Are You Suffering From A Mouth Yeast Infection
When you’ve been taking antibiotics for an extended period of time, have a weakened immune system or frequent fungal infections, you may end up with a mouth yeast infection. These oral yeast infections are caused by the yeast like fungi Candida. Candida is found actively in everyone’s mouth but normally functioning immune systems break the fungi down and do not allow the infection to grow.
This form of mouth yeast infection is referred to as thrush. Thrush is common in newborn babies, particularly those who are nursing from their mother’s breast milk. The elderly are also very susceptible to thrush. Cancer patients who have compromised immune systems as a result of chemotherapy and radiation treatments also frequently suffer from painful oral thrush.
People who are afflicted with the HIV/AIDS disease, those who undergo routine chemotherapy or radiation treatments, the elderly and those who suffer from either type of diabetes often get thrush infections. It has been determined that any time your immune system has been compromised, you are at risk for developing a thrush infection. You may also be at risk for developing yeast infections in other areas of your body. It is not uncommon to have a yeast infection in several places at one time.
Signs that indicate oral thrush include white, creamy patches inside the mouth and throat. These patches can be as small as a pin head or can completely envelop a patient’s entire mouth. Not only do these patches affect the roof of the mouth, they can also appear at the back of the mouth and on all parts of the tongue. Many times, an individual who is suffering from an oral thrush infection will have a thick coating that appears on their tongue, making it difficult and painful to eat or drink.
These white spots often have the visual appearance of cottage cheese. They can grow quickly and spread from one side of the mouth to the other and can also spread back into the mouth. When the Candida takes over an individual’s entire mouth, it is not uncommon to find the tonsils also infected. This can quickly spread down the back of the throat and into the digestive tract and stomach.
This is especially true when the thrush has spread to the back of the throat and tonsils. Unfortunately, many times the infection spreads down the esophagus and into the digestive tract. This is an incredibly painful infection and pain management can be difficult. If you suspect that you or someone you love or care for may have thrush, seek immediate medical attention.
In most cases, thrush is easy to recognize and diagnose by any member of the medical community. Normally, just looking inside of an individual’s mouth will provide a physician with all of the proof they need to determine your case. If your doctor or nurse has doubts or questions about whether or not you have a case of oral thrush, they may take a small specimen of one of the patches to send to the lab. This will help them know how to best treat your symptoms.
If you’ve got a mouth yeast infection, you may not be able to function very well. Get the help of your doctor or other medical professional so that you can rid yourself of the infection quickly. Given time, the infection will only worsen. Get a round of anti-fungal medication and get rid of your thrush, quickly.
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