Candidiasis of the stomach: causes, symptoms, treatment

Candidiasis of the stomach - a fairly common disease, provoked by the activity of a fungal infection of the genus Candida. Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms in small amounts are present in the body of each 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 Weakening Immunity

The immune status of a person can be weakened when:

• Long-lasting infectious diseases and diabetes mellitus,
• Presence of malignant formations,
• Various kinds of injuries,
• Long-term antibiotic treatment,
• Unfavorable socio-economic situation.

Not the least role is played by the age factor: most often the candidiasis of the stomach is affected by elderly people and children. The risk of fungal infection also affects people who have AIDS, oncology, diabetes, chronic diseases of the thyroid gland, kidneys, esophagus, intestines, stomach. With internal bleeding or cancer, Candida fungi can germinate through the walls of the affected organ, thus provoking life-threatening consequences.

Ways of infection with candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract

The place of localization of candidiasis infection is most often the stomach, where the fungus penetrates naturally: through the oral cavity, along the esophagus. Infection with the disease can occur in several ways:

• When in contact with contaminated objects (dirty things, poorly washed vegetables, fruits);
• In the process of giving birth - 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

Determine the presence of Candida fungus in the stomach can be on the following symptoms:

• Pain sensations in the epigastric region. To determine it, you should mentally draw a triangle on your stomach, placing its base under the ribs at the level of the navel; The vertex closes in the rib area. The part of the body inside the triangle is the epigastric region.
• Nausea and vomiting. In this case, often in the vomit, by conducting laboratory tests, it is possible to detect fungal particles that visually look like curdled films and blood veins. These signs indicate inflammation of the gastric mucosa.

Candidiasis, the symptoms of which are expressed by pain in the abdominal region, can be complicated by perforation of the organ wall with its destruction, internal bleeding and possible development of peritonitis. Bleeding can pass unnoticed until iron deficiency anemia develops. With a large destruction of the vessel there is a threat to life.

Candidiasis of the intestine and esophagus

Candidiasis of the esophagus (otherwise - candidal esophagitis) is accompanied by:

• Heartburn, burning in the pharynx - these signs do not appear immediately, but 2-3 weeks after the onset of the disease;
• The appearance in the mouth of a white scent with an unpleasant odor.
• Difficulty swallowing (in severe form) due to overlap of the esophagus lumen with candidiasis films.

The defeat of the intestines with Candida fungi can be assumed by the appearance of discomfort in the abdomen, pain, diarrhea. In the liquid stool, there is mucus, impurities of blood, curdled inclusions.

Common signs for the above types of candidiasis is:

• Weakness, drowsiness, malaise,
• Decreased ability to work,
• loss of appetite,
• Elevated body temperature.

Diagnosis of stomach disease

Since this symptomatology is rather vague and typical for many diseases of the stomach and intestines, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis. One of the main ways to study 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; Food intake should be no later than 18-19 hours of the previous day. To eliminate gastric mucus complicating the examination, the patient is encouraged to take special medications (10 minutes before the start - 3 ml of "Espumizana"). 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 of the pathogen can be obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibodies to fungi Candida allows to identify the conduct of immunological reactions.

If a candidiasis of the esophagus and stomach is suspected, a study of the vaginal and vomitic masses of the patient is carried out in a laboratory to identify the fungal filaments. Treatment is appointed after an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract

An important factor in the successful clearance of candidal infection is timely therapy, which does not allow spores of the fungus to spread further into the deep layers of the walls of the digestive organs.

Treatment of candidiasis of the stomach and esophagus is carried out by antimycotics (antifungal drugs) - "Pimafucin", "Nystatin", "Levorin", "Fluconazole", 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 negative effects on the body as a whole. In severe cases, drugs are given intravenously: "Ampholip" or "Amphotericin".

To increase the effectiveness of therapy, it is recommended to use eubiotics (living or dried microorganisms and bacteria) that restore the microflora: Lineks, Hilak-forte, therapeutic yoghurts. More than 4 weeks will be required in order to normalize the microflora and cure the candidiasis of the stomach.

Drugs for symptomatic therapy:

• With pain in the stomach - "Pantoprazole" or "Omeprazole"
• With nausea and vomiting - "Tserukal", "
• With prolonged diarrhea - "Imodium"
• With heartburn - "ranitidine"
• With swelling of the intestine - "Polysorb" or "Enterosgel".

Dosage and duration of treatment is prescribed by a doctor; It is not recommended to treat gastric candidiasis by itself. With mild disease, treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis, in difficult cases - in a hospital.

Diet

An obligatory factor of successful treatment is the proper organization of nutrition: fractional, enriched with vitamins of group A, B, C, with a moderate amount of carbohydrates. It is recommended to eat more porridges (on milk or water, but without sugar). In order to ensure favorable reproduction of useful microorganisms in the diet should include sour vegetables, oatmeal, sour-milk products, whey.

Folk methods against fungal infection

Traditional medicine offers treatment of candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract by consuming a large number of berries blueberries, honeysuckle, blueberries, 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 desirable to hold in the mouth of hunter's or sea buckthorn oil or to lubricate the mucosa of the mouth and tongue with mucus of flax seeds.

Treatment of candidiasis of the stomach with folk remedies is effective with the regular use of oat jelly. For preparation it is required to fill a 3-liter jar with oat flakes. Top with chilled boiled water, mixed with kefir (1 glass). Cover the neck of the bottle with gauze. Allow to stand for 3 days. Filter through a sieve. The collected liquid should be insisted for another day, after which drain the upper liquid, leaving a white thick concentrate. You can store in the fridge for about 3 weeks. Use by mixing 2-3 tbsp. Spoon the ingredients with ½ liter of water and boil until boiling begins. Kissel is ready for use.

Preventive actions

Preventive measures include elimination of risk factors, treatment of diseases of the digestive tract, strengthening of general immunity. Medicinal preparations should be taken only under medical supervision; It is desirable to replace antibiotics with drugs that are more gentle for microflora.

Candidiasis of the stomach, the treatment and symptoms of which indicate the need to maintain a sparing diet, requires compliance with the rules of individual hygiene, thorough washing of fruits and vegetables, and a healthy and active lifestyle.