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'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Oral candidiasis|here]]'''
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'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Oral candidiasis|here]].'''


{{Oral candidiasis (patient information)}}
{{Oral candidiasis (patient information)}}
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==Overview==
==Overview==
Thrush is a yeast infection of the mucus membrane lining of the mouth and tongue.
Thrush is a [[yeast]] infection of the [[Mucous membrane|mucus membrane]] lining of the mouth and [[tongue]].


==What are the symptoms of Oral candidiasis?==
==What are the symptoms of Oral candidiasis?==
Thrush appears as whitish, velvety lesions in the mouth and on the tongue. Underneath the whitish material, there is red tissue that may bleed easily. The lesions can slowly increase in number and size.
[[Thrush]] appears as whitish, velvety lesions in the mouth and on the [[tongue]]. Underneath the whitish material, there is red tissue that may bleed easily. The lesions can slowly increase in number and size.


==What causes Oral candidiasis?==
==What causes Oral candidiasis?==
Thrush is caused by forms of a fungus called Candida. A small amount of this fungus lives in your mouth most of the time. It is usually kept in check by your immune system and other types of germs that also normally live in your mouth.
[[Thrush]] is caused by forms of a [[fungus]] called [[Candida]]. A small amount of this [[fungus]] lives in your mouth most of the time. It is usually kept in check by your [[immune system]] and other types of [[germs]] that also normally live in your mouth.
However, when your immune system is weaker, the fungus can grow, leading to sores (lesions) in your mouth and on your tongue. The following can increase your chances of getting thrush:
However, when your [[immune system]] is weaker, the [[fungus]] can grow, leading to sores (lesions) in your mouth and on your tongue. The following can increase your chances of getting thrush:
* Taking steroid medications
* Taking [[steroid]] medications
* Having an HIV infection or AIDS
* Having an [[HIV]] infection or [[AIDS]]
* Receiving chemotherapy for cancer or drugs to suppress your immune system following an organ transplant
* Receiving [[chemotherapy]] for [[cancer]] or drugs to suppress your [[immune system]] following an [[organ transplantation]]
* Being very old or very young
* Being very old or very young
* Being in poor health
* Being in poor health


==Who is at highest risk?==
==Who is at highest risk?==
Thrush is commonly seen in infants. It is not considered abnormal in infants unless it lasts longer than a couple of weeks. Candida can also cause yeast infections in the vagina. People who have diabetes and had high blood sugar levels are more likely to get thrush in the mouth (oral thrush), because the extra sugar in your saliva acts like food for Candida. Taking high doses of antibiotics or taking antibiotics for a long time also increases the risk of oral thrush. Antibiotics kill some of the healthy bacteria that help keep Candida from growing too much. People with poorly fitting dentures are also more likely to get thrush.
Thrush is commonly seen in [[infant]]s. It is not considered abnormal in infants unless it lasts longer than a couple of weeks. [[Candida]] can also cause [[yeast]] infections in the [[vagina]]. People who have [[diabetes]] and had high blood sugar levels are more likely to get thrush in the mouth (oral thrush) because the extra sugar in your [[saliva]] acts like food for [[Candida|candida.]] Taking high doses of [[antibiotics]] or taking [[antibiotics]] for a long time also increases the risk of oral thrush. [[Antibiotics]] kill some of the healthy [[bacteria]] that help keep [[Candida]] from growing too much. People with poorly fitting [[dentures]] are also more likely to get thrush.


==When to seek urgent medical care?==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
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* Your infant is eating poorly due to the lesions.
* Your infant is eating poorly due to the lesions.
* You are a teen or adult with lesions that are consistent with thrush.
* You are a teen or adult with lesions that are consistent with thrush.
* You have pain or difficulty swallowing.
* You have [[pain]] or [[difficulty swallowing]].
* You have symptoms of thrush and you are HIV positive, receiving chemotherapy, or take medications to suppress your immune system.
* You have symptoms of thrush and you are [[Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)|HIV positive]], receiving [[chemotherapy]], or take medications to suppress your [[immune system]].


