Description

Oral thrush, also called oral candidiasis (kan-ihl-DIE-uh-sis), is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates in the mouth. It is natural that the candida yeast that live in the mouth. But sometimes, it can grow too much and cause symptoms.

Oral thrush causes creamy white spots or patches, usually on the tongue or inside the cheeks. Sometimes oral thrush may spread to the roof of the mouth, on the gums or tonsils, or the back of your throat.

Although oral thrush can affect anyone, it is more likely to occur in babies and older adults, because they have lower immunity. It is also more likely to occur in people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions, or people taking certain medications. Oral thrush is a minor problem if you're healthy. But if you have a weakened immune system, the symptoms may be more severe and more difficult to control.

Symptoms

Children and adults

The symptoms of oral thrush can include:

  • Creamy white spots or patches on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils.
  • Slightly raised patches that look like cottage cheese.
  • Redness, burning or pain that can be severe enough to cause a hard time eating or swallowing.
  • Slight bleeding if the patches or spots are rubbed or scraped.
  • Cracks and redness at the corners of his mouth.
  • A cottony feeling in the mouth.
  • The loss of taste.
  • Redness, irritation, and pain under your dentures.

In severe cases, usually related to cancer or a weakened immune system because of HIV / AIDS , patches or patches that may extend down into your esophagus — the long, muscular tube that extends from the back of the mouth to the stomach. This is called Candida esophagitis. If this happens, you may have difficulty swallowing and pain, or a feeling as if food is getting stuck in your throat.

Babies and breastfeeding mothers

In addition to the distinctive white mouth spots, infants may have trouble feeding or be restless and irritable. They can pass the infection to their mothers during breast-feeding. Then, the infection can pass back and forth between the nipples of the mother and the baby's mouth.

Women whose breasts are infected with candida may have these symptoms:

  • Unusually red, sensitive, chapped, or itchy nipples.
  • Glossy or peeling of the skin on the darker, circular area around the nipple, called the areola.
  • Unusual pain during breastfeeding or pain in the nipples between meals.
  • Stabbing pains deep within the breast.

When to see a doctor

If you or your child have white spots or patches on the inside of the mouth, see your doctor or dental professional. Candidiasis is rare in healthy older children, teens, and adults. So if you have a yeast infection, consult your health care professional to find out whether you need to check out an underlying medical condition or for any other cause.

Causes

A healthy immune system works to get rid of the harmful invading organisms, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. This maintains a balance between "good" and "bad" microbes in the body. But sometimes these protective measures fail. Then candida fungus grows and allows for an oral thrush infection to take hold.

The most common type of candida fungus is Candida albicans. Several factors, such as a weakened immune system, can increase your risk of oral thrush.

Risk factors

You may have a higher risk of oral thrush infection if you have any of these problems:

  • Weakened immunity. Oral thrush is most common in babies and older adults due to decreased immunity. Some medical conditions and treatments can weaken your immune system. They include cancer and its treatments, organ transplant drugs that weaken the immune system, and HIV / AIDS .
  • Diabetes. If you have diabetes is not treated or the disease is not well controlled, your saliva may contain large amounts of sugar. This sugar-cause of candida to grow.
  • Vaginal yeast infections. The same fungus that causes oral thrush causes of vaginal yeast infections. You can pass the infection to your baby.
  • Drugs. Medications such as prednisone, inhaled corticosteroids or antibiotics that alter the natural balance of microorganisms in the body can increase the risk of oral candidiasis.
  • Other oral conditions. Use dentures, especially the upper part of the denture, or conditions that cause dryness in the mouth can increase the risk of oral candidiasis.

Complications

Oral thrush in general, it is not a great concern for children and healthy adults. But for people with low immunity, such as cancer treatment or HIV / AIDS , yeast infection can be more severe. Oral thrush is not treated can lead to more-serious systemic candida infections. If you have a weakened immune system, thrush may spread to your esophagus or other parts of your body.

Prevention

These measures can help reduce your risk of contracting candida infections:

  • Rinse out your mouth. If you need to use a corticosteroid inhaler, be sure to rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth after taking your medication.
  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily , or as often as your dentist recommends.
  • Check your dentures. Remove your dentures at night. Make sure that the dentures fit properly and does not cause irritation. Clean your dentures daily. Ask your dentist for the best way to clean your type of prosthesis.
  • See your dentist regularly, especially if you have diabetes or wear dentures. Ask your dentist about how often you need to be seen.
  • Careful with what you eat. Try to limit the amount of sugar that we eat, including foods that contain sugar. These foods can cause candida to grow.
  • Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes. Well-controlled blood sugar can lower the amount of sugar in the saliva. This keeps the growth of candida.
  • The treatment of a vaginal yeast infection as soon as possible.
  • Treat dry mouth. Ask your health care provider about ways to prevent or treat dryness of the mouth.

