Learn About Thrush

What is the definition of Thrush?

Thrush is a yeast infection of the tongue and lining of the mouth.

What are the alternative names for Thrush?

Candidiasis - oral; Oral thrush; Fungal infection - mouth; Candida - oral

What are the causes of Thrush?

Certain germs normally live in our bodies. These include bacteria and fungi. While most germs are harmless, some can cause infection under certain conditions.

Thrush occurs in children and adults when conditions permit too much growth of a fungus called candida in your mouth. A small amount of this fungus normally lives in your mouth. It is most often kept in check by your immune system and other germs that also live in your mouth.

When your immune system is weak or when normal bacteria die, too much of the fungus can overgrow and cause thrush.

You are more likely to get thrush if you have one of the following:

  • You are in poor health.
  • You are very old. Young babies are also more likely to develop thrush.
  • You have HIV or AIDS.
  • You are receiving chemotherapy or drugs that weaken the immune system.
  • You are taking steroid medicine, including some inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • You have diabetes mellitus and your blood sugar is high.
  • You take antibiotics. Antibiotics kill some of the healthy bacteria that prevent candida from growing too much.
  • Your dentures do not fit well.

Candida can also cause yeast infections in the vagina.

Thrush in newborns is somewhat common and easy to treat.

What are the symptoms of Thrush?

Symptoms of thrush include:

  • White, velvety sores in the mouth and on the tongue
  • Some bleeding when you brush your teeth or scrape the sores
  • Pain when swallowing
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What are the current treatments for Thrush?

If you get mild thrush after taking antibiotics, eat yogurt or take over-the-counter acidophilus pills. This may help restore a healthy balance of germs in your mouth.

For a more severe case of thrush, your provider may prescribe:

  • Antifungal mouthwash (nystatin).
  • Lozenges (clotrimazole).
  • Antifungal medicines taken as a pill or syrup, these medicines include fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox).
Who are the top Thrush Local Doctors?
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine

Trinity Health Of New England Provider Network Organization Inc

56 Franklin St, 
Waterbury, CT 
 1.0 mi
Offers Telehealth

Sudha Thiruvengadam is an Internal Medicine provider in Waterbury, Connecticut. Dr. Thiruvengadam and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrush. Her top areas of expertise are Xanthoma, Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, Cirrhosis, and High Cholesterol.

Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine
171 Liberty St, 
Southington, CT 
 9.2 mi

Andrew Guest is an Internal Medicine provider in Southington, Connecticut. Dr. Guest and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrush. His top areas of expertise are Apraxia, Breast Cancer, Decorticate Posture, and Decerebrate Posture.

 
 
 
 
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Family Medicine
Family Medicine

Hartford Healthcare Medical Group Inc

55 Meriden Ave, Suite 1d, 
Southington, CT 
 9.4 mi

Martin Keibel is a Family Medicine provider in Southington, Connecticut. Dr. Keibel and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrush. His top areas of expertise are High Cholesterol, Sitosterolemia, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Diabetic Nephropathy.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Thrush?

Oral thrush can be cured. However, if your immune system is weak, thrush may come back or cause more serious problems.

What are the possible complications of Thrush?

If your immune system is weakened, candida can spread throughout your body, causing a serious infection.

This infection might affect your:

  • Brain (meningitis)
  • Esophagus (esophagitis)
  • Eyes (endophthalmitis)
  • Heart (endocarditis)
  • Joints (arthritis)
When should I contact a medical professional for Thrush?

Contact your provider if:

  • You have thrush-like sores.
  • You have pain or difficulty swallowing.
  • You have symptoms of thrush and you are HIV positive, receiving chemotherapy, or you take medicines to suppress your immune system.
How do I prevent Thrush?

If you get thrush often, your provider may recommend taking antifungal medicine on a regular basis to keep thrush from coming back.

If you have diabetes mellitus, you can help prevent thrush by keeping good control of your blood sugar levels.

What are the latest Thrush Clinical Trials?
An Interventional Efficacy and Safety Phase 3 Double-blind 2-arm Study to Investigate IV Followed by Oral Fosmanogepix Compared With IV Caspofungin Followed by Oral Fluconazole in Adult Participants With Candidemia and/or Invasive Candidiasis

Summary: The purpose of this clinical trial is to learn about the safety and effects of the study medicine (called Fosmanogepix) for the potential treatment of candidemia and/or invasive candidiasis, a life-threatening fungal infection caused by several species of yeast called Candida. The study is seeking patients who have a diagnosis of candidemia and/or invasive candidiasis. Two-thirds of all patients w...

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The Effect of Using Preparations With Maqui Berry Extract in Treating Oral Candidiasis in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Systemically Healthy Persons

Summary: Fungi from the genus Candida present the saprophytic flora of the cavity. This saprophytic yeast can cause different form of oral infections at immunocompromised patients as well as at subjects with impaired local oral microbiota e.g. wearers of dentures. The most common cause of oral candidiasis is Candida albicans, but recently, non-albicans species has also been commonly isolated. One of the re...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: August 26, 2023
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Daniels TE, Jordan RC. Diseases of the mouth and salivary glands. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 393.

Ericson JE, Benjamin DK. Candida. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 261.

Lionakis MS, Edwards JE. Candida species. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 256.