Oral thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis) is a fungal infection of the mouth that may include the tongue, inner cheek, corners of the mouth, and in rare cases the gums. It happens when there’s a buildup of the Candida albicans fungus in the lining of the mouth.
While it is mostly seen in young infants, thrush may affect toddlers, and to a lesser degree, older children and occasionally adults.
Who Is At Risk For Oral Thrush?
Oral thrush in the mouth and throat can have many different symptoms including white lesions, mild to moderate pain of the teeth and gums while chewing, redness or soreness in the throat, inability to sense taste, cracking or dryness in the corners of the mouth.
The condition is uncommon among healthy adults. However, clinical studies state that Candida is often noticed in people who have weakened immune systems meaning your white blood cells, antibodies, and other components are not acting as a result of either health conditions or environmental factors. Health conditions involve patients with Diabetes mellitus, HIV / AIDS, cancer, malnutrition, preconditions, and aged people.1,2
Weakened Immunity: If you have noticed that you are often sick, feel fatigued or have other nagging symptoms you can’t figure out, it may mean your immune system is weakened. During such instances, your immune system has a lesser ability to defense against yeast infections and other harmful invaders. Infections are generally more likely to occur if the body and immune system are weakened.
Diabetes – Candida is typically caused by an overgrowth of yeast and this condition is more common in people with diabetes. Diabetes patients have high glucose in saliva and have poor resistance to fight against infections. Poor resistance is a primary contributor to fungal infections.
Medications – Certain medications such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressant drugs, and antibiotics have the potential to reduce the count of healthy microorganisms in your body system. Similarly, chemotherapy can damage the mucous membrane and weaken the immune system thus giving a place for the yeast infection to spread rapidly. The more powerful the treatment and medicines are, the higher the risk of developing the condition.
Denture Wearers – Wearing dentures, especially upper dentures, or having conditions that trigger dry mouth can increase the risk of oral thrush. One of the most widespread reasons for oral thrush is poor hygiene and neglectful nighttime removal of the upper denture. Therefore, if you wear a denture, make sure that you clean your mouth and dentures every night.3
How Thrush is Diagnosed – Different Tests To Analyse Oral Thrush?
In general, tests for yeasts will help you determine the presence of a yeast infection test. There are various approaches to yeast analysis, varying on where you have warning signs. The symptoms can be due to the following reasons
- Infection on the fold of the skin
- Vaginal yeast infection with clumsy white discharge
- Penis infection with painful urination
- Thrush with white patches and soreness in the mouth
What Will The Doctor Examine During Your Test?
If your healthcare providers suspect thrush in your mouth, they will perform a complete physical examination of the mouth to look for the infected areas. This is usually done by scrapping a sample to be examined under a microscope. Oral thrush is easily identified by the preliminary analysis however in rare cases, when there are not enough cells to confirm the analysis, you would be advised to undergo a culture test.
Your doctor might also request for certain blood tests to determine if the thrush is being caused by an underlying medical condition. Based on your results, the healthcare provider may recommend antifungal medicine without instructing an endoscopy to make sure if the patient’s signs improve.4,5
- Thrush (Oral Candidiasis) – MedicineNethttps://www.medicinenet.com/thrush/article.htm
- Oral thrush – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-20353533
- Everything You Need to Know About Oral Thrush https://www.healthline.com/health/thrush
- Candida Test Options – Diagnosis and Treatment https://www.healthline.com/health/candida-test
- How Thrush Is Diagnosed – Very well health https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-thrush-is-diagnosed-4163551
Also Read:
- Oral Thrush: Causes, Risk Factors, Investigations, Treatment, Home Remedies, Prevention
- What are the Common Mouth Problems & What is its Cure?
- 5 Common Tongue Problems
- What Causes White Spots On The Tonsils & How To Manage It?
- What are the Causes of a Green Tongue, Know its Treatment, Complications, Prognosis
- What are the Causes of White Spots on Throat?
- Sore Throat Vs Strep Throat: Differences Worth Knowing
- What Are The First Symptoms Of Oral Thrush & How Do You Test For It?
