Who is at Risk of Developing a Chronic Yeast Infection

The most common cause of a yeast infection is a fungus called Candida albicans. This is an opportunistic pathogen, which means that it will only attack the human body when the immune system is in a weakened state. Usually an infection can easily be treated with antifungal therapy; however, there are instances when an individual can develop a chronic yeast infection. Individuals that are at the highest risk for developing a chronic yeast infection are individuals that have a severely compromised immune system. Some patients that may suffer from a chronic yeast infection are individuals that are undergoing chemotherapy treatments or individuals that have AIDS. A chronic yeast infection is treated in the same manner as an acute yeast infection.