, if the infection is severe

For a yeast infection in your vagina, doctors will have you:

• Apply an antifungal cream inside and outside your vagina

• Sometimes, take medicines by mouth

For a yeast infection in your mouth (thrush) in adults, doctors will have you:

• Take an antifungal medicine

• Sometimes, gargle with liquid antifungal medicine (nystatin)

For a yeast infection in the mouth (thrush) in babies, doctors will have you apply a liquid antifungal medicine to the inside of your baby’s mouth.