What are the symptoms of Candida infection in men?

Candida infection in men is a fungal disease. Once infected, the bacteria quickly invade the skin and mucous membranes, and in severe cases, they can also affect the internal organs. In most patients, candidiasis is an opportunistic infectious disease. What are the symptoms of candida infection in men?

Causes

The pathogen of this disease is Candida, which is not only widely present in nature, but also can parasitize on the normal human skin, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, anus and vaginal mucosa without causing disease. It is a typical conditional pathogen. Candida albicans is the main pathogen of this disease. Under normal circumstances, this bacterium is oval in shape, in a symbiotic state with the body, and does not cause disease. In addition, there are a few other pathogens in the genus Candida, such as Candida krusei, Candida asteroides, and Candida tropicalis. The pathogenicity of Candida is relative. The source of Candida infection can be exogenous, that is, Candidiasis can be infected by contact with external bacteria. Candida infection can also be acquired from the hospital environment; but most infections are endogenous infections, that is, Candida in the oropharynx, digestive tract, vagina, etc. Normal flora turns into pathogenic phase due to changes in internal and external environment and decreased immune function of human body, thus causing infection.

Candida infection symptoms in men

Clinical manifestations

Candida infection has no gender difference and can affect any age group, including unborn fetuses. The infection can invade almost all tissues and organs of the human body. Involvement of multiple systems or organs leads to disseminated candidiasis, including candidal bloodstream infection.

1. Mucocutaneous candidiasis

(1) Oropharyngeal candidiasis is most commonly caused by Candida albicans oropharyngitis, also known as acute pseudomembranous candidiasis and goose mouth sores. Candida albicans stomatitis is commonly seen in the tongue, soft palate, buccal mucosa, gums, pharynx, etc. Patients experience pain, dysphagia, and loss of appetite. It is most common in children and the elderly; it occurs in newborns one week after birth; Candida albicans stomatitis is rare in adults. For patients who have long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and those with leukemia, malignant tumors, etc., if Candida albicans stomatitis occurs, they should be highly alert to whether it is accompanied by respiratory tract, digestive tract, or even disseminated Candida infection. Further fungal examination should be performed in a timely manner.

(2) Esophageal candidiasis Candida esophagitis is mainly seen in patients with malignant tumors and AIDS, and is manifested by esophageal spasms, dysphagia, burning pain behind the sternum, and occasionally massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Esophagoscopy can reveal pigmented plaques and widespread inflammation on the mucosa.

(3) Vaginal candidiasis is the second most common vaginal infection after bacterial vaginitis. It is characterized by congestion and edema of the vaginal wall, and the vaginal mucosa is covered with gray-white pseudomembranes, which are similar to Candida albicans stomatitis. Vaginal secretions increase, which are white and sticky, or thin. In typical cases, there are small white lumps that look like bean curd dregs. Vulvar involvement may cause erythema, erosion, ulceration, and fissures, which may extend to the perianal area and even the entire perineum. Vulvar redness, swelling, burning sensation, and severe itching are the prominent symptoms of this disease. Over time, eczema-like changes may occur due to scratching and irritation. Vaginal candidiasis is more common in pregnant women and diabetic patients. Other causes include wearing tight, non-breathable pants and using broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. It can be transmitted to men through sexual intercourse, causing candidal balanitis or balanitis. People with long foreskin are more susceptible to infection.

2. Skin candidiasis

(1) Candida intertriginous infection often affects areas where smooth skin directly rubs against each other, such as the armpits, under the breasts, inguinal folds, perianal area, gluteal folds, and perineum. It is often accompanied by excessive sweating, local dampness, and poor ventilation. It is more common in obese middle-aged women and children. It initially presents as erythema, papules, or small blisters in the intertriginous areas, which then expand and merge into clearer erythema. After the blisters break, they delaminate or form erosive surfaces with a small amount of exudate, occasional cracking, and pain. They are distributed in a satellite-like pattern and often cause spontaneous itching.

