Candidiasis: 138 million women suffer from fungal infection

Around 138 million women are affected by a distressing but treatable fungal infection world-wide, according to a research review by University of Manchester scientists.

And the incidence of recurrent thrush, warns lead researcher Dr Riina Rautemaa-Richardson, is set to rise to an estimated 158 million people by 2030.

The team from The University of Manchester – one of the leading centres in the world for fungal infection research – published their findings in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis infection – caused by the overgrowth of the fungus Candida – causes itching, irritation, discharge, soreness and damage to the skin. For many women it is a taboo subject.

Previous research has shown that 75% of women develop thrush at least once in their lifetime and over 6% of women suffer from recurrent episodes.

Also from studies reviewed by the research team, thrush is a risk associated with menopausal women aged 55 and over, and women taking hormone replacement therapy and antibiotics.

Chinese, Indian and American women are the world’s most numerous sufferers of thrush at 29.1 million and 23.6 million and 9 million respectively, they find.

Ghana, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, are the countries where the condition is the least prevalent from the data they harvested.

Read more at University of Manchester