Oral (oropharyngeal) candidiasis is an infection caused by fungi that develop in the mouth, tongue and throat. Oral candidiasis is more common in newborns, infants and elderly, but it can occur in any age group. In healthy newborns and infants, oral candidiasis is not a serious problem; it is easily treated and cured.
Drugs That Encourage Oral Candidiasis
Some medications allow fungi to grow uncontrolled:
- Antibiotics, particularly broad-spectrum (for example tetracycline)
- Oral contraceptives (pills)
- Drugs that decrease the body’s defense mechanism, such as the corticosteroids
How It Spreads
The fungus that causes oral candidiasis spreads depending on age:
- Newborns and infants A newborn may contact candidiasis from the mother during birth, if the mother has vaginal candidiasis. Symptoms occur on an average of 3 to 7 days after birth. Newborns and infants have immature immune systems and the balance between bacteria and fungi from the oral mucosa is not yet balanced. For these reasons oral candidiasis is common in the first months of life;
- Children and teens Oral candidiasis is not usually contagious. However, children with a weakened immune system can contact the fungal infection from the playmates or common toys. A child with thrush can spread the fungus through direct contact (any toy that is inserted into the mouth, for example);
- Adults In adults, the fungal infection can be spread through oral sex. The same fungus that causes the oral infection also causes vaginal candidiasis.
Causes of Oral Candidiasis
Candida, the fungus that causes the oral candidiasis is normally present in small quantities in the mouth and other mucous membranes of the body. Usually, it does not cause injuries. When favorable conditions are met, the fungus multiplies excessively invading the surrounding tissue.
Candida Albicans most commonly cause oral candidiasis, but other genres such as Candida Tropicalis, Candida Krusei, Candida Parapsilosis or Candida Glabrata may be involved. A number of bacteria present in the mouth control the growth of this fungus. The emergence of new bacteria in the mouth that disrupts the balance of microorganisms already present there, will allow the fungus to multiply in an uncontrolled manner.
Measures to Reduce Discomfort
To reduce the discomfort caused by oral candidiasis, it is recommended to:
- Drink cold liquids, such as cold water or ice tea, ice cream or frozen fruit juices
- Eat foods that are easy to swallow, such as gelatin, ice cream or any other creams
- If the mouth deposits are painful it is recommended to use a straw when consuming liquids
- Rinse your mouth several times a day with a saline solution. The brine is prepared from 5g of salt and 200ml warm water
Treatment For Oral Candidiasis
Except for mild cases, oral candidiasis requires treatment to prevent its spread to the other organs. Antifungal drugs, namely those that inhibit the fungal growth are standard treatment for fungal infections.
The antifungal treatment can be administered orally (systemic) or local (topical):
- The administration of medication depends on the patient’s overall health and the severity, persistency or recurrent rate of the infection
- Usually for infants the treatment is local. In adults the local treatment method is not recommended because of the large mucosa surface that needs to be covered.
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May 24th, 2011 at 6:54 am
I started seeing my ex boyfriend again, and after having oral sex with him after anal sex i got a sore throat, it has been very sore, in fact i was on antibiotics and it didnt help, I have now been back to the dr who says i have throat thrush, i am too embarrassed to say i had oral sex could this have been caused by having anal sex and then oral or is he playing around.