What is "thrush"?

Question

i know sometimes babies get it, but my dr gave me antibiotics for a UTI (for myself, im 11 weeks prego) and some of the side affects include "thrush" and yeast infections, i know what yeast infections are, but im kinda worried about "thrush". this afternoon my throat started hurting (ive been on antibiotics since fri) and i havent been able to look at it, but what are the symptoms of thrush, and what causes it, and what makes it go away???

so what thrush is like a yeast infection in the mouth???

yes i have had an hiv test & fyi it was negative!!

Answer 1

Oral thrush (fungal infection in the mouth)


Reviewed by Dr John Pillinger, GP


What is oral thrush?


Oral thrush in an adult.


Oral thrush is an infection of yeast fungus, Candida albicans, in the mucous membranes of the mouth. Strictly speaking, thrush is only a temporary candida infection in the oral cavity of babies. However, we have for this purpose expanded the term to include candida infections occurring in the mouth and throat of adults, also known as candidosis or moniliasis.

How do you get oral thrush?

Candida is present in the oral cavity of almost half of the population. Everyone who wears dentures will have candida, without necessarily suffering any ill effects.

Candida does not become a problem until there is a change in the chemistry of the oral cavity that favours candida over the other micro-organisms that are present.

These changes can occur as a side effect of taking antibiotics or drug treatment such as chemotherapy. These changes can also be caused by certain conditions such as diabetes, drug abuse, malnutrition, and as a consequence of immune deficiencies relating to old age or infection, such as AIDS.

Furthermore, people whose dentures don't fit well can sustain breaks in the mucous membranes in their mouth, which can act as a gateway for candida. People who suffer from this problem often have moist, pale pink spots on their lips, known as angular cheilitis, which is an indication of a candida infection.

What are the symptoms of oral thrush?

White, cream-coloured, or yellow spots in the mouth. The spots are slightly raised. There is normally no pain in the area underneath the spots. If you scrape off these spots, they leave small wounds that bleed slightly.

In adults, thrush can cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the mouth and throat.

Who is at special risk?


Newborn babies.


Denture users.


Adults with diabetes or other metabolic disturbance.


People undergoing antibiotic or chemotherapy treatment.


Drug users.


People with poor nutrition.


People with an immune deficiency.


How does the doctor diagnose oral thrush?

In babies, thrush is usually diagnosed on the basis of the clinical picture. Occasionally, in order to make a diagnosis, the doctor will scrape the baby's tongue and send the sample for analysis.

In adults, many other diseases and illnesses, including very early stages of cancer, can have similar symptoms. Therefore it is important to consult your doctor and get a thorough check-up.

In cases where thrush occurs as the result of disease or illness in other organs or systems, like AIDS, sudden and very intense thrush can be a sign of a general aggravation of the main illness. This makes it all the more important to pay attention to this and similar changes, so you can get help in time.

How is oral thrush treated?

Firstly, the condition that caused the thrush must be brought under control. This might involve investing in new and better fitting dentures, or adjusting diabetes treatment. For AIDS patients, it is not always possible to correct the immune deficiency, and a course of oral treatment using antifungal drugs has to be used.

Once the condition that caused the oral thrush has been treated, the thrush itself can be cured. Treatment is with antifungal medicines, in the form of pastilles that are sucked or oral suspensions that are held in the mouth before swallowing. These allow the antifungal agent to act locally in the mouth. Examples include nystatin (eg Nystan oral suspension), amphotericin (eg Fungilin lozenges) or miconazole (eg Daktarin oral gel).

In certain complicated cases, or if the infection spreads, systemic treatment will be necessary in the form of antifungal tablets, or perhaps in the form of injections.

Coping with the symptoms of oral thrush

Thrush can make the mouth so sensitive that it is impossible to perform regular oral hygiene. Use a very soft toothbrush. It can often help to rinse the mouth with a diluted solution of 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide.

Outlook

If whatever caused the thrush can be brought under control, the infection is likely to go away after a few days of treatment with a fungicide.

Thrush

Description

Thrush (Candidiasis)is a superficial yeast infection of the mouth and throat. Other names for this common condition include oral candidiasis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, pseudomembranous candidiasis, and mycotic stomatitis. Thrush is characterized by the presence of thick, curd-like white patches on the tongue and inside of the cheeks. The underlying tissue is red and inflamed. The roof and floor of the mouth and the gums may also be affected. Thrush may be easily diagnosed by the appearance of the lesion. To confirm the diagnosis, a sample for microscopic analysis may be taken by scraping the lesion with a tongue depressor.

Thrush itself is a harmless infection; however, Candida may spread throughout the body (systemic infection) to the kidneys, lungs, joints, bones, and brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). A systemic infection can be very serious, especially in a cancer patient with a weakened immune system.

