Diagnosing & Treating Thrush Online
Thrush is a yeast infection that appears as a white rash inside your child's mouth. The rash is fungal and will usually appear in white patches that stick to the inside of the mouth and tongue. Thrush can also be found on the roof of a child's mouth, gums, tonsils or back of the throat. The infection is caused by candida fungus, which is yeast and looks like cottage cheese.
This condition is most common in babies, but can occur at any age (especially as an older adult). If you have a weakened immune system there is a higher chance you will get thrush when exposed to candida fungus. When babies are diagnosed with thrush, it is usually not serious.
Small amounts of yeast are always in your mouth, digestive tract and skin. Yeast is supposed to be there. Usually, levels of candida fungus are kept under control by other bacteria in your body. However, sometimes the levels of yeast will become unbalanced from certain illnesses and medications and this can cause the fungus to grow out of control. This is when one will usually get thrush.
There are many things that can cause one’s levels of fungus to become unbalanced:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Dry mouth
- HIV infection
- Hormonal changes, usually with pregnancy
During a video consult on TelaCare your doctor will ask you a series of targeted questions to determine if your child's symptoms point to thrush. Then your provider will proceed to determine the best treatment plan for you. Your provider may recommend in-person examination by a specialist if this is needed. Your treatment plan is based on the duration and severity of one's symptoms and medical history.
Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will go over the risks and benefits of the various treatment plans. Treatment for thrush is different depending on the severity.
Options for treatment of thrush may include:
- Unsweetened yogurt
- Throat lozenges
- Gargling with warm, salt water
- Antifungal medications