CANDIDA INFORMATION PACKET

$20 + S&H (180 pages)

Table of Contents

                   COVER PAGE:     Drawing of budding yeasts and filamentous hyphae. (1 page)

                    DISCLAIMER:     Patients are responsible for obtaining appropriate medical care for candidiasis.

                                              Other health problems can affect a patient’s response to antiyeast therapies.
 

          INTRODUCING YCS:     Products and services offered by Yeast Consulting Services. (1 page)

                     BIOGRAPHY:     Dr. Crandall’s education and professional experience in mycology research.

PART I: CONTROVERSY

     TABLE OF CONTENTS:     Candida Information Packet contains letters, fact sheets, resources and reprints.   

                DEAR PATIENT:     Letter explaining how to obtain testing and treatment for yeast infections.               

                DEAR DOCTOR:     Letter asking physicians who care for Candida patients to be open-minded             

                                              about new scientific developments in the field of candidiasis.

                   MY POSITION     The medical profession should have predicted the existence of the yeast syndrome

                    STATEMENT:     a priori based on published scientific evidence about candidiasis and Candida                                               allergy.

          EVIDENCE FOR THE     Controlled clinical studies report statistically significant results for anti-Candida          

          YEAST SYNDROME:     antibody and immune complex tests and positive responses to nystatin.

                        ACADEMIC     University physicians who had no experience treating the yeast syndrome             

                        SKEPTICS:     wrote negative opinion papers lacking data.

                       MY STORY:     My battle with yeast infections and why I wrote this Candida Information Packet.    

PART II: SYMPTOMS

                   DEFINITIONS:     Cutaneous yeast infections. Mucosal candidiasis (acute pseudomembranous         

                                              and chronic atrophic erythematous). The yeast syndrome. Candidemia.

                                              Systemic (disseminated) candidiasis. Cell wall deficient yeast protoplasts.

                     SYMPTOMS:     Clinical signs and symptoms of candidiasis at various body sites including the       

                                              vulva, vagina, urethra, bladder, penis, prostate, scrotum, mouth, esophagus,

                                              intestine, skin and nails.

              PATHOGENESIS:     Candida causes disease by tissue invasion, latent intracellular infection,                

                                              digestive enzymes, toxic metabolites and immune reactions. Production of

                                              symptoms is explained at the cellular and molecular levels. How to distinguish

                                              between endogenous relapse and exogenous reinfection. Five figures show

                                              yeasts growing inside vaginal epithelial cells.

                             SUGAR     Figure shows breakdown of glucose by Candida into alcohol, acetaldehyde and

                  METABOLISM:     acetic acid. These toxic products cause some symptoms of the yeast syndrome.

PART III:  DIAGNOSIS

      TEN STEP PROGRAM:     Outline of a program of self-help and medical care for overcoming yeast infections   

                                              and yeast allergies.

                    ALGORITHM:     Figure summarizes program (decision tree) for superficial candidiasis.                   

             QUESTIONNAIRE:     List of questions that help to identify patients who have fungus-related disease.      

                                              Questionnaire validated by a controlled clinical trial of nystatin therapy.

                             STEP  1.    DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: Table of laboratory and clinical diagnostic tests with           

                                              expected results for mucosal and cutaneous yeast infections and allergies.

                                              LABORATORIES: Table of six laboratories that perform diagnostic blood tests      

                                              for the yeast syndrome. Abnormally high levels of anti-Candida antibodies,

                                              Candida antigens and immune complexes in the blood are indicative of intestinal

                                              candidiasis.

                                              RESISTANT YEASTS: How to distinguish between yeast infections caused by    

                                              resistant yeasts and yeast infections resistant to permanent cure. Table of five

                                              laboratories that test Candida isolates for antifungal susceptibility.

                                              DISEASES MIMICKING CANDIDIASIS: Similar symptoms unrelated to yeast.    

                                              CANDIDA-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Alleged yeast-connected illnesses.           

                                              UNSCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES: A to Z                                                             

PART IV:  TREATMENT

                             STEP  2.    ANTIFUNGAL TREATMENTS: Topical, nonabsorbed, systemic and                     

                                              intravenous antifungals. Prescribing criteria: efficacy, safety, cost, convenience,

                                              dosage and treatment time.

