Babies, young children and elderly people are at a particularly high risk of developing oral thrush, as are people with certain underlying conditions, including diabetes, an iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and HIV.
Thrush, a fungal infection of your mouth, happens most often to toddlers and children but can affect anyone. It can result in creamy white lesions on your tongue or inner cheeks. Causes include certain medications and some health conditions, such as dry mouth or diabetes.
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, a hereditary immunodeficiency disorder, is persistent or recurring infection with Candida (a fungus) due to malfunction of T cells (lymphocytes). Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis causes frequent or chronic fungal infections of the mouth, scalp, skin, and nails.
Thrush is a fungal infection of your mouth and throat. It is caused by an overgrowth of Candida yeast. Antibiotics and immune system problems can raise your risk of thrush. It is uncommon in people without underlying conditions.
The risk of oral thrush is higher in people who have a weakened immune system, for instance due to a chronic disease or cancer treatment. It is also common in people who have HIV/AIDS, and is often quite distressing.
Oral thrush may be associated with a deficiency or low levels of iron, folate and vitamin B12, but researchers believe vitamin C deficiency may be to blame too.
Hairy leukoplakia causes fuzzy, white patches that resemble folds or ridges, usually on the sides of your tongue. It's often mistaken for oral thrush, an infection marked by creamy white patches that can be wiped away, which is also common in people with a weakened immune system.
Oral thrush is usually harmless. It's common in babies and older people with dentures. It can be easily treated with medicines bought from a pharmacy.
Thrush is caused by a fungus called candida that is normally harmless. Thrush tends to grow in warm, moist conditions and develops if the balance of bacteria changes. This can happen if: your skin is irritated or damaged.
The yeast gets into your bloodstream and spreads to other areas, such as your eyes, heart, brain and kidneys.
People with Sjogren's syndrome are much more likely to develop oral thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth.
Overgrowth is caused by the introduction of a foreign chemical into a patient's body. Steroids, antibiotics, and alcohol have all been known to cause candida syndrome. Other causes include birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy, acute and chronic stress, recreational drugs, chemotherapy, and a poor diet.
A yeast infection can happen if your skin gets damaged. Yeast can also “overgrow” in warm or humid conditions. An infection can also happen if you have a weak immune system. Taking antibiotics can also cause an overgrowth of yeast.
Oral thrush usually doesn't cause any serious health problems, but it can be very unpleasant. If the fungus spreads to your food pipe, for example, it may cause problems swallowing. Together with the usual symptoms, this may cause people who have oral thrush to eat less and lose weight.
Oral thrush clears up within a few weeks with the proper antifungal treatment. The condition may be harder to treat if you have a weakened immune system from HIV infection, cancer, or diabetes.
If left untreated, symptoms can persist, and your mouth might continue to feel uncomfortable. Your pharmacist will usually be able to diagnose oral thrush by examining your mouth. If pharmacy treatments don't help, see your doctor, who may recommend other medication.
Now, to answer the question, “Can anxiety cause thrush?” No, anxiety itself doesn't cause thrush. However, the stress caused by anxious behavior can contribute to the development of thrush since stress can disturb the balance between other bacteria and microorganisms in the body, allowing thrush to flourish.
Stress is another factor that could trigger a bout of thrush. One of the side effects of chronic stress is a drop in your body's ability to fight off infections.
Yeast infections are a particular problem with diabetes because sugar helps candida grow. High levels of sugar in your blood also mean high sugar levels in your sweat, saliva, and urine. That encourages yeast to grow in places like your mouth and genitals, and you can end up with thrush.
Although oral thrush can affect anyone, it's more likely to occur in babies and older adults because they have reduced immunity; in other people with suppressed immune systems or certain health conditions; or people who take certain medications.
In particular, foods high in sugar, refined grains, dairy products, processed meats, and alcohol may promote the growth of Candida ( 28 ). While more research is needed, one study found that people who avoided these foods during treatment for Candida had better outcomes after 3 months ( 28 ).
In many cases, thrush goes away on its own without treatment. A persistent yeast infection may require antifungal medications. These can be taken orally or applied as ointments directly to your mouth. Antifungal rinses are another option for treating thrush.
When are blood tests needed to diagnose thrush? When candidiasis is invasive (spreading to distant organs, typically in severely immunocompromised people), a blood test called the T2Candida panel can be used to detect the type of Candida fungus involved.
The most common way that healthcare providers test for invasive candidiasis is by taking a blood sample or sample from the infected body site and sending it to a laboratory to see if it will grow Candida in a culture.
In fact, probiotic intervention reduced the risk of high yeast counts by 75%, and also reduced the risk of hyposalivation (low saliva levels) by 56%. The trial was summarised by saying that probiotic bacteria can be 'effective in controlling oral candidiasis'.