What is the Difference Between Candidiasis and Gonorrhea

The key difference between candidiasis and gonorrhea is that candidiasis is a fungal infection that is caused by the fungus Candida albicans, while gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoea.

Candidiasis and gonorrhea are two microbial infections in humans that can be managed through antimicrobial agents. Candidiasis or yeast infection is usually not a sexually transmitted disease. Candidiasis can affect men as well as women. However, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract of men and women.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Candidiasis 
3. What is Gonorrhea
4. Similarities – Candidiasis and Gonorrhea
5. Candidiasis vs. Gonorrhea in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Candidiasis vs. Gonorrhea

What is Candidiasis?

Candidiasis is a fungal infection that is caused by a yeast known as Candida albicans. Candida species normally live on the skin and inside the body parts, such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any symptoms. Healthy bacteria usually help to balance the amount of yeast in the human body. However, any disruption of this balance leads to a yeast infection called candidiasis. Candidiasis can spread from person to person. Healthy bacteria help balance the amount of yeast in the human body. However, disruption of this balance leads to a yeast infection called candidiasis.

A candidiasis infection often appears on the skin, vagina, or mouth. Therefore, there are different types of candidiasis, like cutaneous candidiasis, vaginal candidiasis, oral candidiasis (thrush), candida granuloma, and invasive candidiasis. The symptoms of candidiasis may include a red patch of skin, raised bumps (pustules), itching, burning sensation, vaginal discharge (white or yellow), white patches or sores in the mouth, loss of taste or pain when eating or swallowing, and swelling inflammation. The risk of getting candidiasis is high for diabetes patients, pregnant women, babies and infants, people who wear dentures, hospitalized individuals, and people who often use catheters. Moreover, candidiasis can be diagnosed through physical examination, culture tests, and blood tests. Additionally, candidiasis can be treated with antifungal medications, available in oral forms such as pills, lozenges, or liquids, as well as topical forms like creams or ointments.

What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial disease that is caused by bacteria known as Neisseria gonorrhoea. The signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in men may include painful urination, pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis, and pain or swelling in one testicle. The signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in women may include increased vaginal discharge (green color), painful urination, vaginal bleeding between periods, and abdominal or pelvic pain. Other than genitalia, bacteria can affect other body parts as well, such as the rectum, eyes, throat, and joints. The risk factors for this condition include sexually active women younger than 25 and men who have sex with men, having a new sex partner, having a sex partner who has other sex partners, having more than one sex partner, having had gonorrhea, or having another sexually transmitted disease previously.

Moreover, gonorrhea can be diagnosed through physical examination, urine tests, and swab tests. Furthermore, adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics, and babies born to mothers with gonorrhea who develop this bacterial infection can also be treated with antibiotics. These antibiotics may include ceftriaxone, cefixime, cefotaxime, spectinomycin, cefpodoxime, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin.

What are the Similarities Between Candidiasis and Gonorrhea?

• Candidiasis and gonorrhea are two microbial infections in humans.
• Both diseases can be spread from person to person.
• Both diseases affect men as well as women.
• These diseases may cause similar symptoms, such as skin rashes, vaginal discharges, etc.
• Both diseases can be diagnosed through physical examination and laboratory culture tests.
• They are mainly treated with antimicrobial agents.

What is the Difference Between Candidiasis and Gonorrhea?

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans, while gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoea. Thus, this is the key difference between candidiasis and gonorrhea. Furthermore, candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted disease, while gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease.

The infographic below presents the differences between candidiasis and gonorrhea in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Candidiasis vs Gonorrhea

Candidiasis and gonorrhea are commonest microbial infections in humans. Candidiasis is not usually spread to sex partners. However, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that spreads via oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse in sexual partners. Neisseria gonorrhoea causes it. The symptoms of gonorrhea are burning micturition and vaginal or penile discharge. Meanwhile, candidiasis is a yeast infection, and Candida albicans cause it. The symptoms of candidiasis are curdy discharge from the vagina or penis with a fishy odor and intense itching. Furthermore, the treatment for candidiasis is with antimycotics, whereas the treatment for gonorrhea is with specific antibiotics. So, this summarizes the difference between candidiasis and gonorrhea.

Reference:

1. “Candidiasis Fungal Infection: Causes & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2.“Gonorrhea.” Mayo Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Human tongue infected with oral candidiasis” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Gonorrhea in the male – a practical guide to its treatment (1911) (14593282150)” (CC0) via Picryl