Thrush: Its Transmissibility, Preventive Measures, Potential Complications, and Therapeutic Approaches
Oral thrush, a common fungal infection, is most commonly seen in infants and immunocompromised older adults. This condition is typically treated with oral antifungal medications, which may be applied directly to the affected area or swished in the mouth. In some cases, oral tablets or, rarely, intravenous antifungals may be required for more severe cases.
While oral thrush can be transmitted between individuals, it is not considered highly contagious among healthy people who have fully developed and functioning immune systems. The transmission primarily occurs through direct contact, such as skin-to-skin contact or through saliva, which explains why oral thrush can be more easily passed between breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
In such cases, the infection may pass back and forth between the baby’s mouth and the mother's breasts, requiring treatment for both to prevent reinfection. Fungal infections like thrush can also spread from contaminated surfaces, animals, or soil, but in healthy individuals, the immune system typically prevents the infection from developing even if exposed.
Babies taking antibiotics or steroids, those born at a very low birth weight, and immunodeficient infants are at a higher risk for oral thrush. Symptoms of oral thrush may include painful, white-yellow patches in the mouth, raised lesions with a white texture like cottage cheese, painful swallowing or feeding if the infection is also present in the esophagus, white tongue, redness or soreness of the mouth, a feeling of cotton in the mouth, taste changes including loss of taste or a metallic taste, cracking or redness in the corners of the mouth, denture stomatitis in denture wearers that causes redness, irritation, and pain under the denture line, and some infants may also have a simultaneous yeast diaper rash.
Prevention measures include practicing good oral hygiene, cleaning gums and dentures regularly, avoiding smoking, rinsing the mouth and brushing teeth after taking medications or using a corticosteroid inhaler, practicing good denture hygiene, avoiding wearing dentures at night, and making sure they fit properly. Sterilizing pacifiers and bottles for infants, babies, and children, only using antibiotics when necessary, speaking with a doctor about using a chlorhexidine mouthwash during chemotherapy treatments to decrease the risk of thrush, speaking with a child's pediatrician about using preventative antifungals if the child is immunocompromised, having routine check-ups, especially if a person has a chronic health condition like diabetes that can increase the risk of infection, controlling diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels, treating other yeast infections like those of the vagina, avoiding and treating dry mouth if possible, rinsing mouth with salt water rinse, nursing mothers should consider cleaning nipples, wearing nursing pads, wearing a clean bra each day and appropriately cleaning breast pump parts, and letting the skin around the nipples dry completely before putting a bra back on can help minimize the risk.
In children with chronic yeast infections or oral thrush, immunodeficiency may be the cause. If symptoms persist or recur outside of infancy, it may be a sign of another underlying medical problem. It is always recommended that a person sees a doctor if there are symptoms present for evaluation and possible treatment.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Oral thrush. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/oral-thrush/index.html [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Oral thrush. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-20354161 [3] National Health Service (NHS). (2021). Oral thrush. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/oral-thrush/ [4] American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Oral thrush. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/infections/Pages/Oral-Thrush.aspx [5] American Pregnancy Association. (2021). Oral thrush. Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/oral-thrush/
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information on oral thrush, a common fungal infection.
- In some cases, oral tablets or intravenous antifungals may be necessary for severe cases of oral thrush.
- Oral thrush is most commonly seen in infants and immunocompromised older adults.
- Oral thrush can be transmitted through direct contact or saliva, making it more easily passed between breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
- Fungal infections like thrush can spread from contaminated surfaces, animals, or soil, but healthy individuals typically prevent the infection from developing.
- Babies taking antibiotics or steroids, those born at a very low birth weight, and immunodeficient infants are at a higher risk for oral thrush.
- Symptoms of oral thrush include painful, white-yellow patches in the mouth, painful swallowing or feeding, white tongue, redness or soreness of the mouth, a feeling of cotton in the mouth, taste changes, cracking or redness in the corners of the mouth, denture stomatitis, and a simultaneous yeast diaper rash in some infants.
- Practicing good oral hygiene, cleaning gums and dentures regularly, avoiding smoking, rinsing the mouth and brushing teeth after taking medications or using a corticosteroid inhaler, and good denture hygiene can prevent oral thrush.
- Sterilizing pacifiers and bottles for infants, babies, and children, only using antibiotics when necessary, and making sure dentures fit properly can also help prevent oral thrush.
- In children with chronic yeast infections or oral thrush, immunodeficiency may be the cause.
- If symptoms persist or recur outside of infancy, it may be a sign of another underlying medical problem.
- It is always recommended that a person sees a doctor if there are symptoms present for evaluation and possible treatment.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics provides information on oral thrush for children.
- The American Pregnancy Association also provides information on oral thrush during pregnancy.
- In addition to oral antifungal medications, therapies and treatments may be necessary for severe cases of oral thrush.
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes can increase the risk of oral thrush.
- Controlling diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels can help prevent oral thrush.
- Treating other yeast infections like those of the vagina can also help prevent oral thrush.
- Avoiding and treating dry mouth can help prevent oral thrush.
- Rinsing the mouth with salt water can help soothe oral thrush symptoms.
- Nursing mothers should take precautions such as cleaning nipples, wearing nursing pads, and letting the skin around the nipples dry completely to prevent oral thrush.
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