Practice Essentials
Candidiasis (see the image below) is a fungal infection caused by yeasts from the genus Candida. Candida albicans is the predominant cause of the disease.
Soreness and cracks at the lateral angles of the mouth (angular cheilitis) are a frequent expression of candidiasis in elderly individuals. Courtesy of Matthew C. Lambiase, DO.
Signs and symptoms
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
Findings reveal disfiguring lesions of the face, scalp, hands, and nails. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is occasionally associated with oral thrush and vitiligo.
Oropharyngeal candidiasis
Individuals with oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) usually have a history of HIV infection, wear dentures, have diabetes mellitus, or have been exposed to broad-spectrum antibiotics or inhaled steroids. Although patients are frequently asymptomatic, when symptoms do occur, they can include the following:
Sore and painful mouth
Burning mouth or tongue
Dysphagia
Thick, whitish patches on the oral mucosa
Physical examination reveals a diffuse erythema and white patches that appear on the surfaces of the buccal mucosa, throat, tongue, and gums.
The following are the 5 types of OPC:
Membranous candidiasis – One of the most common types; characterized by creamy-white, curdlike patches on the mucosal surfaces
Chronic atrophic candidiasis (denture stomatitis) – Also thought to be one of the most common forms of the disease; presenting signs and symptoms include chronic erythema and edema of the portion of the palate that comes into contact with dentures
Erythematous candidiasis – Associated with an erythematous patch on the hard and soft palates
Angular cheilitis – Inflammatory reaction characterized by soreness, erythema, and fissuring at the corners of the mouth
Mixed – A combination of any of the above types is possible
Esophageal candidiasis
Patients with esophageal candidiasis may be asymptomatic or may have 1 or more of the following symptoms:
Normal oral mucosa (>50% of patients)
Dysphagia
Odynophagia
Retrosternal pain
Epigastric pain
Nausea and vomiting
Physical examination almost always reveals oral candidiasis.
Nonesophageal gastrointestinal candidiasis
The following symptoms may be present:
Epigastric pain
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Fever and chills
Abdominal mass (in some cases)
Genitourinary tract candidiasis
The types of genitourinary tract candidiasis are as follows:
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) – Erythematous vagina and labia; a thick, curdlike discharge; and a normal cervix upon speculum examination
Candida balanitis – Penile pruritus and whitish patches on the penis
Candida cystitis – Many patients are asymptomatic, but bladder invasion may result in frequency, urgency, dysuria, hematuria, and suprapubic pain
Asymptomatic candiduria – Most catheterized patients with persistent candiduria are asymptomatic
Ascending pyelonephritis – Flank pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and hematuria
Fungal balls – Intermittent urinary tract obstruction with subsequent anuria and ensuing renal insufficiency
See Clinical Presentation for more detail.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests for candidiasis include the following:
Mucocutaneous candidiasis – For a wet mount, scrapings or smears obtained from skin, nails, or oral or vaginal mucosa are examined under the microscope; a potassium hydroxide smear, Gram stain, or methylene blue is useful for direct demonstration of fungal cells
Cutaneous candidiasis – Using a wet mount, scrapings or smears obtained from skin or nails can be examined under the microscope; potassium hydroxide smears are also useful
Genitourinary candidiasis – A urinalysis should be performed; evidence of white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), protein, and yeast cells is common; urine fungal cultures are useful
Gastrointestinal candidiasis – Endoscopy with or without biopsy
See Workup for more detail.
Management
See the list below:
Cutaneous candidiasis – Most localized cutaneous candidiasis infections can be treated with any number of topical antifungal agents (eg, clotrimazole, econazole, ciclopirox, miconazole, ketoconazole, nystatin)
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis – This condition is generally treated with oral azoles
Oropharyngeal candidiasis – This can be treated with either topical antifungal agents or systemic oral azoles
Esophageal candidiasis – Treatment requires systemic therapy with fluconazole
VVC – Topical antifungal agents or oral fluconazole can be used
Candida cystitis – In noncatheterized patients, Candida cystitis should be treated with fluconazole; in catheterized patients, the Foley catheter should be removed or replaced; if the candiduria persists after the catheter change, then patients can be treated with fluconazole
See Treatment and Medication for more detail.