Candida and Dysbosis http://www.yourhealth.com.au/treatment-for-health-conditions-detail.php?name=Candida%20and%20Dysbiosis

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Standard Definition

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a yeastlike fungus called candida. It can infect the mouth, vagina, skin, digestive tract, and urinary tract. Approximately 75 percent of women will experience thrush (candida of the vagina) during their lifetime, and 90 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS develop candida infections. Candida infection can also occur during and after antibiotic therapy, during chemotherapy or other immunsuppressive medication therapy. Candida infection can be also be a sign of diabetes. Candida is usually present in small amounts in all people, however it is an opportunistic organism that can proliferate if the conditions are favorable. If so, it can contribute to a condition of bacterial imbalance known as 'dysbiosis'. Dysbiosis is a general term for bacterial flora imbalance in the digestive tract, and may be caused by any number of unwelcome organisms or by a lack of proper digestive function. Many dietary and lifestyle factors and medications can also upset the flora balance. The gastrointestinal tract is the largest immune reactive surface inside the human body, with a total surface area comparable to the size of a small tennis court. This surface is continually exposed to a vast array of food particles, bacteria, and yeast that can dramatically alter the defense mechanisms of the gut lining, producing inflammatory responses associated with eczema, other skin disorders and inflammatory joint and connective tissue diseases. This may explain why intestinal symptoms of dysbiosis are more common among these patients than in healthy people.

Underlying Disruption in Function

There may be different types of dysbiosis as suggested below: 1. Putrefaction This is a pattern which results from diets high in fat and meat and low in fiber. This type of diet produces increased concentrations of a bacteria called Bacteroides sp. and induces enzyme activity that can contribute to the formation of cancer. Population studies implicate this type of dysbiosis to be associated with the establishment of colon cancer and breast cancer. 2. Fermentation Excess This is a condition of carbohydrate intolerance induced by an excess of normal bacteria in the small intestine. Abdominal bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation and feelings of malaise are commonly described. In these cases maldigestion and malabsorption is common, contributing to nutritional deficiencies. 3. Deficiency Exposure to antibiotics or a diet low in soluble fibre may create a deficiency of normal intestinal flora, including Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and E. coli. This condition has been described in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and food intolerance. Deficiency and putrefaction dysbiosis often occur together and respond to the same treatment. Probiotic supplementation as well as fructooligosaccharides are often helpful in reestablishing a normal flora. 4. Sensitisation Abnormal immune responses to components of the normal intestinal microflora or infections may contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease, types of arthritis and other connective tissue diseases or skin disorders such as psoriasis or acne. The presence of bacteria and their byproducts can perpetuate inflammatory diseases by penetrating the intestinal barrier, where they may cause damage to cells and their function and invade the systemic circulation. This provokes a continuing chain of chronic inflammatory immune responses.

Possible Causes, Triggers & Exacerbating Factors

Drug use (especially antibiotics and corticosteroids) Pregnancy, or other high oestrogen conditions Overweight High sugar, meat and/or fat diet, low fibre diet Bacterial, viral, parasitic or yeast infection Immune suppression (eg. AIDS), diabetes, and other illnesses

Common Signs & Symptoms

Creamy white patches in the mouth or throat Skin rashes, patches, and blisters found most commonly in the groin, between fingers and toes, and under the breasts Vaginal itching and irritation with a curdlike discharge Abdominal bloating, flatulence and pain Constipation, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease Sugar or carbohydrate cravings Food intolerances Fatigue Skin eruptions, acne, eczema, psoriasis Headaches, mental fog, depression, mood swings, PMS Fluid retention, weight gain

Possible Additional Integrative Medicine Diagnostic Tests

(This is additional information that does not replace nor negate conventional diagnosis. Other tests may be useful depending on the individual circumstance.) Vitamin and Mineral assessment Digestive function assessment Allergy and food intolerance tests Heavy Metal and Toxicity assessment