Candida

Did you know?

• 75% of women will have at least one episode of thrush in their lifetime
• In the UK, 60% of people with candida are women, 20% are men and 20% children

Causes of candida

Candida is a type of yeast that can change to a naturally occurring fungus called candida albicans. When the body is in a good state of health, friendly bacteria keep the amount of candida in check but during illness, hormone imbalance or when taking antibiotics, the levels of candida can rise and affect the body in different ways.

As candida multiplies, the yeast changes to fungal spores which travel through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, the spores can move to any part of the body and live in the mucous membranes of the vagina, mouth, lungs and sinuses. Once there, the spores break down the cell membrane providing food for bacteria and viruses.

Candida has no one specific cause but there are certain triggers that can induce the condition in people who are susceptible. Taking antibiotics can kill off the friendly bacteria which keeps candida in check. Hormone imbalances from pregnancy, menopause, contraceptives and HRT can trigger candida or a diet that is high in sugar or processed food can give candida a chance of multiplying beyond controllable levels.

Symptoms of candida

The majority of candida cases will have the symptoms of thrush although there are other symptoms associated with the condition.

Fungal spores can damage the intestinal wall allowing toxins to enter into the bloodstream. This is known as 'leaky gut syndrome' and can cause symptoms such as:

• food allergies
• food intolerances
• migraine headaches
• aching muscles

Once the spores have entered the rest of the body, they can disrupt the endocrine system and cause symptoms such as:

• thrush
• cystitis
• pre-menstrual syndrome
• irregular periods
• joint pain
• sinusitis
• allergies
• fatigue
• ear infections
• fungal skin/nail infections
• weight gain
• weight loss

If the fungus enters the intestine it can cause symptoms such as:

• bloatedness
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• flatulence
• itchy anus

Candida can also be part of conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) and Endometriosis.

Diagnosis of candida

Candida is a much debated topic among healthcare professionals with many dismissing the problem however the symptoms are very real and can cause pain, discomfort and distress.

Candida is usually diagnosed by the presence of associated symptoms. Candida organisms and antibodies can be tested and measured however this is rarely done and results can be difficult to interpret.

If you're suffering with any of the symptoms above then in the first instance you should visit your GP.

Related terms

Thrush
Vaginal thrush
Oral thrush
Vaginal itching
Oral itching
Yeast