Signs & Symptoms of Candida Infection

A candida infection, more commonly called oral thrush, occurs when the fungus named Candida albicans grows and builds on the inner lining of the mouth, producing potentially painful white lesions.

General Symptoms

• Signs of oral thrush include milky white lesions on the inner cheeks, tongue, gums, roof of the mouth and tonsils, often accompanied by a cottony sensation, cracked corners of the mouth, decreased taste, light bleeding and pain. Symptoms can occur suddenly and continue for long periods.

Severe Symptoms

• Lesions from oral thrush sometimes spread to the esophagus that connects the mouth to the stomach, leading to problems swallowing and the sensation of food lodged in the throat.

Infant Symptoms

• Infants with oral thrush will develop oral lesions, and often irritability and difficulty feeding. If breastfed, they can pass the candida infection from their mouths to their mothers.

Breastfeeding Symptoms

• Mothers with a candida infection on their breasts might experience inflamed nipples, areolas with flaky or shiny skin, and pain whether nursing or not. Once affected, a mother can pass the infection back to her infant's mouth from her breast.

Prevention

• To reduce the chances of a candida infection, limit consumption of sugar and yeast, schedule regular dental appointments, and treat vaginal yeast infections immediately during pregnancy.