Intestinal candidiasis. A clinical report and comments about this opportunistic pathology.
An eight-years-old girl, who presented with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Afterward she presented with intestinal candidiasis. The isolated species was identified as Candida albicans by differential tests. Treatment given was with 500,000 IU of oral nystatin every 8 hours for 10 days and intestinal normal microbiota restoratives. Evolution has been satisfactory, although concomitantly type A hepatitis developed. Rest and a soft diet were recommended. The child is now perfectly healthy with normal liver function tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged treatments with broad-spectrum antibiotics destroyed the indigenous intestinal microbiota, which provoked intestinal C. Albicans proliferation and adversely affected the immunological system of the patient, thus facilitating the establishment of a viral infection.
Ruiz-Sánchez
D
D
Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. letycr@servidor.unam
Calderón-Romero
L
L
Sánchez-Vega
J T
JT
Tay
J
J
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D009761:Nystatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009761:Nystatin