Definition

• Candida tropicalis, like all other yeasts in the Candida family, live within human or animal hosts and, in small numbers, they are beneficial since they serve as food for a variety of gastrointestinal-friendly bacteria. When overuse of antibiotics stress, or poor diet causes the gastrointestinal population of bacteria to decrease, the Candida population can dramatically increase. If the amount of Candida yeast becomes large enough, it is thought to enter the bloodstream where it can invade various organ systems causing a large variety of symptoms.
  
  

Gastrointestinal symptoms

• The gastrointestinal system is the most common place for people suffering from invasive amounts of Candida tropicalis to experience symptoms. These include excessive gas, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain, and a variety of sudden and intense food sensitivities or allergies.
  
  

Immune System Symptoms

• Many alternative health professionals believe that if an individual's bloodstream is overwhelmed by large amounts of the Candida tropicalis yeast, the chemicals released by the yeast population can become so intense that the body's immune system can become overtaxed and fail to function properly. It is thought that the body may also react as if to an allergen, with swelling, eczema, rashes or hives and respiratory problems.
  
  

Neurological Symptoms

• The neurological system can also suffer from excessive Candida tropicalis. These symptoms include memory loss, severe mood swings, depression, headaches (and, in some cases, migraine headaches), anxiety and panic attacks, and unexplained irritability.
  
  

Warning

• Although many health practitioners believe strongly that Candida tropicalis--as well as all of the other types of yeasts within the Candida family--is the root cause of many of the uncomfortable, and seemingly untreatable, symptoms experienced by individuals today, there is no conclusive medical evidence to support this theory. Most nationwide medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, do not advocate treating patients with symptoms of weight gain, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, or other ailments with medications or cleanses purporting to rid the body of excess candida yeasts. Finally, be sure to consult your physician before taking part in any Candida cleanse treatments, and to seek further medical attention if your symptoms persist or worsen.