Causes

Thrush may be caused by several different species of Candida. Thrush rarely occurs in healthy persons. Three factors contribute to infection Candida: impairment of the immune system (immunosuppression), injury to the tissues(mucosa, mucous membranes) of the mouth, and decrease in saliva flow. In addition, thrush can occur following treatment with antibiotics, when normal mouth (oral) bacteria have been eliminated allowing for over-growth of Candida. In addition to standard intravenous chemotherapeutic agents, corticosteroids, cyclosporine A, and interleukin-2 suppress the immune system, placing the patient at a higher risk of infection. Patients who have been treated with myeloablative therapy, as in preparation for bone marrow transplantation, are at a very high risk of infection. In addition, certain cancers predispose the patient to developing candidiasis, including multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and adrenal tumors. Malnutrition, which is not uncommon among cancer patients, also suppresses the immune system.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or head and neck radiation are at an increased risk of developing thrush. These therapies target the rapidly dividing cancer cells. The mucosal cells which line the mouth are also rapidly dividing. The skin and mucous membranes make up the first line of defense against invading organisms and, when damaged by cancer treatments, these tissues become susceptible to infection. Chemotherapy can decrease the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, causing a condition called neutropenia. Neutropenia significantly increases the patient's risk of infection. Radiation therapy reduces the number of white blood cells which impairs the immune system.

Thrush is a temporary side effect of cancer treatment. It can take up to a year for the immune system to recover from intensive radiation therapy. Thrush that is related to the cancer may be persistent or recurrent.

Treatments

Thrush is usually treated with the antifungal drugs clotrimazole, nystatin, or amphotericin. Clotrimazole is taken as a lozenge which is allowed to dissolve slowly in the mouth. The commonly used nystatin is taken as a solution that is swished through the mouth, although recent studies have shown that nystatin may not be as effective as the newer antifungals. Amphotericin is taken as a tablet or solution. The duration of treatment may range from five to 14 days. Often, thrush resolves with local treatment alone, however, systemic medication (such as fluconazole) may be used in some cases.

The patient with thrush should faithfully conduct a daily oral hygiene routine consisting of tooth brushing two to three times, flossing once, utilizing medicated rinses as prescribed by the physician. Brushing and flossing should be performed carefully to prevent damage to the weakened oral mucosa. Dentures and other mouth appliances, which can harbor the yeast and be a source for possible reinfection, need to be disinfected.

Alternative and complementary therapies

Because there is the risk that Candida may spread and cause a serious systemic infection, thrush should be treated with antifungal drugs. The patient with thrush can help fight the infection by eating a well-balanced diet to counteract immunosuppression caused by malnutrition. Nutritional supplements may also be useful. Some practitioners claim that herbs (such as goldenseal or garlic) can be used to kill yeasts and boost the immune system. However, these complementary therapies should be discussed with the patient's physician because of thrush's potentially serious threat to the cancer patient.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue. Thrush appears as whitish, velvety plaques in the mouth and on the tongue. Underneath the whitish material, there is red tissue that may bleed. The lesions can slowly increase in number and size.For thrush in infants, treatment is often NOT necessary. It generally resolves on its own within two weeks. Otherwise your doctor may prescribe an antifungal mouthwash or lozenges to suck on. These are usually used for 5-10 days. If they don't work, other medication may be prescribed.

Answer 5

CONGRATULATIONS ENJOY YOUR PREGNANCY. THRUSH is the old mouth foot disease like another word for it now is COCKSACKIE there is nothing you can do for it. Its open soars down your throat. My son had it a couple of years ago my doctor told me to mix on half benadryl and one half kopectec mix it together and it makes a sav like a thick drink and drink it but first check with your doctor to make sure that what it is first and make sure if it is thrush you can take those two things while you are pregnant.. you got to watch what you take there is no antibiotics for this its a virius.Trushs symptoms are high fever. sometimes it comes out on your hands and feet liitle white dots when its down your throat its white pus like soars. Its hurts alot. Try to gargle with warm water and a little bit of salt. If you do have thrush ask your doctor if you can do that remedy of benadryl and keopectate. It will sooth your throat. I hope i was a help enjoy beinging pregnant. lot of luck

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Thrush is a yeast infection in your mouth. It can be treated by your doctor. My kid's had it when they were infants.

Answer 8

It's a fungus. There are many different types and they can grow anywhere that it is moist and warm.. For example, mouth, vagina, baby diaper area. It is even possible to have fungus growing in your eyes. Yeast is just a type of fungus and there's many types of yeast as well. Antibiotics offen cause the yeast to grow rampant. All fungus infections can be cured with an antifungal medication. Plain yogurt also works. I wouldn't suggest giving it to a young baby though.

Answer 9

thrush is a yeast infection in the mouth. i have a two month old baby that was diagnosed with thrush. she was given some antibacterial medicine to take orally. and i was ordered to put it on my breast since i am breastfeeding.

Answer 10

Thrush is basically a yeast infection that is in your mouth. I think that you will have difficulty swallowing and too painful to eat. Did you have an HIV test yet? This something that typically happens to AIDS patients.

Answer 11

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