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Candida - oral - Management
When should I admit or refer an otherwise healthy adult with oral candidiasis?

  • Admit the person if there is widespread infection (such as oesophageal candidiasis, characterized by difficulty or pain on swallowing, and retrosternal pain), or there is evidence of systemic illness (candidaemia).
  • Seek specialist advice or consider referral if the diagnosis is in doubt, or if the person:
    • Has severe, extensive, widespread, or recurrent episodes of oral candidiasis.
    • Does not respond adequately to treatment with oral fluconazole (or consider swabbing).
    • Has breakthrough candidal infection while receiving preventive treatment (which may indicate candidal resistance).
  • Consider referring for biopsy those people with chronic plaque-like oral candidiasis that is unresponsive to treatment.

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