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Candida - oral - Background information
What is it?
- Oral candidiasis is a fungal infection of the oral mucosa, most commonly caused by Candida albicans, although it can occasionally be caused by other candida species (for example C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. tropicalis).
- There are three main types of candidal infection of the mouth:
- Pseudomembranous oral candidiasis (often called oral thrush) is most common in infants and immunocompromised people.
- Erythematous oral candidiasis is also known as atrophic oral candidiasis. Dental stomatitis is a common manifestation of this type of candidal infection.
- Hyperplastic oral candidiasis (plaque-like oral candidiasis) is usually chronic, and may indicate premalignant changes in the oral mucosa.
- Candidal infections tend to be opportunistic in nature and rarely affect healthy adults.
[Akpan and Morgan, 2002; Hay and Moore, 2004; Samaranayake et al, 2009]
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