(2) Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is relatively rare. It is mainly seen in patients with congenital T lymphocyte dysfunction. It usually occurs within 3 years of age, first with oral candidiasis, especially Candida albicans stomatitis, and then with the skin of the whole body, manifested by erythematous, scaly rash, sparse and falling hair, premature aging appearance, warty proliferative skin lesions, and sometimes husk or cortical appearance.

3. Disseminated candidiasis

It is a serious fungal infection that is life-threatening. The clinical manifestations vary due to the involvement of multiple organs.

(1) Candidaemia: Single or multiple blood cultures are positive for Candida, but there is no evidence of organ involvement. It is more common in patients with agranulocytosis or other high-risk patients. The most common clinical manifestation is fever, which can often exceed 38°C. Occasionally, there is chills and hypotension.

(2) Acute disseminated candidiasis is characterized by persistent fever and is ineffective with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Depending on the affected area, it may present as meningitis, brain abscess, encephalitis, myocarditis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, arthritis, myositis (muscle tenderness), etc. 30% of non-agranulocytopenic patients develop endophthalmitis, characterized by blurred vision and eye pain. Ophthalmic examination may reveal retinitis, choroiditis, vitreous abscess, and even anterior chamber abscess, which may be unilateral or bilateral and may lead to blindness. The skin is affected, with painful red papules with clear edges, accompanied by necrotic eschar, deep abscesses, deep pustular lesions of gangrenous nature, cellulitis, nodules, etc. Patients with thrombocytopenia may have purpura.

(3) Chronic disseminated candidiasis is also known as hepatosplenic candidiasis. When leukemia patients are relieved after treatment, their white blood cell count returns to normal, and their weight continues to decrease, this disease should be highly suspected. Other organs are often involved at the same time. Patients have enlarged liver and spleen, spontaneous abdominal pain, and significantly elevated blood alkaline phosphatase. Other liver function tests are normal or slightly abnormal.

4. Deep Organ Candidiasis

(1) Urinary tract candidiasis ① Renal candidiasis Most disseminated candidiasis involves the kidneys, and a small number is caused by ascending urinary tract infection. The main symptoms are fever, chills, back pain and abdominal pain. It often leads to the formation of renal abscesses or renal pelvic hydrops or anuria due to bacterial blockage. Infants often have oliguria or anuria. ② Candidal cystitis symptoms are similar to bacterial cystitis, which may include frequent urination, painful urination, urgency, dysuria and hematuria. Urine tests are positive.

(2) Lower respiratory tract candidiasis is mostly endogenous infection of Candida albicans in the bronchi and lungs.

(3) Candidal osteomyelitis and arthritis are characterized by local pain, fistula formation, and osteolysis, but usually without fever. They are more common in the lumbar spine and ribs. Candidal arthritis can occur after joint treatments, such as joint fluid aspiration, intra-articular injection, or artificial joint implantation. Most cases are hematogenous spread of disseminated candidiasis.

(4) Peritoneal and bile candidal infection Candidal peritonitis is commonly seen in patients undergoing hemodialysis, gastrointestinal surgery, and abdominal organ perforation. Previous use of antibiotics is a risk factor. The infection is generally confined to the peritoneal cavity. Dissemination is rare in patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis. Dissemination is relatively common in infants and young children. Candidal infection can also affect the gallbladder and bile duct.

(5) Candida endocarditis is common in patients with valvular heart disease, intravenous drug injection, heart surgery or cardiac catheterization. The onset is sudden or insidious, with fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, etc.

(6) Candidal meningitis is common in low-birth-weight newborns, debilitated patients, or patients undergoing neurosurgery who have already had Candida infection, but is more common in patients with disseminated candidiasis.

(7) Candida endophthalmitis occurs through hematogenous spread or direct inoculation during surgery, and is manifested by blurred vision, floating blind spots, and eye pain.