Candida fungus is always present in the normal human microflora, however, it can reproduce only under certain conditions. For example, if the body’s immune forces are very weak or a serious illness has been suffered. The fungus of this genus itself has more than 100 varieties. In the intestine, it occupies about 80% of the entire microflora, and in the oral cavity - 25%.
Fungi of this genus are unicellular organisms that barely reach 6-10 microns in size. They are found not only in the human body, but also in the entire environment. Candida fungi can be found in water, food, soil, on the mucous membrane and skin of humans and animals. In fact, a person is in constant contact with these unicellular microorganisms.
Possible causes of “awakening” of the fungus
Mycosis of the esophagus may appear against the background of contact with a sick person or when eating foods that are infected with yeast fungi. The reason may be household items that are infected with these microorganisms.
However, not only weakened immunity and contact with an infected person can cause esophageal mycosis. Risk factors include:
- diabetes mellitus (fungus occurs in about 7% of patients with type 1 diabetes);
- damage to the esophagus with ordinary bones or piercing and cutting objects;
- alcoholism and smoking;
- oncological diseases;
- taking antibacterial and hormonal drugs;
- malnutrition;
- insufficient intake of protein foods;
- dysbiosis;
- poisoning (most often with chemicals);
- pregnancy;
- allergies
- early childhood or old age;
- AIDS (fungus occurs in 2% of patients).
How to understand that the disease started?
Symptoms of esophageal mycosis are poorly expressed, therefore they often go unnoticed. According to statistics, approximately 30% of patients do not even suspect that they have a disease. However, there are still some characteristic features of the course of the disease that will make it possible to suspect the presence of pathology:
- heartburn;
- loss of appetite;
- pain at the time of swallowing;
- nausea, often turning into vomiting, with a simultaneous increase in body temperature;
- sore throat;
- weight loss;
- diarrhea.
Moreover, the last symptom is characterized not only by loose stools, but also by the presence in the stool of disseminated mucus, white film and blood.
Some patients simultaneously develop mycosis in the oral cavity. Against the background of this disease, a white film falls down from the oral cavity into the gastrointestinal tract and can block the lumen of the esophagus, which is a consequence of the formation of ulcers on the mucous membrane.
As a rule, an illness is diagnosed by chance, when examining the body in connection with complaints of other diseases.
How does the disease progress?
Despite the fact that mycosis of the esophagus has mild symptoms, the disease still progresses. Initially, small spots of white or yellowish color are formed, which are raised above the surface of the walls of the esophagus. Over time, they begin to merge, forming a plaque with a large lesion area. Microorganisms at this time actively multiply, penetrate into blood vessels, membranes and tissues.
The plaque itself, mixed with fungi, on the walls of the esophagus is a dead epithelium with inflamed cells. If you examine it under a microscope, you can clearly see the filament of the mycelium of the fungus Candida.
Types of disease
Mycosis of the esophagus can have one of three varieties, which are characterized by certain symptoms:
- Catarrhal type. On the mucous membrane of the esophagus there is swelling, hyperemia. Plaques are whitish in color.
- Fibrinous esophagitis. The patient has pain, there may be bleeding in the lesion with the fungus.
- Fibrous-erosive variety is characterized by the appearance of loose plaque, white or yellowish. Outwardly, such a plaque resembles a fringe. Hyperemia is observed on the mucosa under plaque.
Most often it is fibro-erosive mycosis that occurs.
If ulcers appear, then, most likely, there is still some kind of pathology in the digestive tract, since their appearance is not characteristic of mycosis.
Endoscopic classification
Against the background of three varieties of the disease, 4 degrees are distinguished, which can be determined only by endoscopic examination:
- Mycosis of the esophagus of the 1st degree is characterized by the presence of a small number of plaques, which barely reach 2 millimeters. There are no ulcers or swelling at this stage yet.
- At the second stage, plaques already increase in size, hyperemia and swelling appear, but ulcers are not yet formed.
- The third stage is already characterized by the merging of plaques into nodular and linear raids, ulcers may already appear.
- At the last stage, all the symptoms characteristic of the third are noted, but friability of the mucous membrane is still added to them, against which a narrowing of the lumen can form.
