Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes and SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types and Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
FAQ
The most common of the candida species isCandida albicans(also calledC. albicans),but many species exist.Candida grows best in warm, moist places. Infections involvingC. albicansare very common and are usually easy to diagnose and treat. However, some infections and strains pose serious risks to your health.
This article discusses the types and symptoms of Candidiasis, as well as how the infection is diagnosed and treated.
Types and Symptoms of Candidiasis
Candidiasis has different names depending on what part of the body is infected, including:
Belly Button Yeast Infection: What to Know
Vaginal or Male Yeast Infection
Candida, and especiallyC. albicans,overgrowth in the vagina is commonly called avaginal yeast infection, vaginal candidiasis, or vaginitis.
Approximately 30% to 50% of women experience a yeast infection at some point during their lives, and it’s more common during pregnancy.Some women find that yeast infections occur shortly after they’ve taken a course of antibiotics.
Symptomsinclude:
It’s less common for men to have a genital yeast infection, but anyone can get them. It’s often asymptomatic. When symptoms do occur, the most common one is inflammation of the tip of the penis.Some men also experience:
All About Male Yeast Infections
Thrush
Occurring in the mouth, throat, or esophagus,thrushis most common in babies, people withdiabetes, and those who testpositive for HIV.
Symptoms of thrush include:
Yeast Diaper Rash
A yeast diaper rash will appear only under the diaper and won’t respond to most diaper rash treatments. If you use a treatment for two days and the rash doesn’t improve, that’s a sign it could be candidiasis.
Identify and Treat a Yeast Diaper Rash at Home
Cutaneous Candidiasis
Fingernails/Toenails
Nail infections often occur in people whose hands or feet are regularly exposed to water. A manicure or pedicure performed with contaminated tools is also a common cause.
Symptoms of candidal paronychia include painful redness and swelling of the skin around the nail, which may, in advanced cases, include pus. The skin may look baggy. In severe cases, the nail itself may become discolored.
Causes of Fingernail and Toenail Infection
Invasive Candidiasis
A more serious form of candida infection in the internal organs, invasive candidiasis is less common and tends to occur in people who are already very sick, such as those who have had anorgan transplantor are in theintensive care unit.
This form of candidiasis can be fatal.It most often strikes the following:
The most common symptoms include fever and chills that don’t respond to antibiotics. Other symptoms vary depending on the part(s) of the body infected.
Global Health Threat
Causes of Candidiasis
Candida doesn’t cause disease unless some kind of circumstance allows the fungus to multiply. For example, candida could overgrow after you take a course of antibiotics for a bacterial infection (such as for a urinary tract infection or pneumonia), or because the immune system is suppressed due to disease or as aside effect of some medications.
Other potential risk factors for candidiasis include:
Yeast Infection Risk Factors
How Is Candidiasis Diagnosed?
Typically, for any form other than invasive candidiasis, a healthcare provider will perform a physical examination of the infected area and possibly take a swab or scraping that’s sent to a lab and examined under a microscope.
A home test is available for vaginal yeast infections, but they measure vaginal pH and aren’t specific for candida, so the results are less reliable than the test your healthcare provider performs.
For invasive candidiasis, a blood sample is sent to a lab and cultured to see if the fungus will grow.
Your healthcare provider may also order additional tests to see if you developed candidiasis as the result of an underlying disease, such as diabetes.
Diagnosing Vaginal Yeast Infections
Candidiasis Treatment
Treatment of most forms of candidiasis usually involves over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antifungal ointments or suppositories. The same medications are used regardless of the location of the infection, though the strength and method of application may vary. Medications include:
Keeping infected skin clean and dry can also help clear it up.
The 7 Best OTC Yeast Infection Medicines
Systemic Medications
For persistent or serious yeast infections, healthcare providers may prescribe a systemic antifungal medication in pill form. Especially if you have a history of yeast infections, your healthcare provider may recommend these drugs as a preventive measure whenever you take antibiotics. They’re usually given in two doses taken several days apart. These drugs include:
Nystatin is a common choice for candidiasis associated with HIV.
While those oral drugs are sometimes used to treat invasive candidiasis, intravenous antifungals are a more common choice. They include:
These medications may be given for several weeks to ensure that all of the fungi are out of your system. Long-term antifungal therapy may be needed to treat chronic candidiasis, as well.
Can Your Diet Help Prevent Candidiasis?
Summary
If you believe you have some form of candidiasis, see a healthcare provider—especially the first time—so you can confirm the cause of your symptoms and get started on the right medication. Any time you have recurrent, treatment-resistant, or severe symptoms, you should seek medical help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wait until yoursymptomsare completely gone before having sex. Depending on the product you use and the infection, it may take 14 days to complete treatment, and after that, you should see symptoms go away.
