Thrush is a fungal infection caused by an organism called Candida albicans. It may develop in the mouth in both men and women, and in women, it may also develop in the vagina. When the infection is vaginal, it is often called a vaginal yeast infection. Candida albicans is one of the microorganisms that is normally found in and on the human body. Its growth is usually held in check by the immune system. Like all fungi, it grows best under moist conditions.
Oral Thrush
Oral flush is an overgrowth of Candida albicans in the lining of the mouth. The lesions are creamy white and most commonly found on the tongue or the inside of the cheeks. The condition is painful and the lesions may occasionally bleed. They may spread to other areas like the roof of the mouth or, in severe cases, to the back of the throat.
Risk Factors for Oral Thrush
According to MayoClinic.com, a healthy woman with a normally functioning immune system is at low risk for oral thrush. However, certain conditions may raise a woman's risk. These include any disease, such as HIV or cancer, which puts stress on the immune system. Poorly controlled diabetes also increases the risk of oral thrush because the saliva may contain unusually high concentrations of sugar. Additionally, undergoing chemotherapy or taking steroids increases the likelihood of contracting oral thrush because both of these treatments tend to weaken the immune system.
Vaginal Thrush
Normally, Candida albicans is found in small amounts in the vagina. However, when growth of the microorganism is out of control, the result is a vaginal infection, also called candidiasis, or a vaginal yeast infection. According to MedlinePlus of the National Library of Medicine, most women will experience a vaginal yeast infection at some time. The most common symptoms are vaginal and labial itching and inflammation, a thick white vaginal discharge, painful intercourse and a burning sensation when urinating.
Risk Factors for Vaginal Thrush
There are several recognized risk factors associated with vaginal thrush, according to MayoClinic.com. The risk is higher in women who take antibiotics because these drugs destroy healthy bacteria in the vagina and may allow overgrowth of vaginal Candida. Pregnant women and women who take estrogen are also at increased risk due to their higher hormone levels. As is true for oral thrush, a woman whose immune system is challenged either by disease or by taking steroids is also more likely to develop a vaginal yeast infection.
Treatments
For healthy women, treatment for oral thrush may be as simple as eating unsweetened yogurt or taking acidophilus capsules or liquid, according to MayoClinic.com. However, a woman with a compromised immune system should consult a doctor who may prescribe an anti-fungal drug to treat her oral thrush.
Medications for vaginal thrush are available as either vaginal creams or suppositories, and most of these may be bought without a prescription. However, MedlinePlus of the National Library of Medicine recommends that a woman see her doctor if symptoms do not improve or become worse after one course of treatment with an over-the-counter remedy.
