Infection with the yeast, Candida albicans. It is encouraged by pregnancy, DIABETES MELLITUS, prolonged wide-spectrum ANTIBIOTICS or CORTICOSTEROID therapy, and is also seen in debilitated infants, the elderly and immunocompromised patients, e.g. those with AIDS/HIV. It may cause white patches in the mouth or vulvovaginal area (thrush) and a red vesicular and scaly rash in the finger clefts, beneath the breasts or in the groin or anogenital folds. Fingernail-fold infection causes chronic PARONYCHIA with secondary nail DYSTROPHY and may complicate RAYNAUD'S phenomenon. CLOTRIMAZOLE and similar ‘azoles’ as creams, oral gels or vaginal pessaries are effective but severe systemic infections may require oral itraconazole or even intravenous AMPHOTERICIN B.