1Candida: The Fungus among UsThe causative agent of the Candidiasis disease is a fungus Candida, usuallyCandida albicans. Candida are thin-walled, small yeast (4 to 6 microns) that reproduceby budding and are one of the most common causes of opportunistic mycoses worldwide.Candida is a normal part of ordinary flora of skin, mouth, vagina, and stool. It is apathogen and a colonizer; also found in the environment particularly on leaves, flowers,water, and soil. The genus Candida includes about 154 species. Six of them are morefrequently isolated in human infections. The colonies of Candida are cream to yellowishin color. They grow rapidly and mature in 3 days. The texture of the colony may bepasty, smooth, dry, wrinkled and dull, depending on the species. Candida is unicellularyeast, though it can be a multicellular mold. Although this fungus reproduces sexuallyand asexually by formation of spores, yeast is reproduced via budding.Candida is a ubiquitous fungi organism. It has been one of the many eukaryoticorganisms that work in symbiotic existence with humankind for as long as we know;however, when the delicate balance of coexistence that keeps each one at bay is disruptedit becomes an opportunist by over populating. It soon creates havoc in its host. Whenthis occurs, the diagnosis is Candidiasis. According to the 9th edition of McGraw-HillEncyclopedia of Science and Technology, the majority of fungal infections are caused byyeast ( ). David Grubby, born in Austria in 1810, became a doctor and scientist inFrance at Hospital St. Louis and the Foundling Asylum. His works, published in the1840s, were the first to describe yeast infections and the relation to fungi (712). Duringthe 1940s, Candidiasis was almost unheard of, a rare medical occurrence but, the use ofantibiotics was becoming more common (Knox). By the 1950s an epidemic of yeastinfections occurred and the use of antibiotics was an epidemic of its own. The increaseof Candidiasis infections was parallel to the increase of antibiotic use (Knox).Candidiasis is the cause of Thrush, an infection in the mouth creating a whitishfilm on the palate, tongue, and inside cheeks. When thrush extends into the throat itcauses Esophagitis. Candidiasis is also the cause of Cutaneous Candidiasis, commonlyknown as diaper rash, which can be problematic anywhere in the folds of the skin such asarmpits, hands, groins, buttocks, and under breasts. Many other illness have been foundto be related to the Candida organism such as acne, sinusitis, bronchitis, UTIs, earinfections, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, athlete’s foot, constipation, anddiarrhea (Knox). Finally, the last and most common illness which is publicly known dueto the explosion of advertisement in the past decade, promoted by pharmaceuticalcompanies of their over-the-counter topical treatments, is Vaginal Yeast Infection.Even though Candidiasis is not known to be a sexually transmitted disease, it still hasbeen one of the concerns for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and continues to beincluded in their STD guidelines due to the high rate of occurrences reported ( ).Candida although it is a naturally occurring yeast that exists in our bodies as wellas the environment it can also wreak havoc when given the opportunity. Overgrowth ofC. albicans (the most common strain of Candida) is the culprit behind the majority ofyeast infections (Candidiasis, CDC). This pathogen attacks the mucous membrane of theoral cavity, G.I. tract, vagina, and various other epithelium, nervous system andlymphatic system through toxins, as well the blood stream. Toxins like canditoxin and2ethanol (produced during fermentation) creates not only a drunken like state but“interferes with our biochemical processes” (Ninazu), some of the toxins produced arealso lethal to lymphocytes (Leicester). Acidic proteases and other metabolites disrupt ourenergy production cycle which then causes fatigue and also creates a better breedingground for this pathogen. Although Candida is naturally inside our bodies the presence ofescalated, or presence in areas of the body that Candida should not exist (i.e. thebloodstream), onset of the infection could begin in as few as 2 to 10 days.Major symptoms and signs may include any of the following: White patches, orred lesions in oral cavity, pruitus, and vulval erythematic, curd-like discharge fromvagina. Signs or more sever infections are: fever, chills, a drunken like state with out thepresence of alcohol, not sensitive to antibacterial medications (CDC, Ninazu). Luckilymost infections are treatable with antifungal medications and do not tend to persist longerthan approximately 2 weeks after starting medication, in some cases lasting only 2 to 3days. There should be no sequalae as long as appropriate treatment has been taken.Antifungals are among the most common treatment for Candidiasis but in cases of moresevere infections, Amphotericin B can be given intravenously (CDC). These treatmentsslow down and interfere with C. albicans by altering the cell wall permeability andthereby slow its growth. If homeopathic treatment is desired, healthful living fermentedfoods such as kraut help reduce the amount of C. albican over population (Knox). Dr.Knox also states that a person should avoid high consumption amounts of animal by-products and increasing the amounts of raw vegetable matter; by doing this, a personincreases the amount of beneficial bacteria in the body, which in turn limits the amount ofCandida growth (. An alternative treatment to an antifungal medication, thoughmedication is more convenient and less expensive, would be colonic irrigation.According to Dr. Knox, colonic irrigations (a.k.a. enemas) are slightly invasiveprocedures but effective in controlling the outbreak of Candidiasis. Colonic irrigationsare not a quick fix. Treatment usually consists of two to three colonics per week for twoweeks, if symptoms have not been relieved by this time, further diagnosis is suggested(Knox). The best preventative measures that can be taken are keeping skin clean and dry,take medications as directed and only as directed by a doctor, and living a healthylifestyle.Because Candida albicans is a naturally occurring organism in the intestinal tractof the human body, Candidiasis occurs everywhere. It is estimated that Candidiasisinfects more than 30% of the world population, especially females over the age of twelve(Clinkscale). The infections