A Misunderstood Allergy: Candida

A lot of patients wind up at Allergy Associates of La Crosse (AAOL) because they’ve tried “everything else” with no relief. For years, providers have been treating an allergy to candida that’s often misidentified through other avenues. What is candida, and how can an allergy to it cause such obscure symptoms? We’ll go through it all in this blog.

What is Candida?

Candida is a usually harmless, healthy yeast that grows in nearly everyone’s sinuses, throat, and intestines. Because the mucosa of the genital tract can react similarly to the sinuses, some women experience vaginal symptoms from candida as well.
It’s possible to experience an overgrowth of candida, and that can cause symptoms like:

• Recurrent yeast infections
• White, coated tongue
• Increased sugar cravings
• Excessive gas and bloating

These symptoms can be bothersome enough, but there is another section of patients who experience even more discomfort because they’re allergic to the candida growing in their body.

Symptoms of Candida Allergy

It’s true – you can actually be allergic to something growing within your own body. Like with other allergies, there’s no real reason as to why, but allergy testing can help determine if candida is what’s causing your symptoms.
The allergy symptoms caused by candida can be:

• Brain fog
• Progressive fatigue
• Aching
•  Bowel distress
• Increased sensitivity to foods, chemicals and molds

These symptoms can be difficult to diagnose, as they can look like a variety of other conditions. Allergy testing, thorough history, and exam by a provider at AAOL may be the first step toward feeling better.

How to Treat the Candida Allergy

Providers at AAOL put the puzzle pieces together from testing, exam, and history to determine if candida is one of your problem allergies. They may then recommend allergy drop treatment that contains tiny amounts of candida – and other allergies determined to be problematic – to expose the body safely.
Over time, the amount of allergens is increased, so the immune system learns to tolerate more of the allergens without reacting. The end goal with candida is to control the growth, but to also train the body to not react when candida is inevitable. Most patients go on to experience less – or eliminated – candida allergy symptoms after successful treatment.
If you’re struggling with unexplained symptoms or have a hunch that allergy is to blame, consider scheduling a consult with an allergy provider at AAOL.