Oral Thrush

Oral thrush or candidiasis is an infection of the mouth. It is caused by Candida yeast fungi that breeds in the mucous membranes of the mouth. The most likely culprit is our old friend candida albicans.

Oral thrush can affect a person from cradle to grave. In babies it is referred to as candidiasis while in adults it is also goes by the term candidosis or moniliasis.

Symptoms of an oral thrush usually show up as white or off white deposits in the mouth or throat. These deposits on the mucosal membranes manifests itself as inflamed or slightly puffy pockets of infection.

There are groups of people that are more susceptible to oral thrush. These include the newborn or diabetics, especially uncontrolled diabetes,

People who are taking antibiotics or inhaling corticosteroids for asthma or other lung conditions are liable to contract oral thrush without proper care and usage. The incidents of oral candidiasis with use of those drugs can be lessened effectively by rinsing after every use.

If your immune system is deficient as a result of AIDS or HIV, then you are a prime candidate for oral thrush. Chemotherapy is also another threat to the immune system and therefore adds to the likelihood of infection.

Birth control pills and pregnancy may also open the door to oral thrush. Hormonal changes in women play a big part in infections.

Three other conditions elevate the risk of oral candidiasis. Dentures are a breeding ground for yeast. Smoking increases chances and tongue jewellery frequently enables rampant yeast growth if not handled correctly.

Women who are pregnant and using antibiotics may experience either vaginal yeast infection and or oral thrush.

With newborn babies, there may be rashes in the mouth. They also may develop a stubborn diaper rash that doesn’t heal with traditional diaper rash treatment. A baby with oral thrush can pass that condition to the mother’s breasts as they feed. This causes painful or burning nipples for the mother. This condition can range from a minor annoyance to a severe condition.

The mother may use ointment such as nystatin, clotrimazole, or miconazole on the nipples to halt the infection. It is recommended that they wash their breasts prior to breastfeeding.

Treatments for oral thrush can be topical in which case the patient would rinse their mouth and swallow the rest.

People who are immune-compromised from HIV, AIDS or using chemotherapy may need more special treatments such as systemic solutions including intravenous.

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Alys G. Parant

Source: http://www.reliefofyeastinfection.com

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