Infov_ing_29

Candidiasis (Thrush)
What is thrush?
Candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection in people with HIV. It is an infection caused by a common type of yeast(or fungus) called candida. This yeast is found in most people's body. A healthy immune system keeps it under control.
Candida usually infects the mouth, throat or vagina. It can occur months or years before other, more serious opportunis-tic infections. In the mouth, the infection is called oral candidiasis or Local treatments include:
thrush. When the infection spreads deeper into the throatit is called esophagitis. It looks like white patches similar to cottage cheese, or red spots. It can cause a painful throat, difficulty swallowing, nausea and loss of appetite. ● liquids● “troches” or “lozenges” that dissolve in the mouth.
In the vagina, the infection is called vaginitis, a commonvaginal infection. Symptoms include itching, burning and a Local treatment may cause some stinging or irritation.
Systemic treatment is needed if local treatment doesn’twork or if the infection has spread into the throat Candida can also spread and cause infection in the brain, (esophagitis) or other parts of the body. Some systemic drugs are taken in pill form. The most common side effectsare nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Less than 20% Can it be prevented?
There is no way to prevent exposure to candida.
Candidiasis can come back repeatedly. Some health care Medications are not normally used to prevent candidiasis.
providers prescribe anti-fungal drugs on a long-term basis.
This can cause resistance. The yeast can mutate so that adrug no longer works.
● It is not very dangerous● There are effective drugs to treat it Natural therapies
● The yeast could develop resistance to the medications. Several non-drug therapies seem to help. Although theyhave not been carefully studied to prove that they work, Strengthening your system by taking an antiretroviral drug they can be used as a complement to conventional thera- combination that stops HIV replication is the best way to ● Reduce the amount of sugar you eat.
● Take garlic supplements or eat raw garlic. Garlic has anti- How is it treated?
fungal and anti-bacterial properties. However, it caninterfere with the blood levels of some anti-HIV drugs.
Bacteria found in the body are kept in balance by a healthy Garlic supplements or an intake of large amounts of immune system. These bacteria are also essential to keep garlic in a person’s diet can cause problems for people candida in balance in our system. Some antibiotics kill these helpful bacteria and may cause an outbreak of can- ● Eat yoghurt with lactobacillus (acidophilus). It may help didiasis. Treating candidiasis will not get rid of the yeast, to take it alter taking antibiotics.
● Take supplements of gamma-linoleic acid (an essential T- cell regulator) and Biotin (vitamin B). They both seem to Treatments can be local or systemic. Local treatments are slow the spread of candida. GLA is found in several applied where the infection is found. Systemic treatments affect the whole body. Many health care providers preferto use local treatment first. It puts the medication directly It is important that your doctor knows all the medications where it is needed and has fewer side effects than a sys- you are taking or are considering to take, including vitamin temic treatment. Moreover, there is less risk of candida supplements, herbal remedies or homeopathic prepara- becoming resistant to the medications. Te medications used to fight candida are antifungal drugs. Their namesend in “-azole.” They include clotrimazole, nystatin, flu- Source: Adapted from www.aidsinfonet.org Fact sheet grupo de trabajo
sobre tratamientos del VIH
e-mail: contact@gtt-vih.org
website: www.gtt-vih.org

Source: http://gtt-vih.org/files/active/0/InfoV_ing_29.pdf