Symptoms of a Gastrointestinal Yeast Infection
How it Affects the Stomach and Intestinal Tract
Nov 9, 2009
Yeast infections are common problems for many people who have weak immune systems due to diseases like cancer or HIV, or for people who have taken high doses of antibiotics. When the infection invades the gastrointestinal tract is can lead to very uncomfortable and even painful symptoms. These symptoms sometimes even cause hospitalization. These gastrointestinal yeast infections can affect adults, children and even infants. It is important for a person to understand exactly what the symptoms can be.
Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing is one of the first signs of a gastrointestinal yeast infection. The website for The Mayo Clinic reports that swallowing can be extremely painful and the throat and esophagus can become so inflamed and irritated that food can become caught. This can lead to additional pain and pressure, which can sometimes mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. This pain can cause additional anxiety to the person and their family. The problem of food becoming stuck can also cause a regurgitation of swallowed food saliva. These swallowing problems cause malnutrition and weight loss in adults and a failure to thrive in infants and children.
Intestinal Tract
Diarrhea can be another problematic symptom for someone who is suffering from a gastrointestinal yeast infection. The University of Adelaide reports that some people even have a very high concentration of yeast in their stool because of their stomach and intestines being colonized by yeast. If treatment is delayed and the infection worsens, food will not be absorbed properly and this can lead to malnutrition and dehydration. This can be a life threatening situation for people that are already ill, have low immunity, or for young children and infants. Someone experiencing this problem should seek immediate medical attention. A person may even need to be hospitalized so that the infection can be aggressively treated.
Nausea
When a person suffers from gastrointestinal yeast infection it can sometimes lead to nausea. As the yeast multiply and thrive in the gastrointestinal tract the person can have severe bloating. This bloating is caused by the yeast letting off gases as they become more concentrated. The stomach may be then become upset and the person may even suffer from pains in their stomach. Eating food can actually cause this condition to worsen. After a short period of time, the nausea may suddenly turn to vomiting. This can lead to dehydration and weight loss on a massive scale.
Having knowledge of what the signs and symptoms of this serious medical condition are is important for family members, those who have small children, or for the caregiver of an immune-compromised person. Getting prompt medical treatment for this condition is very important so that the health of the sufferer can be restored.
Sources:
The University of Adelaide; Mycology Online; Candidiasis; 2009;
The Mayo Clinic; The Yeast Infection; Epiglottitis; 2009;
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