Thrush can affect anyone. If you are a generally healthy person it is usually only a minor problem, but if you have an impaired immune system it can be more difficult to overcome.
What is Thrush?
Thrush is a condition that occurs in the lining of the mouth. It affects the oral mucosa, the tongue and the inner cheeks, gums, tonsils and in the back of the throat. It appears as creamy white lesions which may be painful and can bleed if you scrape them. It is caused by the fungus Candida albicans.
Do You Have Risk Factors for Thrush?
People who wear dentures or partial dentures are at a higher risk than those who do not for acquiring thrush. Other adults that are at an increased risk are those who use corticosteroids or who have compromised immune systems. Babies are also in the high risk category for developing thrush. Breastfeeding mothers of babies with thrush are at an increased risk getting thrush and passing it back and forth to the infant during breastfeeding. Any suspicion of thrush should be reported to your infant’s pediatrician especially if the infant is breastfed.
Other factors that may place you at a higher risk for developing thrush include:
- Smoking
- Other health conditions such as anemia or diabetes
- Certain medications like antibiotics and corticosteroids
- Undergoing treatment for cancer such as chemotherapy or radiation
- The presence of any condition which causes dry mouth
- Being an infant or wearing dentures
Do You Have Signs and Symptoms of Thrush?
At first there may be no symptoms of thrush present. The symptoms can develop rapidly however and they can be quiet difficult to overcome.
Symptoms of thrush are the same in infants and in adults and include:
- Lesions on the tongue, roof of the mouth, gums, tonsils and inner cheeks that are of a creamy white, cottage cheese like consistency.
- Pain in the mouth
- Light bleeding if the lesions are disturbed
- Cotton like feeling in the mouth
- Difficulty in eating or feeding for infants
- Cracked, dry corners of the mouth
- Loss of the ability to taste
Left untreated or in severe cases the thrush can spread down into the esophagus. If this has occurred you may notice other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or that food seems to get stuck in your throat.
If you think you or your baby has thrush make an appointment with your health care provider to help minimize spreading of the condition and get treatment.
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