Candida Albicans: Benefits, Diseases and their Symptoms, Treatments

Candida albicans is a microscopic, unicellular fungus of the yeast type, member of the genus Candida, which has more than 150 species. Of all these species, Candida albicans is the one that is most often associated with infections in humans.

It is a saprophytic fungus, that is, it feeds on the waste or by-products of other living beings without damaging them directly. Therefore, it is part of what is usually known as normal flora: the set of microorganisms that live in the tissues of more complex living beings without causing them any harm.

Given its status as a saprophyte organism, Candida albicans is found on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes of many warm-blooded animals -among them- without causing any damage and even helping in certain digestive processes that involve fermentation.

However, if the right conditions are met, Candida albicans can go from being an innocuous saprophytic fungus to an invasive fungus, then being able to affect its host and produce diseases.

Location in the body

As already mentioned, Candida albicans lives in close association with humans without causing any discomfort under normal conditions.

Although it is capable of colonizing practically any type of tissue, the areas where it is most frequently found are the following:

- The skin.

- Vaginal mucosa.

- Mucosa of the oral cavity.

- Gastrointestinal tract.

In these areas, the fungus lives, develops and fulfills its life cycle, practically unnoticed.

Benefits that Candida Albicans brings in the normal flora

The fact that Candida albicans literally lives on and within us implies certain benefits for both the fungus and the human being, since this microorganism has a practically inexhaustible food supply and the guest benefits from its presence.

Avoids the presence of pathogenic microorganisms

By living on the skin, Candida albicans protects its territory in some way and prevents other pathogenic microorganisms from invading its space. This tiny unicellular fungus takes care of infections by other more aggressive and invasive germs.

The same can be said for the vagina, where the presence of Candida albicans prevents infection by other microbes.

Participate in digestive processes

On the other hand, when living in the gastrointestinal tract, Candida albicans can take part in some digestive processes by fermenting certain types of fibers that human beings are not able to digest.

In this way, the fungus gets its own food and helps us digest some foods that otherwise we could not take advantage of.

Diseases that cause

So far the positive side of Candida albicans has been described. However, despite its benefits, this fungus is usually one of the most frequently implicated in infections in humans. But when does the presence of the fungus begin to be a problem?

Under normal conditions Candida albicans does not produce any problem due to a delicate chemical, physical and biological balance; That means that if the conditions of pH, temperature and humidity in their environment remain stable and within certain limits, the fungus does not multiply enough to produce infections.

For its part, the host's immune system creates a kind of security perimeter, destroying any cell of the fungus that exceeds tolerable limits and preventing infection.

When there is any change in any of the factors involved in this delicate balance, Candida albicans can not only multiply beyond normal limits, but also produce infections both in the tissues where it normally lives and in others much further away and deeper.

In fact, it is considered that Candida albicans can produce two types of infections in humans: superficial and deep

Superficial infections

When there is a change in pH, humidity levels or local temperature increase it is very likely that Candida albicans multiplies much more than normal and manages to overcome the barriers imposed by the host's immune system, generating an infection in the area where live

The skin is one of the areas that may be affected; in this case, specific symptoms will occur depending on the area affected.

Other areas that tend to suffer more often surface infection Candida albicans are:

- Vagina (Candida vaginitis)

In vaginitis caused by Candida albicans, there is usually vaginal itching associated with whitish discharge that looks like cut milk, bad smell and pain during sexual intercourse.

- Oral mucus (thrush)

Oral candidiasis usually presents with pain in the area, reddening of the mucosa and the development of a white and cottony layer usually located on the surface of the tongue and gums.

This type of candidiasis is usually more common in small babies and is known as mugget.

- Gastrointestinal tract (esophageal candidiasis)

In the case of esophageal candidiasis, the symptoms are pain when swallowing. In addition, redness of the esophageal mucosa and the presence of cotton-like plaques reminiscent of the muget are visible during endoscopy.

Deep infections

Deep infections are those that occur in tissues where Candida albicans is not normally present.

These infections should not be confused with those that occur in depth, such as esophageal candidiasis, which although they are inside the body do not exceed the mucous membrane where the fungus usually lives.

On the contrary, in deep candidiasis the fungus reaches tissues where it would not normally be found; It reaches these sites by traveling through the bloodstream. When this happens it is said that the patient suffers from candidemia, or what is the same thing: dissemination of the fungus throughout the body through the blood.

Most susceptible people

This usually happens in people whose immune system is seriously compromised, as is the case of patients with terminal AIDS or cancer patients receiving very aggressive chemotherapy.

They are also susceptible to people who carry organ transplants and, therefore, receive immunosuppressive drugs, as well as those suffering from any serious medical condition that compromises the immune system to the point of allowing Candida albicans to surpass natural defenses and spread by the organism.

It is a serious infection that can be associated with the formation of fungal abscesses in the liver, brain, spleen, kidneys or any other internal organ.

Treatment of Candida albicans infections

The treatment of Candida albicans infections is based on a double strategy: to control the excessive proliferation of the fungus through the use of antifungals and to restore the equilibrium conditions that help to keep it as a saprophytic fungus.

To achieve the first objective, antifungals are usually used, whose route of administration will depend on the affected area.

For superficial candidiasis

Antifungal creams may be used for cutaneous (skin) or vaginal candidiasis. For the latter, a presentation is also available as vaginal ovules.

For oral and esophageal candidiasis

In this case it is usually necessary to administer oral antifungals, since topical treatment is usually complicated.

For systemic candidiasis

Because it is a very serious disease, it is necessary to hospitalize the patient and administer the antifungals intravenously.

In all cases, health personnel must identify where the imbalance that produced the infection is in order to correct it, thus preventing the situation from happening again in the future.

References

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