Oral Yeast Infections - Thrush
An oral yeast infection in the mouth of infants and
adults is called “thrush.” It is usually caused by the tiny yeast
called Candida albicans. It appears as thick white lacy patches that
can form anywhere inside the mouth, including the tongue or palate.
If the white patches are scraped away, the area underneath will be
red and may bleed. Occasionally, an oral yeast infection can cause
the tongue to be red without a white coating.
Newborn babies, adult denture users, and people with
endocrine disorders such as diabetes or hypothyroidism are the most
at risk for oral yeast infections. Older adults often experience
thrush under their dentures.
In AIDS patients, an infection called esophagitis may form in the
upper digestive tract, and can be a serious health threat for these
patients. This is an infection very similar to thrush, but it
extends down from the mouth into the esophagus and stomach.
Thrush can be very painful and this can make it difficult to eat and
drink, which can lead to dehydration. Any child that goes without
drinking liquids for more than 12 hours should be taken to the
doctor. The same care should be taken for elderly adults. Anyone
with a compromised immune system must see a doctor immediately if
they see the symptoms of an oral yeast infection.
Treating Oral Yeast Infections
Oral yeast infections are usually treated with antibiotics that
require a prescription. Most symptoms go away soon after beginning
an antifungal medication, and if the infection is mild enough, it
may even go away on its own.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose thrush by taking a look, but if
in doubt she’ll take a scrape from the infected area in the mouth
and send it to the lab.
Oral infections that look a lot like thrush can be caused by other
things - including the early stages of cancer. That makes a
qualified diagnosis that much more important.
The first step in treatment will be to get rid of the yeast, and
this is usually done with prescription antifungal medication in a
form that can be sucked or as a liquid that is held in the mouth
before swallowing. Medications that may be prescribed include
nystatin (Mycostatin) and fluconazole (Diflucan).
If the infection spreads because your immune system has been
compromised, your doctor will use a systemic treatment that is taken
orally or intravenously, and treat the infection very aggressively.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some oral yeast infections require no
medical treatment at all because they go away on their own. For
instance, healthy toddlers may get thrush after being treated with
antibiotics. Your child’s doctor may suggest that you add
unsweetened yogurt to your child’s diet because yogurt contains
beneficial bacteria. If this doesn't help, your child’s doctor will
prescribe an antifungal medication.
Healthy adults can also try eating yogurt, or take a dietary
supplement that includes the good bacteria called acidophilus. This
may restore the microbial balance, but if it doesn’t work a
prescription will be needed.
The second step in treating oral yeast infections is to correct any
condition that may have caused it. Dentures will need to be treated
to destroy the fungus and ill-fitting dentures may need to be
repaired or replaced. If the patient is diabetic, an adjustment may
be needed in the diabetic medications that are being taken.
Since a high-sugar diet is known to cause oral yeast infections, a
change in diet should always be considered in addition to any other
treatment for thrush.
If an infant who is breast feeding gets thrush, the mother will also
be treated to keep the infection from being passed back and forth
between mother and child.
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Prevent Yeast Infection
Resources
To learn everything you need to know about yeast infections - what
causes them, how to treat them, and how to keep them from coming
back, as well as receive a free report called “4 Important Facts About Yeast
Infections” - visit:
Prevent Yeast Infections
© 2007 Jonni Good - Author of
"17 Things You Need To
Know To Prevent Yeast Infections"
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