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
Your doctor or dentist can almost always diagnose thrush by looking at your mouth and tongue. These fungal lesions have a distinct appearance. If not entirely clear, one of the following tests may be performed to look for the Candida organisms:
Your doctor or dentist can almost always diagnose thrush by looking at your mouth and [[tongue]]. These [[Fungal|fungal lesions]] have a distinct appearance. If not entirely clear, one of the following tests may be performed to look for the [[Candida]] organisms:
* Microscopic examination of mouth scrapings
* [[Microscopic examination]] of mouth scrapings
* Culture of mouth lesions
* [[Culture media|Culture]] of mouth lesions


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
For thrush in infants, treatment is often NOT necessary. It generally gets better on its own within 2 weeks. If you develop a mild case of thrush after taking antibiotics, eating yogurt or taking over-the-counter acidophilus capsules can help. Use a soft toothbrush and rinse your mouth with a diluted 3% hydrogen peroxide solution several times a day. Good control of blood sugar levels in persons with diabetes may be all that is needed to clear a thrush infection. Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal mouthwash (nystatin) or lozenges (clotrimazole) to suck on if you have a severe case of thrush or a weakened immune system. These products are usually used for 5 - 10 days. If they don't work, other medication may be prescribed. If the infection has spread throughout your body or you have HIV/AIDS, stronger medications may be used, such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
For thrush in infants, treatment is often NOT necessary. It generally gets better on its own within 2 weeks. If you develop a mild case of thrush after taking [[antibiotics]], eating yogurt or taking over-the-counter [[Acidophilus|acidophilus capsules]] can help. Use a soft toothbrush and rinse your mouth with a diluted 3% [[hydrogen peroxide]] solution several times a day. Good control of [[Blood glucose|blood sugar levels]] in persons with [[diabetes]] may be all that is needed to clear a thrush infection. Your doctor may prescribe an [[antifungal]] mouthwash ([[nystatin]]) or lozenges ([[clotrimazole]]) to suck on if you have a severe case of thrush or a [[Immunodeficiency|weakened immune system]]. These products are usually used for 5 - 10 days. If they don't work, other medication may be prescribed. If the infection has spread throughout your body or you have [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]], stronger medications may be used, such as [[fluconazole]] (Diflucan) or [[ketoconazole]] (Nizoral).


==Where to find medical care for Oral candidiasis?==
==Where to find medical care for Oral candidiasis?==
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==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
Thrush in infants may be painful, but is rarely serious. Because of discomfort, it can interfere with eating. If it does not resolve on its own within 2 weeks, call your pediatrician. In adults, thrush that occurs in the mouth can be cured. However, the long-term outlook is dependent on your immune status and the cause of the immune deficit.
Thrush in infants may be painful but is rarely serious. Because of discomfort, it can interfere with eating. If it does not resolve on its own within 2 weeks, call your pediatrician. In adults, thrush that occurs in the mouth can be cured. However, the long-term outlook is dependent on your [[Immune system|immune status]] and the cause of the [[Immunodeficiency|immune deficit]].


==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
If you have a weakened immune system (for example, if you are HIV-positive or receiving chemotherapy), Candida can spread throughout your body, causing infection in your esophagus (esophagitis), brain (meningitis), heart (endocarditis), joints (arthritis), or eyes (endophthalmitis).
If you have a [[Immunodeficiency|weakened immune system]] (for example, if you are [[HIV]]-positive or receiving [[chemotherapy]]), [[Candida]] can spread throughout your body, causing infection in your [[esophagus]] ([[esophagitis]]), [[brain]] ([[meningitis]]), [[heart]] ([[endocarditis]]), [[joints]] ([[arthritis]]), or [[eyes]] ([[endophthalmitis]]).


