by Nancy Grace
Arguably, the most common cause of yeast infection is what is called thrush. It is a form of candidiasis that primarily affects female genitalia. There are a few cases where men can get the disease also. This does not mean that infections favor one gender or the other, it just means that there are certain parts of the body that are more prone to this type of infection.
Yeast infections occur in the skin or mucous membrane in humans via fungi called Candida. If observed in a culture it would look like a round colonies of white or off-white organisms. One of the most famous species is known as Candida albicans. It should be acknowledged that this is not the only organism that can result in a yeast infection in men or women.
Candida albicans is a peaceful, flora in the human body that is normally kept at bay by other bacteria in the body. It loves warm dark places in the body such as armpits, the mouth, the ears, and down below. I hope you know what I mean, when I say, down below. It also will make its place in human skin, and under the folds of skin, such as around the belly.
Candidiasis is mainly called a yeast infection because of the Candida albicans normal form, which looks like a oval yeast cell. This yeast cell in its old form will duplicate and replicate through what is a process that is called budding. What the cells are doing is creating clones of themselves with bulbs on. These bulbs stay attached to the primary or originating cell and after a while will decide to let go.
Do you know what causes a yeast infection? The human body has to be at a certain temperature and pH level. These levels have to be balanced, along with its partner bacteria, which will allow it to grow without disturbing other flora. When the temperature and pH levels change some other bacteria will die. You guessed it, this leaves the Candida albicans cells to turn into fungi, and to get out of control, because it’s competing bacteria is no longer available.
Candida albicans has a tendency to mark its territory, while it’s growing by causing you to feel symptoms like itching, burning, tingling, or soreness. It is possible that she’ll feel more than one of these symptoms at the time. However I would not recommend that you scratch the area, because doing so may only compound the growth of the fungi.
The symptoms are not limited to itching and burning etc. Other symptoms will include drowsiness, lack of concentration, anxiety, irritability, craving for sugar and alcohol. That’s just to name a few. These symptoms are common and can indicate other problems. So it’s important that you diagnose a yeast infection properly.
Yeast infections can be very serious and sometimes even fatal. This may be true, more so for people with weakened or underdeveloped immune system such as those that have diabetes, HIV or AIDS. The good news is that people that suffer from a yeast infection can be permanently cured as long as they seek immediate help from a doctor, get the proper medication, and are diagnosed correctly.