All about Oral Yeast Infections
Apr 2nd, 2009 by Keries
Oral yeast infections, usually called thrush, usually occur in children and senior adults. However, for people who are taking antibiotic drugs or for those whose immune systems have been compromised by chemotherapy, radiation treatments, or diseases of the immune system, such as AIDS, thrush and other oral yeast infections can occur more frequently. This is sometimes a signal of a serious vulnerability to other opportunistic infections.
What is Thrush?
Thrush is a kind of oral yeast infection that occurs as a whitish or yellowish coating of the mucus membrane and tongue. It can have a weird aroma, sometimes described as smelling like bread. Thrush sometimes has no other symptoms than the coating, but it can also create annoying, or even painful, burning or itching sensations.
Oral yeast infections, including thrush, have also been associated to joint pain, desires for certain foods, and systemic infections. While yeast occurs naturally in the human body, it can sometimes increase to unhealthy levels due to antibiotic use, changes in hormones, use of birth control pills, or, as mentioned above, diminished immune response. Such increases in yeast growth can result in oral yeast infections like thrush, topical infections like diaper rash or vaginitis, or systemic yeast infections, sometimes associated with hives, joint pain, asthma, or other, more serious conditions.
How is Thrush Treated?
Thrush, like other oral yeast infections and infections of different regions of the body, is treated with antifungal medications. If you think you or your child has thrush, you should visit your doctor. Your physician may prescribe Defamox, a medication available both as a pill, for systemic application, and as a mouthwash or spray, for topical application inside the mouth. Nystatin is another antifungal medication that can be taken either orally or topically.
In addition to medication, your doctor may also advocate some adjustments in your diet to aid the body’s attempts to rid itself of thrush or other oral yeast infections. Since sugar is a required nutrient for yeast growth, cutting back on sugar intake during the course of treatment may promote a quicker recovery.
Additionally, restricting or eliminating the use of alcohol and breads (both of which are made with yeast and sugars) may be of assistance. Some individuals have reported success with grapefruit extracts, grape seed oil, and other natural food products that aid the body in lowering the presence of yeast. Finally, increasing consumption of yogurt and other dairy products that contain the acidophilus bacterium, a microorganism that suppresses yeast growth, can also help.
