Yeast infection signs and symptoms are many and varied but the organism responsible for producing these infections is the same - Candida albicans. It is normally present in the body and only causes problems when a disturbance to your natural health causes it to multiply out of control.
As a rule, Candida albicans targets the warm, moist areas of your body and can therefore appear in a variety of different places. For this reason, yeast infection signs and symptoms vary depending on where in your body Candida has overgrown.
Vaginal Candida infections are much more common than you may think. It is estimated that 75% of all women will have one at some time during their life and as many as 50% will have multiple infections.
Candida infections in males are much less common than in females, however they do occur and can be just as nasty. Male yeast infection signs and symptoms are very similar to those seen in vaginal yeast infections.
These can include:
Itching and/or burning at the tip or along the shaft of the penis
Candida infections occurring in the mouth are known as thrush and are most common in babies and older adults. As Candida is present naturally in the mother’s vagina, babies will come into contact with it during the birth process and because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, are more prone to infections. Similarly, adult immune systems weaken as they age and thrush will often occur under or around dentures.
Thick creamy-white patches in the mouth – these are usually on the tongue and inside the cheeks but can also appear on the gums, throat and roof of the mouth
Redness or swelling of the tongue
Bleeding of the infected area if the lesions are scraped or knocked
If left untreated or if the immune system is severely impaired, Candida infections can become systemic. Systemic infections usually arise from an overgrowth of Candida in the intestinal system. This overgrowth results in the release of unhealthy amounts of toxic substances known as myocotoxins, which depress the immune system even further and can damage the intestinal walls. Once this damage occurs, any toxins, bacteria and undigested food are able to enter the blood stream and can cause a number of dangerous conditions.
Chronic rashes or lesions including psoriasis, eczema, hives, roscea, acne
Digestive problems including acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome
Muscle & Joint pain
Depression or mood swings
Constant headaches
Respiratory problems
Many yeast infection signs and symptoms are non-specific, which means that they also occur in a variety of other conditions not related to Candidiasis. For example, yeast infection signs and symptoms in the vaginal area are similar to those of some sexually transmitted diseases such as Trichomoniasis and Chlamydia. And many systemic yeast infection signs and symptoms can also be an indication of other conditions. It is therefore essential that you confirm the diagnosis with a professional before proceeding with any treatment.
Yeast Infection Signs and Symptoms
