Candidiasis Singapore | HIV PEP
Candidiasis in Singapore: Candidiasis in Singapore is a common fungal (yeast) infection that affects the mouth, vagina, underarms, skin and nail bed. It can be treated with anti-fungal medications.
Keywords: Candidiasis in Singapore, Singapore candidiasis, Candidiasis
Definition
Candidiasis is a yeast (fungal) infection that results from Candida infection. Although 20 different types of infective Candida species exist, Candida albicans is the most common cause of candidiasis in Singapore.
Candida normally lives on the skin and other parts of the body without causing any harmful symptoms. However, overgrowth of Candida can contribute to harmful symptoms, and the severity of candidiasis depends on the affected body part(s) and duration of infection. Some forms of candidiasis, such as oral thrush, nail fungus, and vaginal candidiasis, are easily treatable; while invasive candidiasis is a life-threatening form of candidiasis in which infection spreads throughout the body via the bloodstream, particularly in people with impaired immune function. Candidiasis commonly affects warm and moist body parts, such as the genitals, underarms, nail beds, under the breasts, mouth and skin folds. Depending on the type and duration of infection, the treatment may vary. Candidiasis can also be a sign of underlying serious problems, including cancer, AIDS, and diabetes.
Some of the types of candidiasis are oral candidiasis (thrush), candidiasis of the esophagus, cutaneous (skin) candidiasis, vaginal candidiasis and deep candidiasis or candida sepsis (infection spreading through the bloodstream). In severe form of candidiasis, the infection can affect the heart, blood, eyes, kidneys, spleen, liver, and lungs, and contributes to multiple organ failure.
What are the causes?
Your body normally harbors many microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. While most of these organisms are either beneficial or neutral, some are harmful to us. Candidiasis is a fungal infection resulting from overgrowth of Candida albicans that affects the outer skin layer, hair and nails, vagina, and other parts of the body.
Some important causes of candidiasis are:
- Overuse of certain medications, including antibiotics, birth control pills, and steroids
- Diabetes, particularly if poorly controlled
- Pregnancy and menstruation, leading to vaginal candidiasis
- Impaired immune function, either due to diseases such as AIDS or to the use of immune-suppressing medications such as cancer chemotherapy
- Use of contaminated needles or intra-venous (IV) drug sets including IV ports, urinary catheters, and under-the-skin implants, can increase the risk of acquiring candidiasis.
What are the risk factors for candidiasis?
Several factors may put you at risk of developing candidiasis, including the life-threatening form of candidiasis. Some of the contributing risk factors of candidiasis are:
- Immune function disorders, such as neutrophil disorders and T-cell disorders, which increase the risk of developing invasive forms of candidiasis.
- Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for treatment of other infections
- Women who are on high estrogen contraceptive pills
- Hospitalized patients who are on nasogastric tubal nutrition and have venous catheters
- Skin disorders such as psoriasis and dermatitis
- Patients who are using radiation therapy
- Prolonged and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- Cushing’s disease
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids
- Iron deficiency and related anemia
- Organ transplantation and associated treatments
- Hospitalized patients, particularly those who are on ventilation support for a prolonged period
- Elderly age
- Patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery
- Individuals with implanted prostheses.
- Malnutrition
- Pregnancy
- Using tight-fitting and/or synthetic fiber underwear that contributes to heat, dampness, skin damage, and non-absorbance of moisture