Chronic fungal candida infection is generally called Candidiasis, thrush or yeast infection. Its medical names are candidiasis, moniliasis and oidiomyasis.
Kinds of Chronic Fungal Candida Infection
Candidiasis is broadly divided into superficial diseases and life threatening diseases. Oral thrush, vaginitis, infection of the digestive tract etc. are superficial and the most common. Organ transplant, cancer, AIDS are life threatening diseases and results of severe fungal infection. These are also called candidemia.
Reasons for Chronic Fungal Candida Infection
Beneficial bacteria control the fungi in the human body. The widespread use of antibiotics kills the beneficial bacteria. This is the main reason for fungal infections. People with high sugar diet are also prone to candida overgrowth.
Diagnosis for Chronic Fungal Candida Infection
Samples of the fungus are identified using a low powered microscope to confirm the presence of severe candida infection in serious cases. For this, tissue scrapings are taken from the mucosa of vagina, skin, and sometimes nails. Internal organs tissue sample (biopsy) is collected for testing the level of infection in the cases of severely affected organs.
Conventional Treatment for Chronic Fungal Candida Infection
The treatment of candidiasis depends on its location in the body. Life threatening infections are treated using intravenous omphotericin B. This is administered in a hospital for two weeks. However blurred vision, pain, difficulty in breathing and convulsions are its common side effects. Instead of intravenous amphotericin B, Oral fluconazole is found to be more effective in treating candidiasis.
Healthy Nutrition to Control Chronic Fungal Candida Infection
Yogurt and Probiotics: According to studies, intake of yogurt with live lactobacillus acidophilus everyday increases the beneficial bacteria in rectum and vagina. Large doses of beneficial bacteria for about 50 billion to 500 billion or even more than that everyday bring about a change in the body. Anything less that this measure has proved to be of no effect on the candida.
Fructoolingosaccharides: These are a kind of sugar. One teaspoon or 4g of fructoolingosaccharides increase the proliferation of bifido bacteria in the gut.
Other Nutrients to Fight Chronic Fungal Candida Infection: The herbal root goldenseal (250mg to 750mg daily), Lactoferrin, a sub-fraction of whey protein (300mg daily), Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolis) are best nutrients that can control this fungal infection.
Garlic (600mg daily), oil of oregano or essential oils from other herbs like clove, cayenne (460mg daily) are found to attack the harmful organisms or enhance the immunity in the body.
Boric acid (600mg daily) for two to three weeks is found to cure 65% of women with vaginal candida infection.