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Thrush

Definition:

Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue.

Alternative Names:

Candidiasis - oral; Oral thrush

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Thrush is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans . This organism lives in your mouth and is usually kept in check by healthy organisms that also live there. However, when your resistance to infection is low, the fungus can grow, leading to lesions in your mouth and on your tongue.

The following can lessen your resistance to infection and increase your chances of getting thrush:

Thrush is commonly seen in infants. It is not considered abnormal in infants unless it lasts longer than a couple of weeks.

Candida albicans can also cause yeast infections in the vagina.

References:

Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 22 nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2004.

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5 th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles of Infectious Diseases . 5 th Ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

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