News > Oral yeast infections: what can they indicate?

Professor Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis had the honor of presenting “Oral fungal infections and the secrets they may hide” at the Conference of the Hellenic Society of Medical Mycology, October 19, 2023.

The most common fungus that causes oral thrush is Candida, and for this reason oral thrush is called candidiasis. Oral candidiasis is the infection that has been described as "the disease of the diseased".

Antibiotics, dry mouth, immunosuppression, from drugs such as cortisone, anemia, and other diseases, but also cancer treatments increase the risk of developing candidiasis. Candidiasis may be the first symptom and may lead to the diagnosis in other diseases, such as HIV infection, but also leukemias and other neoplastic disorders.

What are the clinical forms of candidiasis in the mouth: Candidiasis can appear as a red tongue or with white to pale yellow membranes. Alteration of taste, dry mouth, sensitivity, pain and difficulty in swallowing are the most common symptoms.

We should bear in mind that there are many other conditions and diseases in the mouth, which appear with erythema (redness) or with pseudomembranes, without being candidiasis!

The examination by the appropriate specialist doctor or dentist will help us to the correct diagnosis, so that we can receive the appropriate treatment.

I congratulate the President of EIIM Professor Georgia Vrioni and the Members of the Board of Directors for the wonderful organization and I thank them very much for the high honor and the invitation to participate in the Conference.

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