Thrush
Friday, Sept. 26, 2003

What may look like formula or milk in your baby’s mouth could actually be a condition called thrush. Dr. Ken Davis tells us more about thrush and the fungus that causes it in today’s Sixty Second Housecall.

Thrush is an infection that develops in the mouth, throat and on the tongue. Thrush is caused by a fungus called candida, the same fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections. This fungus is normally present in small amounts in the mouth. When this fungus overgrows, it leads to thrush. Taking antibiotics may destroy the balance of normal organisms in the mouth and allow candida to overgrow. 

Thrush looks like white patches of cottage cheese or milk curds on the tongue or other surfaces in the mouth. In infants, thrush is often mistaken for milk or formula. The patches adhere to the tongue and mouth and cannot be easily wiped away. The tissue around and under the white patches may be red and raw-looking and may bleed.

Thrush is most common in newborns, infants and older adults and is usually easily treated and cured. It can be a recurring problem for people who have chronic illnesses or who take medications that impair the body's ability to fight infection.

To learn more, join us on-line at wtva.com.  For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.