Thrush (medicine)

Thrush (medicine), fungal infection characterized by creamy-white, curdlike patches on the tongue and other mucosal surfaces of the mouth. The disease is caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a species of yeast that normally inhabits the mucous membranes as a benign saprophyte. Those most susceptible to thrush include adults whose immune systems have been weakened by antibiotics, steroids, or, most commonly, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Infants can become infected during birth if the mother has a vaginal yeast infection (see Gynecology).

When the curdlike discharge is removed from patches of thrush, raw and bleeding areas are visible and can be especially painful. If left untreated, these superficial lesions may allow the yeast to spread to other areas of the body. In cases of severe immunosuppression or prolonged antibiotic therapy, the organism can invade the major organs, causing serious complications. Diagnosis requires microscopic identification of the pseudomycelial (branching-arms) forms. Generally, thrush is treated with a topical (surface) agent such as miconazole or clotrimazole.

The growing number of cases of thrush and other diseases caused by Candida can be attributed mainly to medical advances in antibiotic and immunosuppressive treatments. The onset of AIDS, a severe immunosuppressive disease, has also played a role in the increased incidence of thrush.