Oral Thrush

Oral Thrush – General Information

Oral Thrush (also known as Oral Candidiasis) is an infection of the yeast fungus named Candida Albicans (also known as Candida Glabrata and Candida Tropicalis) in the mucous membranes of the mouth. Oral Thrush refers to a temporary candidiasis in the mouths of the babies and if it appears in the mouth and throat of the adults it is referred to as candidosis or monilasis. The Oral Thrush is mostly found in:

• Newborn babies
• Poorly controlled Diabetes
• Denture users
• People who have a poor nutrition (especially those who lack vitamin A, iron and folate deficiencies)
• People who have immune deficiencies, especially those who have AIDS or HIV and those who follow a chemotherapy treatment
• Women who are undergoing hormonal changes such as pregnancy or those on a birth control pills treatment
• People who perform cunnilingus or fellatio on a person who already has thrush

Beside all these, it can also appear as a side effect of the medications, such as antibiotics. Persons who are undergoing long-term treatment with corticosteroids for lung conditions, such as asthma or COPD (meaning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are at a risk of developing this disease.
Candida is exists in the oral cavity of approximately half of the population. Everyone who wears dentures will eventually develop candida, without suffering any ill effects. Candida is not a problem until there is a change in the chemistry of the oral cavity that helps the development of candida over the other micro-organisms that exist there.

Oral Thrush – Symptoms

It is well known that any medical disorder (including Oral Thrush) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Oral Thrush or from any other medical disorder.
Here is a list of the most common symptoms of the Oral Thrush:

• White, cream – colored or yellow spots in the patients mouth
• The spots are slightly raised
• No pain included
• White skin flakes
• Raw skin areas
• Raw or even bleeding skin areas – only if the patients scrap the flakes or they fall of
• White patches inside the cheeks, on the tongue and in the throat
• White patches on the soft palate and on the tonsils
• Inner lip rash and also lip rash in the corners of the mouth
• Fussiness of the infants
• Low fever
• Irritability, also in infants
• Mild oral discomfort
• Discomfort when eating and chewing
• A burning sensation in the throat
• Unusually red or sensitive nipples
• Unusual pain during nursing
• painful nipples between feedings
• Stabbing pain within the breast
• Shiny or flaky skin on the areola
• Sore throat
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Ulcers in the mouth may appear if the infection is severe.

Oral Thrush – Treatment

The scope of any Oral Thrush treatment is to stop the spread of the fungus and this depends on what caused it and on the patient’s age. First of all the condition which caused the Oral Thrush must be brought under control. This may involve an investment in new fitting dentures or adjusting the Diabetes treatment. For the patients that are infected with HIV it is not always possible to treat the immune deficiency that is why a treatment using the antifungal drugs must be used. After the condition that caused the Oral Thrush has been treated, the thrush can be cured. The treatment includes the antifungal medicines (in the form of pastilles) that are either sucked, either held in the mouth, before swallowing and that allow the antifungal medicine to act locally. Antifungal agents include: nystatin, amphotericin, miconazole. In the case of the severe cases or in the cases in which the infection spreads, a systemic treatment is necessary in the form of antifungal tablets or injections. To cope with the symptoms of the Oral Thrush that can make the mouth so sensitive that it is hard to make the regular oral hygiene, patients should use very soft tooth brushes which usually helps to rinse the mouth, among with a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide. In the case of the adults that have a mild form, this can be treated by drinking acid substances (such as orange juice) in order to make a harsher environment for the yeast and by eating yogurt in order to replenish the bacterial count that controls the yeast.

Children that have a mild form and that are otherwise healthy may need no treatment, but if this infection appears after an antibiotics treatment that the doctor can suggest adding an unsweetened yogurt in the children diet. If the disease is persistent then an antifungal treatment may be needed. If a healthy adult has an Oral Thrush, he may be able to control the infection by eating unsweetened yogurt or by taking acidophilus tablets or liquids. These do not destroy the fungus but they help in the restore of the normal bacterial flora in the patient’s body.  If this does not help then an antifungal treatment can be prescribed by a doctor. In the persons with weakened immune system the doctor, usually, recommends an antifungal medication that may come in different forms such as: tablets, liquid or lozenges that the patients have to keep in the mouth for several minutes and then swallow them. In the persons with late stage HIV infection the candida can become resistant to the antifungal treatment. When other medicines are not effective then a drug called amphotericin B is recommended. A part of the antifungal medications can cause a liver damage; this is why the doctors usually perform several tests in order to monitor the liver function, especially if the patient needs a long-term treatment or if the patient has a history of liver disease in the family.