Final answer:
Gestational diabetics are more prone to fungal infections due to the compromised immune function that accompanies gestational diabetes, making them susceptible to opportunistic pathogens like Candida and bread mold fungi such as those causing mucormycosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gestational diabetics tend to get fungal infections. This is because individuals with gestational diabetes have an altered immune response that can lead to an increased risk of opportunistic infections, including fungal infections. Examples of fungal infections that can affect individuals with compromised immune systems or conditions like diabetes include candidiasis and mucormycosis. Candida is a type of yeast that can cause infections when there's an imbalance in the body's normal flora, often exploiting weakened immune defenses. On the other hand, mucormycosis is a severe infection caused by bread molds and can occur in immunocompromised individuals.
Fungi like Aspergillus, Candida, and Pneumocystis, are opportunistic pathogens that can cause infections when the body's defense mechanisms are compromised. Unlike bacteria and viruses, fungal cells are structurally more similar to human cells, which is why anti-fungal drugs have fewer targets as compared to antibiotics or antiviral medications. Furthermore, conditions like gestational diabetes disrupt normal immune function, thereby creating an environment that is more susceptible to fungal overgrowth.