                                              TOPICAL ANTIFUNGALS: Table of 13 over-the-counter and 14 prescription           

                                              topical antifungal preparations for the treatment of mucosal and cutaneous

                                              candidiasis.

                                              ORAL ANTIFUNGALS: Table comparing six oral antifungal prescription drugs.      

                                              Nonabsorbed: nystatin USP. Systemic: Nizoral, Diflucan, Sporanox, Lamisil and

                                              Vfend. Risks during pregnancy and breast-feeding, in children, and in patients

                                              with liver disease or other serious illnesses.

                                              JUSTIFICATION: Letter to health insurance grievance committees requesting     

                                              coverage for long-term Diflucan (fluconazole) therapy in adults. Guidelines from

                                              the Physicians’ Desk Reference.  

                                              NATURAL REMEDIES: Pros and cons of treating Candida infections with         

                                              over-the-counter herbal products and nutritional supplements.

                             STEP  3.    PRECAUTIONS: Antifungal side effects. Contraindications. “Yeast die-off.”          

                                              Table of drug interactions. Monitor liver function. Combination therapy. Follow-up.

                             STEP  4.    ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS: Topical corticosteroids for itching and              

                                              burning. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis and fibromyalgia.

                                              Antihistamines for allergies. Beta-adrenergic inhalers and leukotriene

                                              receptor antagonists for asthma.

                             STEP  5.    IMMUNOTHERAPY: Allergy shots of Candida extract plus other allergens.          

PART V:  PREVENTION

                             STEP  6.    AVOID ALL RISK FACTORS: Medical, hospital, physiological, disease and        

                                              transmission risk factors that make patients susceptible to yeast infections.

                             STEP  7.    LIFESTYLE CHANGES: Tips for avoiding behavioral activities, sexual                    

                                              practices and birth control methods that cause candidiasis.

                                              CHECKLIST OF RISK FACTORS.                                                                     

                             STEP  8.    CANDIDA DIET: Restrict sugar and avoid yeasts and molds in foods and              

                                              beverages. Myths and facts about the low carbohydrate diet and Candida.

                             STEP  9.    PROBIOTICS: Supplements containing “friendly” bacteria restore normal              

                                              intestinal flora killed by antibacterial antibiotics.

                            STEP 10.    ANTIFUNGAL PROPHYLAXIS: Use an antifungal agent concurrently when         

                                              taking medications that cause yeast infections. Take an antifungal agent

                                              intermittently to prevent yeast infections when risk factors are ongoing.

PART VI: MANAGEMENT

                           WOMEN:     Yeast infections of the vulva, vagina, and urethra.                                                

                                              VULVODYNIA: Often develops after recurrent episodes of yeast vaginitis.             

                                              Possible etiologies are residual inflammation, chronic atrophic erythematous

                                              candidiasis, Candida allergy and proliferation of nerve cells.

                                              SELF-TREATMENT OF YEAST VAGINITIS: OTC sale of vaginal antifungals      

                                              gives women access to prompt treatment. But self-diagnosis of yeast vaginitis

                                              is often wrong, and delays getting proper diagnosis and treatment.

                                              DON’T MICROWAVE YOUR UNDERWEAR!: Don't set your kitchen on fire            

                                              in a misguided attempt to cure yeast vaginitis by sterilizing your panties.

                                 MEN:     Yeast infections of the penis, prostate, urethra and scrotum.                                

                        CHILDREN:     Yeast infections in children cause oral thrush, colic, diarrhea, constipation            

                                              and diaper rash.

PART VII: APPENDIX

                    RESOURCES:     Diagnostic Laboratory. Yeast-free Foods. Vulvodynia.                                         

                       PHYSICIAN     Websites of 12 referral services that provide the names of doctors who                   

                     REFERRALS:     treat Candida-related illnesses in the U.S. and other countries.        

                        REPRINTS:     “The Pathogenetic Significance of Intestinal Candida Colonization” Crandall, M.

                                              International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 207: 79-81 (2004).

                                              A letter to the editor rebutting a negative paper by Lacour et al. (2002).

                                              "Allergic Predisposition in Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis" Crandall, M.

                                              Journal of Advancement in Medicine 4: 21-38 (1991). An invited review article

                                              explaining how Candida allergy makes patients susceptible to yeast infections.

Copyright, 2007, Marjorie Crandall, Ph.D.

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