Diseases Caused by Yeasts

Yeast infections of the mucous membranes in the mouth (mouth sore)

Yeast infections in the area of the oral cavity can occur e.g. in infants and young children and in asthma sufferers who use asthma sprays with glucocorticoids (cortisone-like active ingredients). When (apparently) healthy adults develop a candida infection in their mouth, a doctor must be consulted and the cause sought.. Because a yeast infection in the mouth of an adult can be an indication of a serious basic illness.

Typical are exudation mark-shaped, white coatings on the mucous membrane on the tongue, lips, cheek and in the throat. The exudation mark-shaped coatings can also merge. If the coatings are scraped off, e.g. with a wooden spatula, dot-shaped bleeding forms behind this on a reddened base. Those affected often have dysgeusia (distorted or decreased sense of taste) and/or a 'furry' feeling in their mouth. Pain (e.g. when eating) and bad breath are also possible.

Yeast infections in the gastrointestinal tract

Yeasts can be found throughout the digestive tract. Stomach acid which represents a barrier for many bacteria has no effect on yeasts. They can easily enter the intestines. Under normal conditions, colonisation of the intestines by yeasts does not result in problems. In individual cases, minor problems in the intestinal tract can occur such as e.g. diarrhoea, bloating or constipation.

Yeast infections in the nappy region (nappy rash)

With the stool, the yeasts move out of the intestinal tract into the moist, warm environment of the nappy region where they multiply and result in inflammations of the skin. Skin-irritating substances in the urine can make the condition worse. The nappy rash can spread over the skin that is in contact with the nappy, i.e. on the bottom, in the area of the genitals, the groin area and the thighs. The skin is red and inflamed; blisters, knots, pustules and scaly skin can occur. This can result in weeping with intense itching and considerable pain/burning.

Yeast infections in the folds of the skin (candida intertrigo)

In addition to various accompanying factors such as being overweight or having diabetes mellitus and/or a weakness of the immune system, a moist and warm skin environment can result in a favourable growth condition for yeasts. These are located in particular in the 'rolls of flab' in the skin. Warmth and moisture accumulate in the folds of skin in the groin region, in the folds on the bottom, under the breasts in women, in the abdominal skin folds and perhaps also under the armpits, the skin swells up and can no longer maintain its barrier function. This is where yeasts find ideal conditions for growth and for multiplying.

Within a short time, weeping, very reddened, itching or burning skin inflammations result, possibly surrounded by a scaly peripheral fringe and/or pustules. As the disease develops, crack-like tears, so-called rhagades, can appear in the skin.

Other yeast infections

Yeasts can also result in infections of the areas between the fingers and toes, the nails, the genital region, and in rare cases also in the hair roots. In addition to the pathogens of the candida species, other yeasts such as malassezia can also lead to skin diseases. Infections with malassezia occur predominantly due to the horny skin swelling up when sweating heavily and are thus widespread in the tropics. They result predominantly in discolorations of the skin. Depending on skin type, the patches appear pale white or pink to dark brown. The skin disease is called pityriasis vesicolor.