==Sources==
==Sources==
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000626.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000626.htm
{{WS}}{{WH}}


[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Fungal diseases]]
[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Emergency mdicine]]
[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Otolaryngology]]
[[Category:Otolaryngology]]
[[Category:Otolaryngology patient information]]
[[Category:Pediatrics]]
[[Category:Dermatology patient information]]
[[Category:Immunology]]
[[Category:Dermatology]]
[[Category:Gynecology patient information]]
[[Category:Infectious disease patient information]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Overview complete]]
[[Category:Disease state]]
[[Category:Template complete]]
{{WS}}{{WH}}

Latest revision as of 23:00, 29 July 2020

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here.

Oral candidiasis

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Oral candidiasis?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Oral candidiasis On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Oral candidiasis

Videos on Oral candidiasis

FDA on Oral candidiasis

CDC on Oral candidiasis

Oral candidiasis in the news

Blogs on Oral candidiasis

Directions to Hospitals Treating Oral candidiasis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Oral candidiasis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Thrush is a yeast infection of the mucus membrane lining of the mouth and tongue.

What are the symptoms of Oral candidiasis?

Thrush appears as whitish, velvety lesions in the mouth and on the tongue. Underneath the whitish material, there is red tissue that may bleed easily. The lesions can slowly increase in number and size.

What causes Oral candidiasis?

Thrush is caused by forms of a fungus called Candida. A small amount of this fungus lives in your mouth most of the time. It is usually kept in check by your immune system and other types of germs that also normally live in your mouth. However, when your immune system is weaker, the fungus can grow, leading to sores (lesions) in your mouth and on your tongue. The following can increase your chances of getting thrush:

Who is at highest risk?

Thrush is commonly seen in infants. It is not considered abnormal in infants unless it lasts longer than a couple of weeks. Candida can also cause yeast infections in the vagina. People who have diabetes and had high blood sugar levels are more likely to get thrush in the mouth (oral thrush) because the extra sugar in your saliva acts like food for candida. Taking high doses of antibiotics or taking antibiotics for a long time also increases the risk of oral thrush. Antibiotics kill some of the healthy bacteria that help keep Candida from growing too much. People with poorly fitting dentures are also more likely to get thrush.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your doctor if:

  • Your infant has had lesions in the mouth consistent with thrush for at least 2 weeks.
  • Your infant is eating poorly due to the lesions.
  • You are a teen or adult with lesions that are consistent with thrush.
  • You have pain or difficulty swallowing.
  • You have symptoms of thrush and you are HIV positive, receiving chemotherapy, or take medications to suppress your immune system.

Diagnosis

Your doctor or dentist can almost always diagnose thrush by looking at your mouth and tongue. These fungal lesions have a distinct appearance. If not entirely clear, one of the following tests may be performed to look for the Candida organisms:

Treatment options

For thrush in infants, treatment is often NOT necessary. It generally gets better on its own within 2 weeks. If you develop a mild case of thrush after taking antibiotics, eating yogurt or taking over-the-counter acidophilus capsules can help. Use a soft toothbrush and rinse your mouth with a diluted 3% hydrogen peroxide solution several times a day. Good control of blood sugar levels in persons with diabetes may be all that is needed to clear a thrush infection. Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal mouthwash (nystatin) or lozenges (clotrimazole) to suck on if you have a severe case of thrush or a weakened immune system. These products are usually used for 5 - 10 days. If they don't work, other medication may be prescribed. If the infection has spread throughout your body or you have HIV/AIDS, stronger medications may be used, such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or ketoconazole (Nizoral).

Where to find medical care for Oral candidiasis?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Oral candidiasis

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Thrush in infants may be painful but is rarely serious. Because of discomfort, it can interfere with eating. If it does not resolve on its own within 2 weeks, call your pediatrician. In adults, thrush that occurs in the mouth can be cured. However, the long-term outlook is dependent on your immune status and the cause of the immune deficit.

Possible complications

If you have a weakened immune system (for example, if you are HIV-positive or receiving chemotherapy), Candida can spread throughout your body, causing infection in your esophagus (esophagitis), brain (meningitis), heart (endocarditis), joints (arthritis), or eyes (endophthalmitis).

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000626.htm Template:WSTemplate:WH