Yeast Infections

Summary

Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. Usually, your immune system keeps yeast under control. If you are sick or taking antibiotics, it can multiply and cause an infection.

Yeast infections affect different parts of the body in different ways:

• Thrush is a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth
• Candida esophagitis is thrush that spreads to your esophagus, the tube that takes food from your mouth to your stomach. It can make it hard or painful to swallow.
• Women can get vaginal yeast infections, causing vaginitis
• Yeast infections of the skin cause itching and rashes
• Yeast infections in your bloodstream can be life-threatening

Antifungal medicines get rid of yeast infections in most people. If you have a weak immune system, treatment might be more difficult.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Related Issues

• Burning Mouth Syndrome National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Yeast Infection during Pregnancy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Encyclopedia

• Candida auris infection Medical Encyclopedia
• Endocervical gram stain Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Candida Infection of the Bloodstream – Candidemia American Thoracic Society
• Candida Infections of the Mouth, Throat, and Esophagus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• General Information about Candida auris Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Genital/Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Invasive Candidiasis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Oral Thrush Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Tinea Versicolor American Academy of Dermatology
• Vaginal Yeast Infections Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Patient Handouts

• Candida infection of the skin Medical Encyclopedia
• Thrush – children and adults Medical Encyclopedia
• Vaginal yeast infection Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Candidiasis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Candidiasis VisualDX
• Yeast Infection (Vaginal) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Candidiasis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Candidiasis, Oral National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal National Institutes of Health

Genetics

• Familial candidiasis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Diagnosis and Tests

• Fungal Culture Test National Library of Medicine
• Yeast Infection Tests National Library of Medicine

Treatments and Therapies

• How to Use Vaginal Tablets, Suppositories, and Creams American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Men

• Male Yeast Infection: How Can I Tell if I Have One? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Children

• Oral Thrush (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Thrush (Oral Candidiasis) in Children VisualDX
• Thrush and Other Candida Infections American Academy of Pediatrics

Journal Articles

• Yeast Infections

Images

• Thrush (Oral Candidiasis) in Adults VisualDX

Teenagers

• Vaginal Yeast Infections Nemours Foundation