No. A yeast infection (candidiasis) can be transmitted during sexual intercourse from one partner to another. However, you can also develop the infection without having sex, so it isn’t considered an STD.
How Candida Overgrowth Can Cause IBS
28 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Turner SA, Butler G.TheCandidapathogenic species complex.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014;4(9):a019778. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a019778Jacob L, John M, Kalder M, et al.Prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices in Germany: A retrospective study of 954,186 patients.Curr Med Mycol. 2018;4(1):6-11. doi:10.18502/cmm.4.1.27Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Mar 16;2015:0815.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Morris BJ, Krieger JN.Penile inflammatory skin disorders and the preventive role of circumcision.Int J Prev Med. 2017;8:32. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_377_16MedlinePlus.Balanitis.Anwar KP, Malik A, Subhan KH.Profile of candidiasis in HIV infected patients.Iran J Microbiol. 2012;4(4):204-9.Mayo Clinic.Nail fungus.Fölster-Holst R.Differential diagnoses of diaper dermatitis.Pediatr Dermatol.2018;35 Suppl 1:s10-s18. doi:10.1111/pde.13484Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.Metin A, Dilek N, Bilgili SG.Recurrent candidal intertrigo: challenges and solutions.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:175-185. doi:10.2147/CCID.S127841Shafritz A, Coppage J.Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014;22(3):165-178. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-22-03-165Yapar N.Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:95-105. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S40160Cleveland Clinic.Invasive candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. auris.Lanternier F, Cypowyj S, Picard C, et al.Primary immunodeficiencies underlying fungal infections.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2013;25(6):736-747. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000031Mohan S.A study on clinical patterns of mucocutaneous candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients.Int J Dermatol Clin Res.2017;3(1):032-034. doi:10.17352/2455-8605.000024Achkar JM, Fries BC.Candidainfections of the genitourinary tract.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010;23(2):253‐273. doi:10.1128/CMR.00076-09Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for fungal diseases.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Mohamed AA, Lu XL, Mounmin FA.Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal candidiasis: current updates.Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:3585136. Published 2019 Oct 20. doi:10.1155/2019/3585136U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Vaginal pH.Amphotericin B. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; April 8, 2016.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of candidiasis.Michigan Medicine.Recurrent vaginal yeast infections.Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.New York State Department of Health.What is a yeast infection?Additional ReadingMartins N, Ferreira IC, Barros L, Silva S, Henriques M.Candidiasis: predisposing factors, prevention, diagnosis and alternative treatment.Mycopathologia. 2014;177(5-6):223-240. doi:10.1007/s11046-014-9749-1
28 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Turner SA, Butler G.TheCandidapathogenic species complex.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014;4(9):a019778. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a019778Jacob L, John M, Kalder M, et al.Prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices in Germany: A retrospective study of 954,186 patients.Curr Med Mycol. 2018;4(1):6-11. doi:10.18502/cmm.4.1.27Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Mar 16;2015:0815.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Morris BJ, Krieger JN.Penile inflammatory skin disorders and the preventive role of circumcision.Int J Prev Med. 2017;8:32. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_377_16MedlinePlus.Balanitis.Anwar KP, Malik A, Subhan KH.Profile of candidiasis in HIV infected patients.Iran J Microbiol. 2012;4(4):204-9.Mayo Clinic.Nail fungus.Fölster-Holst R.Differential diagnoses of diaper dermatitis.Pediatr Dermatol.2018;35 Suppl 1:s10-s18. doi:10.1111/pde.13484Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.Metin A, Dilek N, Bilgili SG.Recurrent candidal intertrigo: challenges and solutions.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:175-185. doi:10.2147/CCID.S127841Shafritz A, Coppage J.Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014;22(3):165-178. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-22-03-165Yapar N.Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:95-105. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S40160Cleveland Clinic.Invasive candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. auris.Lanternier F, Cypowyj S, Picard C, et al.Primary immunodeficiencies underlying fungal infections.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2013;25(6):736-747. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000031Mohan S.A study on clinical patterns of mucocutaneous candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients.Int J Dermatol Clin Res.2017;3(1):032-034. doi:10.17352/2455-8605.000024Achkar JM, Fries BC.Candidainfections of the genitourinary tract.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010;23(2):253‐273. doi:10.1128/CMR.00076-09Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for fungal diseases.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Mohamed AA, Lu XL, Mounmin FA.Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal candidiasis: current updates.Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:3585136. Published 2019 Oct 20. doi:10.1155/2019/3585136U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Vaginal pH.Amphotericin B. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; April 8, 2016.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of candidiasis.Michigan Medicine.Recurrent vaginal yeast infections.Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.New York State Department of Health.What is a yeast infection?Additional ReadingMartins N, Ferreira IC, Barros L, Silva S, Henriques M.Candidiasis: predisposing factors, prevention, diagnosis and alternative treatment.Mycopathologia. 2014;177(5-6):223-240. doi:10.1007/s11046-014-9749-1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Turner SA, Butler G.TheCandidapathogenic species complex.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014;4(9):a019778. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a019778Jacob L, John M, Kalder M, et al.Prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices in Germany: A retrospective study of 954,186 patients.Curr Med Mycol. 2018;4(1):6-11. doi:10.18502/cmm.4.1.27Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Mar 16;2015:0815.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Morris BJ, Krieger JN.Penile inflammatory skin disorders and the preventive role of circumcision.Int J Prev Med. 2017;8:32. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_377_16MedlinePlus.Balanitis.Anwar KP, Malik A, Subhan KH.Profile of candidiasis in HIV infected patients.Iran J Microbiol. 2012;4(4):204-9.Mayo Clinic.Nail fungus.Fölster-Holst R.Differential diagnoses of diaper dermatitis.Pediatr Dermatol.2018;35 Suppl 1:s10-s18. doi:10.1111/pde.13484Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.Metin A, Dilek N, Bilgili SG.Recurrent candidal intertrigo: challenges and solutions.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:175-185. doi:10.2147/CCID.S127841Shafritz A, Coppage J.Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014;22(3):165-178. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-22-03-165Yapar N.Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:95-105. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S40160Cleveland Clinic.Invasive candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. auris.Lanternier F, Cypowyj S, Picard C, et al.Primary immunodeficiencies underlying fungal infections.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2013;25(6):736-747. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000031Mohan S.A study on clinical patterns of mucocutaneous candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients.Int J Dermatol Clin Res.2017;3(1):032-034. doi:10.17352/2455-8605.000024Achkar JM, Fries BC.Candidainfections of the genitourinary tract.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010;23(2):253‐273. doi:10.1128/CMR.00076-09Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for fungal diseases.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Mohamed AA, Lu XL, Mounmin FA.Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal candidiasis: current updates.Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:3585136. Published 2019 Oct 20. doi:10.1155/2019/3585136U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Vaginal pH.Amphotericin B. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; April 8, 2016.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of candidiasis.Michigan Medicine.Recurrent vaginal yeast infections.Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.New York State Department of Health.What is a yeast infection?
Turner SA, Butler G.TheCandidapathogenic species complex.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014;4(9):a019778. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a019778
Jacob L, John M, Kalder M, et al.Prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices in Germany: A retrospective study of 954,186 patients.Curr Med Mycol. 2018;4(1):6-11. doi:10.18502/cmm.4.1.27
Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Mar 16;2015:0815.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.
Morris BJ, Krieger JN.Penile inflammatory skin disorders and the preventive role of circumcision.Int J Prev Med. 2017;8:32. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_377_16
MedlinePlus.Balanitis.
Anwar KP, Malik A, Subhan KH.Profile of candidiasis in HIV infected patients.Iran J Microbiol. 2012;4(4):204-9.
Mayo Clinic.Nail fungus.
Fölster-Holst R.Differential diagnoses of diaper dermatitis.Pediatr Dermatol.2018;35 Suppl 1:s10-s18. doi:10.1111/pde.13484
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.
Metin A, Dilek N, Bilgili SG.Recurrent candidal intertrigo: challenges and solutions.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:175-185. doi:10.2147/CCID.S127841
Shafritz A, Coppage J.Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014;22(3):165-178. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-22-03-165
Yapar N.Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:95-105. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S40160
Cleveland Clinic.Invasive candidiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of candidiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. auris.
Lanternier F, Cypowyj S, Picard C, et al.Primary immunodeficiencies underlying fungal infections.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2013;25(6):736-747. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000031
Mohan S.A study on clinical patterns of mucocutaneous candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients.Int J Dermatol Clin Res.2017;3(1):032-034. doi:10.17352/2455-8605.000024
Achkar JM, Fries BC.Candidainfections of the genitourinary tract.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010;23(2):253‐273. doi:10.1128/CMR.00076-09
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for fungal diseases.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Mohamed AA, Lu XL, Mounmin FA.Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal candidiasis: current updates.Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:3585136. Published 2019 Oct 20. doi:10.1155/2019/3585136
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Vaginal pH.
Amphotericin B. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; April 8, 2016.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of candidiasis.
Michigan Medicine.Recurrent vaginal yeast infections.
Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.
New York State Department of Health.What is a yeast infection?
Martins N, Ferreira IC, Barros L, Silva S, Henriques M.Candidiasis: predisposing factors, prevention, diagnosis and alternative treatment.Mycopathologia. 2014;177(5-6):223-240. doi:10.1007/s11046-014-9749-1
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