Yeast infection
A skin infection caused by types of fungi, the most important of which is CANDIDA ALBICANS, which causes CANDIDIASIS. Candida can normally be found in the mouth, vagina, and large intestine, but for unknown reasons it can sometimes turn against its host-most commonly in those who take antibiotics, oral steroids, and birth control pills, and in diabetics and the overweight.
This type of yeast causes THRUSH (white patches on the inside of the cheeks), cheesy vaginal discharge, or monilial intertrigo (damp red eruptions under the breasts, the foreskin, and under body folds in the obese). It also causes Candida paronychia (redness and swelling around the nails).
Candidal infections usually respond to topical broad-spectrum antibiotics or specific preparations designed to fight yeasts (nys-tatin).
