Candida albicans is a yeast or fungus that ordinarily lives in the mouth, throat, anus and genitals, a normal part of the bacterial populations of the body.

However candida albicans symptoms may begin to manifest themselves when this fungal population begins to spiral out of control due to a lowered or compromised immunity or because the immune defenses and due to certain other circumstances.

When do candida albicans symptoms manifest themselves?

Candida Albicans SymptomsIn normal circumstances the populations of these organisms are kept in check by the immune system, but at times this opportunistic parasite can proliferate unchecked giving rise to palpable symptoms.

Certain medications can cause the yeast to overgrow, compromised immunity due to pregnancy or other condition, environmental factors and lifestyle factors can also contribute to the overgrowth.

People with conditions such as AIDS or those who are undergoing chemotherapy can become prone to the symptoms because their immune system is significantly weakened and may not be able to keep the parasitic populations in the body in check.

The symptoms of this infestation will usually occur in places that are hospitable for it; such as warm, moist folds of skin. For this reason the vaginal, genital or anal area, the mouth and throat area are the most susceptible and may show the signs of the infestation.

The candida albicans symptoms can vary

This depends upon the area of the body where the yeast overgrows. When it is the mouth or throat area that is affected, there could be patches that appear on the tongue, the palate, the inside of the cheeks and the throat as well.

The tongue may become inflamed and there could also be problems swallowing. Sometimes the symptoms of candida albicans may be difficult to diagnose since they are sometimes similar to those of the flu, ear and throat infection.

These symptoms may also extend to the esophagus by spreading and may then result in symptoms such as pain in the region of the breast bone, the upper abdomen and even digestive problems such as nausea and vomiting.

Poor digestion, dehydration and similar symptoms may also be seen. Complications such as ulcers can also occur when there is no check in the proliferation of these organisms.

When candida albicans symptoms appear in the vaginal area, they appear in feelings of itchiness, burning sensation while passing urine, a thick whitish vaginal discharge (which may have a cottage cheese like appearance) and painful sexual intercourse. Sometime redness and swelling could also be seen.

Complications and advanced candida albicans symptoms

If the yeast infection gets into the blood stream, this can then carry the problem to the other areas and organs of the body. If the brain becomes affected, this could result in behavioral changes, seizures and other problems.

The kidneys being affected could mean blood in the urine and the presence of the parasite in the lungs could cause bloody sputum. Even the heart could get affected due to this and murmurs and valve damage could occur in rare cases.

So candida albicans symptoms can be very varied and may manifest in different parts of the body, making a definitive diagnosis all the more important.