Oral Thrush / Mouth Yeast Infection

ORAL THRUSH is an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans in the mouth. It is not normal in adults. Any disease which lowers your body's ability to fight infection can lead to this condition such as:

• HIV and AIDS - this viral illness slowly kills white blood cells needed to fight infection.

• Leukemia - this is an overgrowth of one cell type at the expense of others leading to a fall in cells which can fight infection.

• Steroid therapy - steroids are used in medicine for their antiinflammatory effects but they also dull the immune system.

• Hereditary immune defects - some persons are born with defects in their ability to fight infections.

The Candida colonies form white fuzzy plaques along the inside of the mouth that do not scrape off easily, bleed when they are, and make your mouth sore.

Picture of Tongue Thrush:

Treatment is simple with antifungal mouth washes or gels 3 to 4 times daily until clearing of the fungus, and attention to the underlying illness predisposing the individual to infection.

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