Diagnosis

The methods used in the diagnosis depends, in part, on whether the yeast infection is limited to the mouth, or may have spread into the esophagus.

If the yeast infection limited to your mouth

To diagnose oral thrush, your doctor or dental professional can:

  • Look in your mouth to see the white spots or stains.
  • Take a small scraping of the areas to study under a microscope.

If necessary, your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and blood tests to try to find any underlying medical condition that may be causing oral thrush.

If the symptoms also seem to come from your esophagus

If you have trouble swallowing and feels pain or feel as if food is getting stuck in your throat, your healthcare provider can determine if the yeast infection has spread into the esophagus. Your health care professional may recommend:

  • An endoscopic examination. Your health care professional checks the esophagus, the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine using a flexible tube with a camera on the end, called an endoscope.
  • A biopsy. If the endoscopic examination shows a yeast infection or other unusual findings, your health care professional will take a sample of tissue and sends it to the laboratory. This helps to find out which bacteria or fungi, if any, are causing symptoms.
  • A physical exam and tests. If the biopsy results show candidiasis, a physical examination and further tests may be done to try to find any underlying medical condition that may cause canker sores in the esophagus.

Treatment

The goal of any treatment of oral candidiasis is to stop the rapid spread of the fungus. But the best approach may depend on your age, overall health, and what is causing the infection. The elimination of the underlying causes, when possible, can prevent the yeast infection back:

  • Healthy adults and children. Your health care professional may recommend an antifungal medication. This medication comes in several forms, including tablets, tablets, or a liquid that you swish in the mouth and then swallows. If these drugs do not work, the medicine may be because it works through your body.
  • Infants and nursing mothers. If you are breastfeeding and your baby has oral thrush, you and your baby could pass the infection back and forth. Your health care professional may prescribe a mild antifungal medication for your baby and an antifungal cream for your breasts.
  • Adults with weakened immune systems. More often, your healthcare provider will recommend an antifungal medication.

A yeast infection can reoccur even after the treaty in the case of not treating the underlying cause, such as bad disinfected dentures or the use of inhaled steroids.

Lifestyle and home remedies

These tips may be helpful during an outbreak of oral candidiasis:

  • Practice good oral hygiene. Brush and floss regularly. Replace your toothbrush often, until the infection clears. Do not share toothbrushes.
  • Disinfection of dental prostheses. Ask your dental professional about the best way to disinfect your dentures to prevent re-infection.
  • Try rinses of warm salt water. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of salt in 1 cup (237 ml) of warm water. Swish the rinse and then spit it out. But do not swallow it.
  • Use pads. If you are breastfeeding and get a fungal infection, the use of pills to help prevent the fungus from spreading to your clothes. Look for tablets that do not have a plastic barrier that can encourage candida to grow. Wear a clean bra every day. Ask your health care provider about the best way to clean your breast, nipples, bottle nipples, pacifiers, and some of the parts of a breast pump is off, if you use one.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your family healthcare provider or pediatrician. But if you have an underlying condition that is part of the problem, you may be referred to a specialist for treatment.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Any of the symptoms, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for the appointment.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking, including the dosage. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you have recently used antibiotics or if you are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroids, such as those used to treat asthma.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional to help you make the most of your appointment.

Some questions to ask your health care professional may include:

  • What caused this condition?
  • Do I need any additional tests?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • Do these treatments have side effects?
  • Is there a generic option for the medicine you're prescribing?
  • How can I manage this condition, along with my other medical problems?
  • Is there a diet of the limits that must be followed?
  • How can I prevent this from happening again?
  • What do I need to be tested for other diseases linked to candidiasis?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

The health professional is likely to ask several questions, such as:

  • When did you start having symptoms?
  • Have recently taken antibiotics for an infection?
  • Do you have asthma? If so, does the use of a steroid inhaler?
  • Do you have any long-term health conditions?
  • Do you have any other new symptoms of illness?

Be prepared to answer questions and to reserve time to go over any points you want to focus on.

Symptoms and treatment of Oral candidiasis