oral candidiasis
Hadeel abdulaziz
Overview
Oral thrush also called oral candidiasis is a condition in
which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the
lining of your mouth. Candida is a normal organism in your
mouth, but sometimes it can overgrow and cause
symptoms.
Oral thrush causes creamy white lesions, usually on your
tongue or inner cheeks. Sometimes oral thrush may spread
to the roof of your mouth, your 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 reduced
immunity; in other people with suppressed immune systems
or certain health conditions; or people who take certain
medications. Oral thrush is a minor problem if you're
healthy, but if you have a weakened immune system,
symptoms may be more severe and difficult to control.
Pathophysiology
Any steroid
hormone made in
the adrenal cortex.
Candidal species cause oral candidiasis when a patient's
host immunity becomes disrupted. This disruption can be
local, secondary to oral corticosteroid use. Overgrowth of
the fungus then leads to the formation of a pseudo
membrane.
Vaginal infections can colonize neonates as they pass
through the birth canal. Alternatively, neonates and infants
may contract the disease through colonized breasts when The skin is a deep red
color with patches
breastfeeding. A patient's oral Candida infection can often outside of the diaper
area
lead to GI involvement and subsequent candidal diaper
dermatitis.
In healthy patients, the patient's immune system and
normal bacteria flora inhibit candida growth. Consequently,
immunosuppression such as diabetes, dentures, steroid
use, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and recent antibiotic
use often leads to the disease.
Symptoms
• Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner
cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth,
gums, and tonsils
• Slightly raised lesions with a cottage cheese-like
appearance
• Redness, burning or soreness that may be severe
enough to cause difficulty eating or swallowing.
• Slight bleeding if the lesions are rubbed or scraped.
• Cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth
• A cottony feeling in your mouth
• Loss of taste
• Redness, irritation, and pain under dentures
(denture stomatitis)
Management and Treatment
Antifungal medications
Healthcare providers usually prescribe antifungals (like
nystatin) to treat thrush. These medicines are available in
tablets, lozenges or liquids that are “swished” around in your
mouth before swallowing. Usually, you need to take these
medications for 10 to 14 days. Your healthcare provider will
recommend specific treatment based on your age and the
cause of the infection.
Kids and adults with healthy immune systems typically
respond well to antifungal treatment. But thrush symptoms
may be more severe and harder to treat in those with
weakened immune systems.
Reference
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-
20353533
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545282/
#:~:text=Oral%20candidiasis%20is%20an%20infec
tion,systemic%20steroid%20and%20antibiotic%2
.0use
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10
956-thrush
