# What kind of doctor treats candidiasis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942 "2011-11-14T22:07:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/1 "2011-11-14T22:07:36Z")
What kind of a specialist would treat candidiasis? Not a vaginal yeast infection or skin rash, but systemic candida? An infectious disease person? It’s an infection, but fungal not bacterial. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/2 "2011-11-14T22:11:46Z")
Unless you are talking about invasive infections in an immunocompromised host, generally a quack. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/3 "2011-11-14T22:18:24Z")
Ah… so you don’t believe in it… ok. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/4 "2011-11-14T22:29:54Z")
Fungal infections are treated by Infectious Disease doctors in immunocompromised patients. You will likely only get anti-fungals to treat a suspected “low-grade” systemic candida infection from an alternative medicine doctor. It is not a diagnosis supported by the medical literature, as I understand it. Does that not answer your question? ---
**Author:** ![Hengist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Hengist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hengist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/5 "2011-11-14T22:34:02Z")
Generally speaking, systemic candida is entirely restricted to immunologically compromised patients, such as the very young, elderly, and people with immunological diseases like AIDS. If you are speaking about a real patient and that patient doesn’t fit those categories, that alone is reason to get a second opinion from a good doctor, because as DSeid said, systemic candida almost never occurs in an otherwise healthy patient. Any doctor who suggests systemic candida in such a healthy patient is very likely to be a quack. Treatment would probably be done by a doctor specializing in clinical mycology or infectious diseases. ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/6 "2011-11-14T22:38:02Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > What kind of a specialist would treat candidiasis? Not a vaginal yeast infection or skin rash, but systemic candida? An infectious disease person? It’s an infection, but fungal not bacterial. Who diagnosed the condition? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/7 "2011-11-14T22:42:17Z")
I have to side with **Seid** here. It’s usually gravely ill/immunocompromised folks who are susceptible to systemic candidiasis, and they are commonly treated by infectious disease specialists or hospitalists/critical care specialists. Virtually all of us are colonized to some extent by Candida (for instance in the oral cavity, skin and genitourinary sites) and it is harmless except sometimes when there are underlying medical problems, or other normal flora are killed off by antibiotics and Candida may temporarily cause a problem. The real problem is [the quacks](http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candida.html) who argue that one-third or more of us have “Candida overgrowth”, “Candida hypersensitivity” or similar term (I’ve seen a claim that 80-90% of people in modern society are so afflicted) and say they can treat a slew of symptoms such as fatigue, depression, gastrointestinal difficulties, “brain fog” etc. with diets and antifungal drugs, as well as useless and sometimes dangerous supplements. It’s an alt med goldmine, but it’s just as bogus as the belief that many vague and nonspecific complaints are due to parasites, acid-base imbalances, “toxins” and the like. Note that tests for “Candida overgrowth” may well be positive, seeing that Candida is a natural part of our body’s microbial flora. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/8 "2011-11-15T01:49:26Z")
It’s just a general question. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/9 "2011-11-15T05:47:57Z")
[This doctor](http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/) is certain candida is the root cause of many cancers. His treatment is baking soda. Ignored, even shunned by the medical and scientific communities, he remains. From his FAQ page: > [@](#): > > **Why did he not publish in scientific magazines?** > > ``` > He has always been ignored by official authorities... > > ``` He claims up to a 90% remission rate in cases he treats early enough. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/10 "2011-11-15T05:56:26Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > [This doctor](http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/) is certain candida is the root cause of many cancers. His treatment is baking soda. Ignored, even shunned by the medical and scientific communities, he remains. As quacks tend to, until they kill someone and lose a lawsuit, or the FDA finally takes an interest in whatever crap they’re selling. > [@](#): > > He claims up to a 90% remission rate in cases he treats early enough. I claim to be crown prince of Albania. I can’t back up my claim and he can’t back up his. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/11 "2011-11-15T06:32:03Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > I claim to be crown prince of Albania. I can’t back up my claim and he can’t back up his. It’s an honor to have you posting to the boards, Your Highness. I notice that in Albania the most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses. You might want to consult the doctor and get some baking soda to the people of your country, stat. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/12 "2011-11-15T06:34:12Z")
Well in the best of all possible worlds, Candida would be treated by Pangloss. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/13 "2011-11-15T06:44:32Z")
In my experience the one thing regular GPs are really good at is knowing what kind of specialist a certain ailment should be referred to (if I was in a cynical frame of mind I’d say it’s the ONLY thing they are really good at). So ask your GP. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/14 "2011-11-15T16:39:24Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > So ask your GP. I’m writing a story. This is usually a good place to get answers to questions. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/15 "2011-11-15T16:42:00Z")
Clarification - in referring to Candida as typically harmless - I meant in the sense of not causing generalized body-ravaging illness unless one has serious immunosuppression. Localized infections can be painful and annoying, but they’re eminently treatable with standard antifungals, and that’s not what the “systemic candidiasis” quacks are going on about. Speaking of whom, here’s more on [the dazzling brilliance of Dr. Simoncini](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/08/a_fungus_among_us_in_oncology.php), oncologic pioneer ignored by the medical establishment. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/16 "2011-11-15T16:44:47Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > Well in the best of all possible worlds, Candida would be treated by Pangloss. In truly the best of all possible worlds, [Candida](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_(song)) would be treated by [Tony Orlando and Dawn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Orlando_and_Dawn). ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/17 "2011-11-15T17:30:30Z")
I ran across a web site about this a while ago. It seemed to fit - always tired, depressed, headaches, yada yada. Searched some more - realized it was like those mind-reading tricks - general enough that almost anyone could say “yeah, that sounds like me” if they did not feel good. I found an even more interesting thing - google for it, an I found a number of web sites, blogs, chat boards, etc. basically saying the same thing, how much they were helped by the treatment. The more I read, the more these seemed to be astroturfing - a collection of fake web sites designed to look like a groundswell of approval. They all seemed to lead back to about a dozen sites that would sell you an series of treatements, infusion of “good bacteria” to cure the problem for around $100 to $400 a month. For basically, I assume, probiotic yogurt culture? Pretty neat little under-the-radar scam, it seems to me. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/18 "2011-11-15T17:35:40Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > They all seemed to lead back to about a dozen sites that would sell you an series of treatements, infusion of “good bacteria” to cure the problem for around $100 to $400 a month. For basically, I assume, probiotic yogurt culture? Could be [Fecal Transplant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_bacteriotherapy) :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-treats-candidiasis/602942/19 "2011-11-15T18:44:55Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Could be [Fecal Transplant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_bacteriotherapy) :dubious: No for stuff taken orally (one hopes).😛