Thrush is what type of infection

Oral thrush is caused by fungi of the genus Candida, which resides normally in the mouth, throat, vagina , and gut. But it can sometimes overgrow and bring about an infection.

KidsHealth From the Nemours Foundation. You can find articles on one topic written for different audiences — for parents, for kids, or for teens. Here, the OWH goes over numerous breastfeeding challenges, including fungal infections, clogged ducts, and mastitis.

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Thrush is a fungal infection that grows in the mouth and throat. But when Candida albicans grows out of proportion to the mix, thrush can occur. Thrush is usually not serious, but treatment is often important to relieve uncomfortable symptoms. Instead, it develops quickly. Here are common symptoms:.

Thrush, whether in the mouth, throat, or esophagus, is not entirely common in healthy adults. Instead, it most often occurs in babies younger than 6 months old and in older adults. Individuals at an elevated risk of oral candidiasis include:.

Oral sexual contact with someone who has a yeast infection can cause oral thrush, too. Babies who have oral thrush can easily pass the infection to their mothers via breastfeeding. Breastfeeding moms who develop yeast infections around the breasts and nipples can just as easily transmit the infection to their babies. Mothers taking antibiotics are especially prone to the infection. Symptoms include:. Diagnosis may also involve the following: Scraping the lesions Your practitioner will scrape a small amount of tissue from the lesions and will look for bleeding or examine the specimen under a microscope.

Throat culture A provider will swab the back of the throat and examine the microorganisms under a microscope. Endoscopy A tube outfitted with a lighted camera will be passed through the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Again, this is reserved for those whose thrush has likely moved to the esophagus. Once a person begins treatment for thrush, the infection is usually resolved within two weeks. If thrush becomes a recurrent issue, bring it to the attention of your healthcare provider.

It may be because of an underlying condition. Some babies don't need to be treated for oral thrush, and the infection can be allowed to go away on its own. But for most others, thrush can — and should — be easily and effectively treated. These antifungals can come in the form of a lozenge or liquid that you swish in your mouth and then swallow. For babies, medication is often applied several times throughout the day with a sponge applicator.

But if the thrush infection is deemed severe — or if it impacts the esophagus — the antifungal medication fluconazole is usually given by mouth or intravenously. When mothers and breastfeeding infants both develop thrush, both should be treated simultaneously to prevent an ongoing back-and-forth exchange of the infection. Use probiotics. Keep dentures clean and fitting. It's usually harmless but it can be uncomfortable and keep coming back.

It is not classed as a sexually transmitted infection STI. Thrush can affect other areas of skin, such as the armpits, groin and between the fingers. This usually causes a red, itchy or painful rash that scales over with white or yellow discharge. The rash may not be so obvious on darker skin. Many sexual health clinics offer a walk-in service, where you do not need an appointment.

During coronavirus, call a sexual health clinic if you need help or advice. Only go to a clinic if you've been told to.

Find a sexual health clinic. The GP or sexual health clinic will want to confirm it's thrush and rule out other infections. You'll usually need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush. Oral thrush and other yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans C.

When your immune system is working properly, beneficial bacteria in your body help keep C. But if your immune system is compromised or the balance of microorganisms in your body is disrupted, the fungus can grow out of control. You may develop an overgrowth of C. Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy , can also damage or kill healthy cells. This makes you more susceptible to oral thrush and other infections.

Conditions that weaken your immune system, such as leukemia and HIV , also increase the risk of developing oral thrush. Oral thrush is a common opportunistic infection in people with HIV. Diabetes can contribute to oral thrush as well. Uncontrolled diabetes weakens your immune system and causes high blood sugar levels. This creates favorable conditions for C.

In some cases, that person might develop oral thrush. The fungus that causes oral thrush also causes yeast infections in other body parts. If you have oral thrush, a vaginal yeast infection , or a penile yeast infection , you can potentially pass the fungus to your partner through vaginal sex , anal sex , or oral sex. If you have a breast yeast infection or nipple yeast infection , you can pass the fungus to your baby while breastfeeding.

Your baby can also transmit the fungus to you if they breastfeed when they have oral thrush. When C. Also, because C. Learn about some of the factors that can raise your risk of developing an infection when someone passes this fungus to you. Your doctor may be able to diagnose oral thrush simply by examining your mouth for the characteristic bumps that it causes.

In some cases, your doctor may take a biopsy of the affected area to confirm the diagnosis. To perform a biopsy, they will scrape off a small portion of a bump from your mouth. The sample will then be sent to a laboratory to be tested for C. If your doctor suspects that you have oral thrush in your esophagus , they may use a throat swab culture or endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis. To perform a throat swab culture, your doctor uses a cotton swab to take a tissue sample from the back of your throat.

They then send this sample to a laboratory for testing. To perform endoscopy, your doctor uses a thin tube with a light and camera attached to it. They may also remove a sample of tissue for analysis.

Once you begin treatment, oral thrush usually goes away within a couple of weeks. But in some cases, it can return. For adults who have recurring cases of oral thrush with no known cause, their healthcare provider will evaluate them for underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to thrush. Your doctor might also recommend home remedies or lifestyle changes to help treat oral thrush or stop it from coming back. It might also help to eat yogurt that contains beneficial bacteria or take a probiotic supplement.

Talk to a doctor before giving an infant any supplements. To learn more about these home remedies and others, click here. The same fungus that causes oral thrush can also cause yeast infections on your breasts and nipples. This fungus can be passed back and forth between mothers and babies during breastfeeding.