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Causes and pathogenesis of candidiasis in children
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Causes of Candidiasis in Children
The genus Candida includes 30 species with 6 variants. Yeast-like fungi grow in aerobic conditions and are considered opportunistic microorganisms. They tolerate repeated freezing and remain viable in a dried state for several years. They die almost instantly when boiled. Common disinfectant solutions kill them within a few minutes.
[ Pathogenesis of Candida infection
Infection can occur both exogenously and endogenously.
Candidiasis of the oral mucosa and skin is more often detected in newborns, and especially in premature babies, which can be explained by the weakness of general and local defense mechanisms. The process easily spreads to neighboring tissues and organs, causing a generalized candidal infection with damage to internal organs. Artificial feeding of newborns also contributes to the occurrence and more severe course of candidiasis.
In older children, despite the constant carriage of yeast-like fungi, candidiasis is rare. Only in cases of severe diseases that disrupt the general and local resistance of the body, typical forms of candidal infection may occur, complicating the underlying disease.
Candidiasis is predisposed by carbohydrate metabolism disorders (diabetes mellitus, obesity). In the pathogenesis of fungal stomatitis and angular cheilitis, digestive disorders, low acidity of gastric juice, and achylia are important, which leads to impaired absorption of vitamins and easier penetration of yeast-like fungi.
An exceptionally large role in the development of candidiasis is played by the long-term and unsystematic use of antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum ones, or several such drugs at the same time, as a result of which the normal microbial flora is suppressed. Dysbacteriosis develops, contributing to the emergence of candidal infection.
A provoking factor may be the use of glucocorticoids, cytostatics and other immunosuppressants that disrupt the immune status of the body and promote the manifestation of pathogenic properties of opportunistic microorganisms, including Candida.
In the pathogenesis of candidiasis, a major role is played by the sensitizing ability of Candida fungi and their metabolic products, which change the body's reactivity. As a result, various allergic reactions occur, aggravating and often determining the course of the disease. These may be allergic rashes on the skin (candidamycides, or levurides), outwardly resembling eczema or exudative erythema, urticaria, Quincke's edema, etc.