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Thrush

Thrush
Cause
Candida, the yeast that causes thrush, is normally present in small amounts in the mouth and on other mucous membranes. It usually causes no harm. However, when conditions are present that allow the yeast to grow uncontrolled, it invades surrounding tissues and becomes an infection.

Thrush is most commonly caused by the yeast Candida albicans. Less frequently, other forms of candida can lead to thrush. These include Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida glabrata.1

There are many types of bacteria in your mouth that normally control the growth of candida. Sometimes a new type of bacteria gets into your mouth and disrupts the balance of the organisms already there, allowing candida to overgrow. Other factors that increase your risk of developing thrush include:

An impaired ability to fight infection (weakened immune system). A normal immune system is usually strong enough to prevent candida from overgrowing.
Infants are more prone to thrush because an infant's immune system is not fully developed. Thrush is a common condition in infants during the first few weeks of life.
Older adults are more likely to develop thrush because they may have weaker immune systems.
People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have a high likelihood of developing thrush. About 90% of people with HIV develop thrush at some point during the course of their disease.2
People with diabetes are more prone to thrush because high blood sugar levels promote overgrowth of the candida fungus.
A dry mouth (xerostomia). Dry mouth can result from overuse of mouthwashes or from certain conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome.
Pregnancy. Hormone changes during pregnancy can lead to thrush by altering the balance of bacteria in the mouth.
Poor dental care (especially in people who have false teeth).
The use of antibiotic medications. This may lead to thrush by altering the balance of bacteria in the mouth.
How thrush is spread
The ways in which the yeast causing thrush can be passed from one person to another vary with age.

Newborns and infants A newborn can get thrush during birth, especially if his or her mother had a vaginal yeast infection during labor and delivery. Symptoms of thrush generally appear 3 to 7 days after birth. Newborns and infants have an immature immune system and have not fully developed a healthy balance of bacteria and fungus in their mouths. Because of this, thrush is common during the first few months of life.

Toddlers and older children In otherwise healthy toddlers and older children, thrush is usually not contagious. However, a child with a weakened immune system may develop thrush by sharing infected toys or pacifiers with a child who has the infection. A child with thrush spreads the thrush fungus onto anything the child puts in his or her mouth. Another child may then get thrush by putting an infected object into his or her mouth.

Adults Thrush can be spread through oral sex. The fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections is the same fungus that causes thrush.