Candidiasis of the stomach is a fairly common disease provoked by the activity of a fungal infection of the genus Candida. Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms are present in small quantities in the body of every person (oral cavity, colon, vagina).
Under the influence of certain factors, most often due to a decrease in immunity, fungi of the genus Candida begin to multiply rapidly.
Causes of weakened immunity
A person's immune status may weaken when:
- protracted infectious diseases and diabetes,
- the presence of malignant tumors,
- various kinds of injuries
- long-term antibiotic treatment
- unfavorable socio-economic situation.
The age factor plays an important role: most often, candidiasis of the stomach affects elderly people and children. People with AIDS, oncology, diabetes mellitus, chronic diseases of the thyroid gland, kidneys, esophagus, intestines, stomach are also at risk of fungal infection. With internal bleeding or cancer, Candida fungi can grow through the walls of the affected organ, thereby provoking life-threatening consequences.
Ways of infection with gastrointestinal candidiasis
The localization of candida infection is most often the stomach, where the fungus penetrates naturally: through the oral cavity, through the esophagus. Infection with the disease can occur in several ways:
- in contact with contaminated objects (dirty things, poorly washed vegetables, fruits);
- during childbirth - from an infected mother to an infant,
- from a sick person to a healthy airborne droplet.
Also, the disease can develop directly from Candida fungi that live in the human body and are an integral part of the normal organ microflora. Under the influence of negative factors, the latter can give rise to a pathological process called candidiasis.
Symptom of candidiasis of the stomach
The presence of Candida in the stomach can be determined by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the epigastric region. To determine it, you should mentally draw a triangle on the stomach, placing its base under the ribs at the level of the navel; the vertex closes in the region of the ribs. The area of the body inside the triangle is the epigastric region.
- Nausea and vomiting. In this case, often in the vomit by laboratory tests, you can detect particles of the fungus, which visually look like curd films and streaks of blood. These signs indicate inflammation of the gastric mucosa.
Candidiasis, the symptoms of which are expressed by pain in the abdomen, can be complicated by perforation of the organ wall with its destruction, internal bleeding and the possible development of peritonitis. Bleeding can go unnoticed until iron deficiency anemia develops. With a large destruction of the vessel, there is a threat to life.
Candidiasis of the intestines and esophagus
Esophageal candidiasis (otherwise - candida esophagitis) is accompanied by:
- heartburn, burning in the throat - these signs do not appear immediately, but after 2-3 weeks from the onset of the disease;
- the appearance in the mouth of a white coating with an unpleasant odor.
- difficulty swallowing (in severe form) due to overlapping of the lumen of the esophagus with candida films.
The defeat of the intestines by Candida fungi can be assumed by the appeared discomfort in the abdomen, pain, diarrhea. In liquid stool, mucus, blood impurities, curdled inclusions are present.
Common signs for the above types of candidiasis is:
- weakness, drowsiness, malaise,
- reduced ability to work,
- loss of appetite,
- fever.
Diagnosis of a stomach disease
Since this symptomatology is quite vague and characteristic of many diseases of the stomach and intestines, a diagnosis is necessary. One of the main methods for examining the mucous membrane of the stomach, duodenum and esophagus, as well as taking biomaterial for analysis, is gastroscopy. This examination is performed on an empty stomach; meal should be no later than 18-19 hours of the previous day. To eliminate gastric mucus, which complicates the examination, the patient is invited to take special medications (10 minutes before the start - 3 ml of Espumisan). During the examination, the doctor conducts a biopsy - plucking a piece of the mucous membrane for laboratory analysis. The procedure is painless.
A faster detection result of the pathogen can be obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibodies to Candida fungi can detect immunological reactions.
If there is a suspicion of candidiasis of the esophagus and stomach in order to identify the filaments of the fungi, a laboratory study of the stool and vomit of the patient is performed. Treatment is prescribed after an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment of gastrointestinal candidiasis
An important factor in successfully getting rid of candida infection is timely therapy, which prevents the fungal spores from spreading further into the deep layers of the walls of the digestive organs.
Treatment of candidiasis of the stomach and esophagus is carried out with antimycotics (antifungal drugs) - Pimafucin, Nystatin, Levorin, Fluconazole, which are characterized by poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
This specificity of the drug allows it to act in the cavity of the affected organ, without exerting a negative effect on the body as a whole. In severe cases of the disease, drugs are prescribed intravenously: Ampholip or Amphotericin.
To increase the effectiveness of therapy, it is recommended to use eubiotics (live or dried microorganisms and bacteria) that restore the microflora: Linex, Hilak-forte, therapeutic yogurts. More than 4 weeks will be required in order to normalize the microflora and cure candidiasis of the stomach.
Preparations for symptomatic therapy:
- for pain in the stomach - Pantoprazole or Omeprazole,
- with nausea and vomiting - “Tserukal”,
- with prolonged diarrhea - "Imodium",
- with heartburn - “Ranitidine”,
- with bloating - "Polysorb" or "Enterosgel."
Dosage and duration of treatment are prescribed by a doctor; self-treatment of candidiasis of the stomach with pharmacy drugs is not recommended. With a mild course of the disease, treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis, in difficult cases - in a hospital.
Diet
An essential factor in successful treatment is proper nutrition: fractional, enriched with vitamins A, B, C, with a moderate amount of carbohydrates. It is recommended to eat more cereals (in milk or water, but without sugar). In order to ensure favorable propagation of beneficial microorganisms, pickled vegetables, oat jelly, sour-milk products, and whey should be included in the diet.
Alternative methods against fungal infection
Traditional medicine suggests treating gastrointestinal candidiasis by consuming a large number of blueberries, honeysuckle, blueberries, and cabbage of all kinds.
After eating, it will be useful to rinse the mouth with soda, blue iodine, or another antifungal solution. After rinsing, it is advisable to hold St. John's wort or sea buckthorn oil in your mouth or lubricate the oral mucosa and tongue with mucus of flax seeds.
Treatment of candidiasis of the stomach with folk remedies is effective with regular use of oat jelly. For cooking, you need to fill a 3-liter jar of oatmeal.
Top with chilled boiled water mixed with kefir (1 cup). Bandage the bottle neck with gauze. Let stand 3 days. Filter through a sieve. The collected liquid should be insisted for another day, after which the upper liquid should be drained, leaving a white thick concentrate. You can store in the refrigerator for about 3 weeks. Use by mixing 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons of funds with ½ liter of water and boil before boiling. Kissel is ready to eat.
Preventive actions
Preventive measures include the elimination of risk factors, the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract, and the strengthening of general immunity. Medicines should be taken only under medical supervision; it is desirable to replace antibiotics with preparations of a more gentle action for microflora.
Gastric candidiasis, the treatment and symptoms of which indicate the need for a sparing diet, requires the observance of individual hygiene rules, thorough washing of fruits and vegetables, and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.