ORAL  CANDIDIASIS

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by yeast like fungus  CANDIDA ALBICANS. This fungus is normally found in the human body. Other names for candidiasis are candidosis and moniliasis.

It commonly affects the skin, genital area, throat and mouth.

Causes

• Conditions like HIV and cancer can lead to candidiasis.
• Major nutritional deficiency including deficiency of iron and vitamin A.
• Continuous local irritation like an ill-fitting denture or chronic smoking.
• Medication like immunosuppressant drugs, radiation to the head and neck, and corticosteroids.
• Conditions like hypothyroidism, and Addison’s disease.

Signs and symptoms of oral candidiasis

• White spots are visible inside the mouth and on the tongue.
• White coating or patch is also seen on the inner side of the cheek, tongue, and back of the throat.
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• Under this white coat is the tissue is red and sore.
• It is associated with redness and discomfort in that area.
• Sore throat and difficulty in swallowing.
• Cracking is seen at the corner of the mouth.
• These lesions pain and bleed when scrapped.
• There is an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
• Patients complain of dryness of the mouth.

Treatment of candidiasis

• Oral candidiasis can be treated either by topical application or by administrating drugs systemically.
• Remove the cause. If oral candidiasis is because of ill-fitting dentures, smoking, diabetes or medication efforts have to be made to remove the cause.

Topical treatment includes topical application of

• Clotrimazole
• 1 % gentian violet.
• Nystatin preparation
• Amphotericin B

Systemic treatment includes

• Antifungal drugs like ketoconazole, Fluconazole, and Itraconazole.

Treatment should be maintained to 7 days. The results of the treatment are usually good and the symptoms subside in some time. But the chances of relapse is quite high.