ORAL THRUSH

Overview:

● Oral candidiasis is an infection of the oral cavity by Candida albicans. The condition is
generally obtained secondary to immune suppression, which can be local or systemic,
including extremes of age (newborns and elderly), immunocompromising diseases such
as HIV/AIDS, and chronic systemic steroid and antibiotic use.
● This activity illustrates the evaluation and treatment of oral candidiasis. It highlights the
role of the interprofessional team in evaluating and treating patients with this condition; it
describes the disease's original discovery, epidemiology, and pathophysiology and
reviews how a clinician should approach a patient with potential oral candidiasis,
including history taking, physical examination, evaluation, differential diagnosis, and
appropriate treatment according to the National Library of Medicine.

Common Complaints:
● White patches (plaques) in the mouth
● Loss of taste or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
● Redness inside the mouth and throat
● Cracks at the corners of the mouth
● Painful, burning sensation in the mouth

Treatments if recommended:
● Nystatin (Mycostatin) oral suspension “swish and swallow”

● Clotrimazole troche (Mycelex)
● Antifungal pill that kills or prevents growth of fungi

Recommend Ancillary Therapies:
● Dietary supplement works alone or in conjunction with other treatments to promote
health, such as:
● Lactobacillus
● Acidophilus

Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545282/