What is thrush? — Thrush is an infection that affects the mouth and throat. This type of infection is caused by a fungus called “candida.” Candida is a type of fungus called “yeast,” so some people call thrush a yeast infection of the mouth and throat. The same kind of yeast can cause diaper rash in babies or vaginal infections in women.

Anyone can get thrush. But it is more common in:

��Infants

��Older adults

��People taking antibiotics

��People being treated for cancer

��People with HIV

What are the symptoms of thrush? — Many people with thrush have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include:

��White patches lining the cheeks, on the tongue, or on back of the throat .

��Redness inside the mouth without white patches. (This happens in people who wear dentures.)

��Cotton-mouth, which is when you feel like your mouth is filled with cotton

Should I see my doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you have symptoms of thrush, call your doctor or nurse for an appointment.

Is there a test for thrush? — Yes, but most people do not need it. Your doctor or nurse should be able to diagnose thrush just by looking inside your mouth. He or she might also run a Q-tip (called a “swab”) along your tongue or cheek and collect some fluid. That way, he or she can send the fluid to the lab and have it checked for yeast.

How is thrush treated? — People with thrush usually get a prescription mouth rinse or a lozenge that has medicine to kill the yeast. (A lozenge is like a candy that you suck on.) If these options do not work, people sometimes take a pill that has medicine to kill yeast. People who have severe infections or other health problems sometimes get the pill right away.

People who wear dentures must also clean their dentures really well every night.

Can I prevent thrush? — If you have HIV, your doctor or nurse might give you medicine that kills yeast to prevent thrush in the first place. If you do not have HIV, there is not much you can do to prevent thrush besides keeping your mouth clean. If you wear dentures, it is really important to clean them every night and to give your mouth some time without the dentures.