What it means
Candida normally lives on the skin and in the mouth, gut and vagina in small numbers. When the balance changes, it overgrows: in the mouth it is thrush (white patches that do not wipe off easily), in the vagina a yeast infection, and in skin folds or the diaper area a red rash with small spots at the edges. Antibiotics, steroids, diabetes, a weak immune system and infancy raise the risk. It can spread into the blood in very ill clients.
For the nurse
Treat with antifungals as ordered; nystatin suspension is swished around the mouth, and a breastfeeding mother and baby are treated together. Teach clients using inhaled steroids to rinse the mouth after each dose.
At a glance
| Spanish | candidiasis |
|---|---|
| Also written | moniliasis |
Related terms
antifungal
A drug that kills fungi or stops them from growing, used to treat fungal infections.
myc/o
A word root that means fungus.
organism
A living thing, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, parasite, plant or animal.