Oral Candidiasis

Oral candidiasis is the most common fungal infection in the oral cavity and is an opportunistic infection. The most common type of oral candidiasis is called pseudomembranous candidiasis, also known as, oral thrush and it is caused by an overgrowth of the fungal genus called Candida. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Candida species are normal inhabitants of the mouth, throat, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract. Oral candidiasis is also known as a mycosis, a fungal infection. Oral thrush is not a transmittable infection. By appearance, the disease looks like individual patches of pseudomembranous white slough. The white slough can be described as “creamy white patches” or “cottage cheese”. It is caused by collection of debris, fibrin and desquamated

The white slough can be easily wiped away to reveal erythematous tissue. Sometimes, there is small amounts of bleeding mucosa underneath. Oral candidiasis is most common in newborn infants, older adults who wear dentures, people with diabetes mellitus, and immunocompromised. Oral candidiasis is not only the most common fungal infection in the mouth but it is the most common human fungal infection. According to Akpan and Morgan, Candida Albicans, a type of fungal species from the Candida genus, has been found in the oral cavity and are: 45% in neonates, 50%–65% of people who wear removable dentures, and 95% of patients with HIV. Oral candidiasis can occur anywhere in the oral cavity. They can be found on the tongue, the roof of the mouth, back of the throat, and the mucous membrane of the mouth. It can make drinking and eating challenging for people because one of the symptom of oral candidiasis is a painful, burning sensation. A person’s taste can be altered or have a loss of taste. Candida can grow and develop