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Oral thrush, also called oral candidiasis (kan-dih-DIE-uh-sis), is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans builds up in the mouth. It's natural for candida, a yeast, to live in the mouth. But sometimes it can grow too much and cause symptoms.
Oral thrush causes creamy white patches or spots, usually on the tongue or inner cheeks. Sometimes oral thrush may spread to the roof of the mouth, gums or tonsils, or the back of your throat.
Although oral thrush can affect anyone, it's more likely to occur in babies and older adults because they have lower immunity. It's also more likely to occur in other people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions or people who take certain medicines. Oral thrush is a minor problem if you're healthy. But if you have a weakened immune system, symptoms may be more serious and harder to control.
Symptoms of oral thrush may include:
In severe cases, usually related to cancer or a weakened immune system from HIV/AIDS, the patches or spots may spread downward into your esophagus — the long, muscular tube stretching from the back of your mouth to your stomach. This is called Candida esophagitis. If this occurs, you may have trouble swallowing and feel pain or feel as if food is getting stuck in your throat.
In addition to the distinctive white mouth spots, babies may have trouble feeding or be fussy and irritable. They can pass the infection to their mothers during breastfeeding. Then the infection may pass back and forth between the mother's nipples and the baby's mouth.
Women whose breasts are infected with candida may have these symptoms:
If you or your child gets white patches or spots inside the mouth, see your medical or dental professional. Thrush is uncommon in healthy older children, teenagers and adults. So if you get thrush, see your healthcare professional to find out if you need to be checked for an underlying medical condition or another cause.
A healthy immune system works to get rid of harmful invading organisms, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. This maintains a balance between "good" and "bad" microbes in your body. But sometimes these protective measures fail. Then candida fungus grows and allows 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 raise your risk of oral thrush.
You may have a higher risk of oral thrush infection if you have any of these issues:
Oral thrush usually isn't a big concern for healthy children and adults. But for people with lowered immunity, such as from cancer treatment or HIV/AIDS, thrush can be more serious. Oral thrush that isn't 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.
These measures may help lower your risk of getting candida infections:
The methods used in diagnosis depend, in part, on whether thrush is limited to your mouth or may have spread to your esophagus.
To diagnose oral thrush, your medical or dental professional may:
If needed, your healthcare professional will do a physical exam and order blood tests to try to find any underlying medical condition that may be causing the oral thrush.
If you have trouble swallowing and feel pain or feel as if food is getting stuck in your throat, your healthcare professional can find out if thrush has spread to your esophagus. Your healthcare professional may recommend:
The goal of any oral thrush treatment is to stop the fast spread of the fungus. But the best approach may depend on your age, overall health and what's causing the infection. Eliminating underlying causes, when possible, can prevent thrush from returning:
Thrush may return even after it's been treated if you don't deal with the underlying cause, such as poorly disinfected dentures or inhaled steroid use.
These suggestions may help during an outbreak of oral thrush:
You're likely to start by seeing your family healthcare professional 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 get ready for your appointment.
Before your appointment, make a list of:
Some questions to ask your healthcare professional may include:
Don't hesitate to ask any other questions during your appointment.
The healthcare professional is likely to ask you several questions, such as:
Be ready to answer questions to reserve time to go over any points you want to focus on.