Terms And Definitions Associated With Candida

To learn more about Candida, it is important to first learn the proper “terms and definitions associated with Candida”. Without a good understanding as to what each term means, it will be more difficult to garner a good understanding about this topic.

A good example of why this is important would be the terms Candida and Candidiasis. These two terms are often confused and some may think they are the same thing. Although they are closely related terms, you will want to learn the distinction. So to begin with, the first 2 terms we will go over are “Candida and Candidiasis”.

Candida Definition:

Candida is a genus of yeast (Yeast are also Fungus) that are almost universally found on normal, adult skin. When using the term “Candida” you are actually referring to the entire genus of Candida. Different species of Candida are found in various locations of the body. (It is important to note that there are many species of Candida) Some species of Candida are typically harmless while other species of Candida can be harmful, particularly if the body’s immune system is not able to control their growth. “Usually Harmless” species of Candida can become “Harmful” if allowed to flourish in the wrong part of the body.

The potentially “Harmful Specie of Candida” that is most commonly associated with yeast infections, is called “Candida Albicans”. This very specific type, or “specie of Candida” is part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts. When the body is healthy and able to keep harmful species of Candida in check, Candida Albicans will not cause Disease.

Candidiasis Definition:

Candidiasis is simply a yeast infection, or fungul infection. It is technically both a “yeast infection” and a “fungul infection” because yeast is a fungus, and that’s what “Candida” is, a yeast. Since Candida is a yeast, or fungus, Candidiasis is the infection caused by it. Some other commonly used terms for Candidiasis are candidosis, moniliasis, and oidiomycosis. Just like other infections, Candidiasis can occur in various regions of the body, and can range in severity. Very common forms of this yeast infection are Jock Itch, Athlete’s Foot, Vaginitis, Thrush, or “Oral Thrush”, and this very common form of infection is typically not considered to be life threatening in healthy people. “Systemic Candidiasis” is potentially life threatening, particularly in people with severely weakened immune systems. Systemic Candidiasis refers to an infection that has entered the blood stream.

Candidal Infections Definition:

Simply the “Plural” form for Candidasis. When describing Candidasis infections as a group, doctors may use the term “Candidal Infections”. This term is appropriate since Candidiasis infections can occur in multiple locations of the body and can occur in multiple classes of severity. Some examples of Candidal Infections are Vaginitis, Oral Thrush, Jock itch and Athlete’s Foot. Most Candidal Infections are not life threatening unless it enters the bloodstream and becomes a systemic infection. (Sepsis) This is a serious concern in immunocompromised patients and possibly some immunosuppressed patients, such as people undergoing chemotherapy, people with AIDS, or people who are on immune suppressing medication like high dosis cortisone.

Candidemia Definition:

This is a term used when the Candida yeast/fungi enters the bloodstream and causes an infection. This is certainly the most serious form of Candidiasis and is considered to be potentially life threatening, particularly in immunocompromised patients, and even some immunosuppressed patients. Some other terms used for Candidemia are Invasive Candidiasis, Candedemia and Fungemia. Although Candida is the most common specie of fungus/yeast to cause blood infections, other species of yeast are also known to enter the blood and cause infection, including Aspergillus and Cryptococcus. It is believed that catheters and “IV Ports” may allow Candida Albicans to enter the bloodstream, which can lead to Candidemia.

Moniliasis Definition:

Essentially the same thing as Candidiasis. Also an infection caused by fungus/yeast (Candida), most commonly caused by Candida Albicans. Candida Albicans is one species of yeast that is most commonly associated with causing various forms of Candidiasis/Moniliasis. As the progress of understanding the affect of these yeast on the body continues, the term Candidiasis has overtaken the term Moniliasis. This is due to the fact that the specie of yeast called Candida Albicans, used to be called “Monilia”.