WHAT IS CANDIDIASIS (THRUSH) DISEASE?

It is a type of fungal infection that occurs in the lining of the mouth. In this condition, there is the formation of white bumps inside the mouth that occur due to candida fungus, also known as yeast.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR CANDIDIASIS?

• Candidiasis mainly occurs in small babies and toddlers 
• In adults, if the immune system is weak due to a sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes: People having uncontrolled diabetes are more prone due to low healing power. In diabetic patients, there are high sugar levels in the blood that increases the growth of the fungus  
• HIV infection 
• Leukemia 
• Anemia
• Cancer 
• Any condition that leads to chronic dry mouth such as xerostomia 
• During pregnancy, various hormonal changes occur that lead to oral thrush 
• Smoking
• Dentures may cause thrush due to unfit denture, who does not maintain the hygiene while using denture, the person who doesn’t remove denture during sleep 
• Some medications that disturb the normal growth of the fungus are corticosteroids, antibiotics, birth control pills 
• Sometimes excessive mouthwash can harm those bacteria which maintain the growth of candida in the mouth
• A diet that lacks iron, folic acid, etc 
• Sometimes it occurs after chemotherapy or radiotherapy to the head and neck

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF CANDIDIASIS?

• Candidiasis is a contagious infection so it may spread to other parts of the body such esophagus, and vagina, or sometimes it may spread to your partner through vaginal sex, or oral sex.
• Untreated oral thrush may enter the bloodstream and reach to patient heart , brain , eyes or other parts of the body 
• Untreated oral thrush may also lead to septic shock 
• If breastfeeding baby affected from candidiasis it may spread to mother breast 

SYMPTOMS & CAUSES

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms usually appear suddenly

• Burning and redness in mouth
• Tongue become white 
• Pain and Difficulty In swallowing
• Presence of white ,creamy slightly raised lesions in mouth ,mainly present on the tongue or inner cheeks but may be present on the root of your tongue ,gums ,mouth , tonsils,or back of the throat 
• Sometimes fever may occur but fever occur when infection spread to esophagus .
• Feeling of being stuck in throat ,as if something like food is stuck in the throat 
• These lesions may be bleed or become painful when scrape or brush 
• Sometimes affected person can’t recognise the taste of food 
• Bad taste in mouth
• May be the corners of the mouth become dry cracked 
• Soreness  in mouth 
• Cottony feeling in the mouth 

If oral thrush occur in children it leads to various symptoms such as 

• Baby become irritable 
• Stop taking feed
• Become lazy 
• May be crying most of the time 

CAUSES

• Candida is a fungus normally present in the mouth ,digestive track ,and skin of the healthy human being but it present in small amount because the quantity of fungus is controlled by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body , But overgrowth of fungus  is triggered by some factors such as
•  certain medications such as corticosteroids , antibacterial drugs ,some hormonal pills
• Stress
•  uncontrolled diabetes 
• some health issues such as HIV,leukemia ,anaemia ,
•  wrong dentures ,or maintain bad hygiene of the denture .
• Any condition which causes chronic dry mouth lead to thrush
• Excessive use of mouthwash kill the good bacteria in the mouth 

All these factors weaken the immunity and disturb the growth of candida ,and as a result the growth of the fungus candida become overgrown it lead to symptoms

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

DIAGNOSIS

• Thrush is usually diagnosis by examination of patient mouth ,during examination raised lesion in mouth appear which appear white 
• In some cases biopsy of the affected area is required to confirm the diagnosis 
• If  there is any symptoms of esophageal thrush then throat swab culture or endoscopy is required to confirm the diagnosis 
• Throat swab culture -in this procedure a sample of tissue is taken from the back of the throat by using cotton 
• Endoscopy -a thin tube with a camera is inserted through mouth and examine the esophagus 
• Anya past medical history also helpful in diagnosis

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TREATMENT

• The conventional treatment of candidiasis is antifungal medication which is given orally for 10 to 15 days 
• Medicated ointment is used 
• If oral thrush occur in baby during breastfeeding then treatment should be taken by both 
• But all these treatments are not safe and permanent ,homeopathy is the best option because it is gentle and permanent 

MANAGEMENT

• Maintain mouth hygiene ,because bad hygiene cancers the growth of the fungus 
• Avoid mouthwashes  and sprays ,they kill the necessary bacteria 
• Take diet which is less in sugar 
• Rinse mouth salt water 
• Toothbrush should be soft because hard brush can scrap the lesions 
• Limit yeast containing foods,because it enhances the fungus growth 
• Try to change toothbrush frequently during active infection
• Avoid alcohol and smoking
• A mother who is infected from candidiasis in breast area should be treated and maintain nipple hygiene at the time of feeding 

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

 Homeopathy is the best option because through homeopathy medicine we can prevent other complications and disease condition is well managed ,permanent cured by Homeopathy and also prevent relapses 

It is natural and safe  treatment but never take prescription without consultation from the registered practitioner

Some homeopathic medicine are 

Borax,mercurius solubis,nitric acid ,nux vomica ,candida albicans , 

DO’S & DON’TS

DO’S

• Take balance diet 
• Rinse your mouth with saline water 
• Maintain oral hygiene
• Use soft brush 
• Take proper sleep
• Maintain sugar in normal range 
• Use denture which is fit properly 
• Keep hydrated

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DON’TS

• Avoid smoking and alcohol
• Avoid junk food 
• Avoid scraping of the lesions 
• Avoid kisses during active infection it may spread to other 
• Avoid sugar in diet 
• Avoid excessive taking of medicine 
• Avoid excessive mouth washing 
• Avoid to become mouth dry