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Intestinal candidiasis. A clinical report and comments about this opportunistic pathology

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Abstract

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. Conclusion: 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.

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Ruiz-Sánchez, D., Calderón-Romero, L., Sánchez-Vega, J.T. et al. Intestinal candidiasis. A clinical report and comments about this opportunistic pathology. Mycopathologia 156, 9–11 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021326713470

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