Diagnostic measures
To determine the presence of mycosis of the esophagus, an endoscopic examination is most often performed. In a serious condition of the patient, diagnostics can be carried out using a special tool, which after extraction has fragments of mucus on its surface. She is then examined in the laboratory to clarify the diagnosis. At the same time, mucus can be transmitted to culture to determine the sensitivity of the fungus to drugs.
In addition, the patient must have a history, a general blood test is performed to determine the level of glycosylated hemoglobin. Simply put, those studies are being conducted that can eliminate the presence of cancers.
In severe cases, radiography with a contrast agent can be done.
Therapeutic measures
How to treat esophageal fungal infections? Naturally, it will be quite difficult to cope with such an illness on your own. Doctors in such cases prescribe antifungal drugs. The selection of these drugs is carried out on the basis of the results of the analysis of the material after instrumental diagnostics, it depends on the sensitivity of the fungus to certain medications.
If the examination revealed that the patient has reduced immunity, then immunomodulators are prescribed.
In cases when during the examination it was found that there are a lot of lesions (and not only in the esophagus), the whole organism is treated. You can not run fungal diseases in the oral cavity, as there is a huge risk of the penetration of bacteria into the digestive tract.
Treatment of mycosis of the esophagus can be carried out not only through the use of tablets, but also through endoscopic administration of concentrated forms of drugs. There is also a laser treatment technique.
Preparations
When choosing drugs for treatment, the doctor must take into account the resistance of the fungus. Most often, medicines from the fungicide group are prescribed: Miconazole, Clotrimazole, Fluconazole and others. Not so long ago, a new generation of drugs appeared on the pharmaceutical market that affect the synthesis of the fungal wall and destroy it, for example, Kansidas.
Most likely, in order to alleviate the patient’s condition, the doctor will advise you to resort to diet and alternative medicine.
Diet food
A huge role in therapeutic measures is played by nutrition with esophageal mycosis. Most patients have to give up their usual diet. The best products that can speed up the healing process are those that contain beneficial bacteria:
However, when using fermented milk products, you will have to adhere to a certain rule: it is imperative to alternate them in order to exclude the fungus getting used to certain useful bacteria.
It is recommended to introduce oat jelly and pickled vegetables into the diet. But you will have to give up sweets, chocolate, fatty and fried foods, smoked meats and seasonings, that is, remove everything that can irritate the esophagus.
If you follow all the recommendations of a doctor, that is, there is a big chance to completely get rid of the disease and prevent its relapse.
Alternative medicine
It is not forbidden to treat mycosis of the esophagus with folk remedies, such recommendations can even be heard from the attending physician. After all, medicinal plants improve the effect of conservative therapy.
You can make tincture on kerosene. Young pine branches, cones, black poplar buds, shoots of thuja, cypress and other coniferous plants are suitable. Needles are placed in the jar and filled with kerosene. After three months, you can start treatment by drinking half a teaspoon three times before eating (in 30 minutes). Keep such a product in a cool and dark place.
If mycosis began to progress in the oral cavity, then it is recommended to rinse it with a solution of baking soda. For one glass of warm water, 1 teaspoon of soda is required. The rinse procedure should be carried out 3 times throughout the day.
You can make decoctions from the herbs (sage, chamomile, yarrow and calendula). Another recipe includes calendula, St. John's wort, oak bark and celandine. All components are mixed, then they make a decoction that can be drunk instead of tea.
Carrot juice has good antimicrobial properties and can be consumed on a regular basis.
The danger of esophageal mycosis
Why does he happen? There are a lot of reasons for the appearance of such an ailment, and the disease itself is very dangerous. Therefore, it is so important to immediately consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of mycosis. If there is no adequate treatment, then the following complications may arise:
- internal hemorrhage;
- purulent processes in the connective tissue;
- death of intestinal tissues;
- narrowing of the lumen of the esophagus;
- sores on the mucous membrane, which provoke the development of the inflammatory process.
All these complications will not only bring discomfort and pain, but also threaten a person’s life.
Disease Prevention
To prevent the development of mycosis, the simplest hygiene rules should be observed:
- wash your hands regularly, especially before eating;
- brush your teeth twice a day;
- limit the consumption of sweets;
- if you had to be treated with antibacterial or antifungal agents, then probiotics should be taken in parallel to reduce the negative effect of such drugs.
Do not forget about strengthening the body's defenses. Exercise and avoid hypothermia. Food should be balanced.