Candida Symptoms

The chronic Candida Related Complex or Syndrome is a series of vague, sometimes seemingly unrelated symptoms. Owing to the difficulty of physiological diagnosis, practitioners sometimes believe it is ‘all in the mind’ and patients may get referred to a psychiatrist to treat their neurotic condition. Routine blood tests do not usually show anything.
The clinical spectrum of Candidiasis or Candida Related Syndrome is very diverse. Almost any organ or system in the body can be affected. Candida infections can be localised and relatively superficial, as in vaginal Thrush, or deep-seated and disseminated throughout the body.

Disseminated infections arise as Candida gets into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. It is thought that when the bodily environment changes to allow Candida to transmute into its hyphal phase, it then colonizes the intestines and in time penetrates the gut wall. From there it is able to enter the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, of course, it has access to any organ or system in the body. It thrives in anaerobic or low oxygen conditions so its first targets tend to be the joints and the sinuses.

The range of symptoms which have been associated with Candidiasis or Candida Related Complex or Syndrome may be grouped as follows;

Vaginal. Recurrent episodes of vaginal Thrush, associated with the classic symptoms of itching, burning and discharge
Gastrointestinal. Heartburn, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Respiratory allergy. Blocked nose, post nasal drip, excessive catarrh, persistent cough, sore throat
Central nervous system. Anxiety, depression, memory deficits and/or loss of ability to concentrate
Menstrual abnormalities. Severe premenstrual tension and/or menstrual irregularities
Other Symptoms. Chronic fatigue, headache and/or irritability, aching joints

In particular it is claimed that an overgrowth of Candida in the body results in an increase in allergic reactions to the environment, which is particularly pronounced in damp conditions. As Candida is thought to interfere with the absorption of nutrients in the body, a general feeling of malaise results; a feeling of ‘not feeling quite right’ without being able to put your finger on it exactly.

Of course, many people may well suffer from many of the above symptoms at some point in their lives. This does not necessarily point to Candida infection. If however symptoms become chronic or you have many different symptoms, then it may be worth considering whether Candida proliferation is the causal agent.

Diagnosing Candida

There is no simple way to test for Candidiasis or Candida related Syndrome/Complex. The most common way is to take a clinical history. The comprehensive questionnaire taken from Dr Crook’s book is referenced below. SCIO Hair Analysis may also help. Stool analysis may help, but the jury is out on its true effectiveness. Could be worth a try.

However, if you have tried everything else and still feel unwell and you suspect Candidiasis, it is probably worth following the ideas in the Treatments page (link).

References

More About Symptoms

The physician responsible for highly publicizing the Candida syndrome is Dr. William G. Crook, M.D. The following are two of his books as listed on Amazon UK.

The following is his list of symptoms from the above books. In ‘The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough’ there is also a quiz you can take to see if you are perhaps suffering from Candidiasis. Care should be taken however, as this is only one person’s perspective, and I place it here only for information and not recommendation
The list is quite extensive.

Feeling of being drained
Depression or manic depression
Numbness, burning, or tingling
Headaches
Muscle Aches
Muscle weakness or paralysis
Pain and/or swelling in joints
Abdominal Pain
Constipation and/or diarrhea
Bloating, belching or intestinal gas
Women - Troublesome vaginal burning, itching or discharge
Prostatitis
Impotence
Loss of sexual desire or feeling
Endometriosis or infertility
Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities
Premenstrual tension
Attacks of anxiety or crying
Cold hands or feet, low body temperature
Hypothroidism
Shaking or irritable when hungry
Cystitis or interstitial cystitis

Other

Drowsiness
Ittitability
Incoordination
Frequent mood swings
Insomnia
Dizziness/loss of balance
Pressure above ears...feeling of head swelling
Sinus problems...tenderness of cheekbones or forehead
Tendency to bruise easy
Eczema, itching eyes
Psoriasis
Chronic hives (urticaria)
Indigestion or heartburn
Sensitivity to milk, wheat, corn or other common foods
Mucous in stools
Rectal itching
Dry mouth or throat
Mouth rashes including :white" tongue
Bad breath
Foot, hair, or body odor not relieved by washing
Nasal congestion or post nasal drip
Nasal itching
Sore throat
Laryngitis, loss of voice
Cough or recurrent bronchitis
Pain or tightness in chest
Wheezing or shortness of breath
Urinary frequency or urgency
Burning on urination
Spots in front of eyes or erratic vision
Burning or tearing eyes
Recurrent infections or fluid in ears
Ear pain or deafness

More

Inability to concentrate
Skin problems (hives, athlete's foot, fungous infection of the nails, jock itch, psoriasis (including of the scalp) or other chronic skin rashes)
Gastrointestinal symptoms (constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, or bloating)
Symptoms involving your reproductive organs
Muscular and nervous system symptoms (including aching or swelling in your muscles and joints, numbness, burning or tingling, muscle weakness or paralysis)
Recurrent ear problems resulting in antibiotic therapy
Respiratory symptoms
Lupus
Hyperactivity/Attention Deficit Disorder
Recurrent vaginal Thrush

Symptoms ascribed to intestinal Candida and symptoms published in research (taken from Candidiasis Syndrome).