Oral yeast infection: causes, symptoms and treatment

Thrush is caused by a fungus that grows in the mouth.

A small amount of this fungus lives in the mouth of all people, but normally it is kept in check and does not multiply thanks to the immune system, but when the body is weak, this fungus sees the doors open to multiply and cause thrush.

What is thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the tongue and the lining of the mouth. Among the most common causes are that of certain microbes such as fungi and bacteria that normally live in our body. Although these germs are generally harmless, some of them can cause infection.

Oral thrush occurs in both adults and children when the fungus called candida gradually multiplies in the mouth.. Normally we always have a small amount of this fungus in our mouth, which is usually kept at bay both by the immune system and by other microbes that live there, but as I mentioned in the introduction, when our immune system is weak is when the fungus can multiply.

There are some interesting facts about oral thrush that are worth knowing:

• Thrush is a medical condition in which the fungus Candida albians grows excessively in the mouth and throat.
• It can be caused by many reasons such as illness, pregnancy, taking medications, smoking, and even wearing dentures.
• This infection is common and is not usually harmful since it is easy to treat.
• Risk factors include weakened immune systems, medications, smoking, pregnancy, or stress.
• Thrush is diagnosed through a clinical exam by a doctor or dentist.

Symptoms of thrush

Usually the most common symptoms of this infection include white patches in the mouth, throat, and inside of the cheeks, roof of the mouth, and tongue. There is also intense pain in the mouth. Therefore, the symptoms are:

• Pain when swallowing
• Whitish and velvety lesions on the tongue and in the mouth.
• Some bleeding when you brush your teeth.
• Discomfort in the mouth
• Sensation of food stuck in the throat.
• Tooth pain
• Strange or unpleasant taste in the mouth.
• Bad breath.

The tissue under the white patches is often red, raw, and sore. Lesions can be painful and can bleed when scraped.

With the simple observation of these whitish lesions, it can be deduced that there is an infection caused by candida, however, later a culture of the scraping can be performed on the lesions. That is why it is necessary for the doctor to diagnose that it really is this type of infection.

In more serious cases

In the most serious cases of this infection it can happen that the esophagus (tube that leads to the stomach) can also be involved and become complicated. This will make the sensation of pain when swallowing even greater. If someone has a very weakened immune system (such as AIDS, cancer or chemotherapy patients), This fungus can spread to other parts of the body and cause a systemic infection.

If a person has signs of oral candidiasis symptoms and develops fever, tremors, chills or has very severe difficulty swallowing, it is very important to see a doctor immediately because that person will need to be treated urgently.

Factors riesgo

Thrush is relatively common and there should be concern if it is caused by poor diet or associated with rapid weight loss or other symptoms of illness. If you have a baby and your child has oral thrush, you will need to see your pediatrician quickly to find out why this condition has turned out.

Healthy adults usually never get thrush, and risk factors aren't important either, because they won't be affected by their strong immune systems. Patients with weak immune systems may be at higher risk of developing thrush. The risk factors, although I have mentioned them above, it is worth taking into account the following:

• Diseases including poor control of diabetes, HIV / AIDS, infections, cancer, or dry mouth.
• Medications such as antibiotics, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, radiation, or birth control pills.
• An organ transplant.
• Bad fit of dental prostheses.
• Stress.

Candidiasis is not contagious, however a baby can contract the disease through contact with the mother's breast while breastfeeding.

Treatment of this infection

Treatment of thrush depends on the severity and the cause as it can go away with simple home remedies, or perhaps with oral medications or systemic medications.

The prognosis for mild cases of this infection is usually good. On the other hand, in the most serious cases it will depend on the underlying cause and the state of the immune system that the affected person has.

It is possible to prevent yeast infection in most cases by considering risk factors and pursuing good habits.

If you suffer from mild thrush after taking antibiotics, we advise you to take yogurt or acidophilus capsules to help the body restore the balance between the microbes in the mouth. In the most severe cases, the doctor may prescribe rinses or antifungal medications such as syrup or pills or so-called clotrimazole tablets to stop the infection. But it should always be assessed by a specialist.

After discovering that it is really a thrush, having gone to the doctor and having been diagnosed, it will be necessary that you follow the doctor's recommendations so that the infection subsides and you can follow a normal lifestyle. But remember that it is necessary to have a strong immune system to prevent this fungus from multiplying again.