Thrush
Definition
Thrush is a yeast infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue.Alternative Names
Candidiasis - oral; Oral thrushCauses
Thrush is caused by forms of a fungus called Candida. This organism lives in your mouth and is usually kept in check by healthy organisms that also live there. However, when your resistance to infection is low, the fungus can grow, leading to lesions in your mouth and on your tongue.
The following can lessen your resistance to infection and increase your chances of getting thrush:
- Taking antibiotics or steroid medications
- Having HIV infection or AIDS
- Receiving chemotherapy for cancer or drugs to suppress your immune system following an organ transplant
- Being very old or very young
- Being in poor health
- Having diabetes
Thrush is commonly seen in infants. It is not considered abnormal in infants unless it lasts longer than a couple of weeks.
Candida can also cause yeast infections in the vagina.
References
Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 22 ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2004.
Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002.
Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles of Infectious Diseases. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.