How is thrush contagious
Oral thrush in adults | NHS inform
Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth. It's not contagious and is usually successfully treated with antifungal medication.
It's also called oral candidosis (or candiasis) because it's caused by a group of yeasts called Candida.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP practice if:
You develop symptoms of oral thrush, which can include:
- white patches (plaques) in the mouth that can often be wiped off, leaving behind red areas that may bleed slightly
- loss of taste or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
- redness inside the mouth and throat
- cracks at the corners of the mouth
- a painful, burning sensation in the mouth
In some cases, the symptoms of oral thrush can make eating and drinking difficult.
If left untreated, the symptoms will often persist and your mouth will continue to feel uncomfortable.
In severe cases that are left untreated, there is also a risk of the infection spreading further into your body, which can be serious.
Your GP will usually be able to diagnose oral thrush simply by examining your mouth. Sometimes they may also recommend blood tests to look for certain conditions associated with oral thrush, such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies.
What causes oral thrush?
Low numbers of the fungus Candida are naturally found in the mouth and digestive system of most people. They don't usually cause any problems, but can lead to oral thrush if they multiply.
There are a number of reasons why this may happen, including:
- taking a course of antibiotics, particularly over a long period or at a high dose
- taking inhaled corticosteroid medication for asthma
- wearing dentures (false teeth), particularly if they don't fit properly
- having poor oral hygiene
- having a dry mouth, either because of a medical condition or a medication you are taking
- smoking
- having chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat cancer
Babies, young children and elderly people are at a particularly high risk of developing oral thrush, as are people with certain underlying conditions, including diabetes, an iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and HIV.
As most people already have Candida fungi living in their mouth, oral thrush is not contagious. This means it cannot be passed to others.
Treating oral thrush
Oral thrush can usually be successfully treated with antifungal medicines. These usually come in the form of gels or liquid that you apply directly inside your mouth (topical medication), although tablets or capsules are sometimes used.
Topical medication will usually need to be used several times a day for around 7 to 14 days. Tablet or capsules are usually taken once daily.
These medications don't often have side effects, although some can cause nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, bloating, abdominal (tummy) pain and diarrhoea.
If antibiotics or corticosteroids are thought to be causing your oral thrush, the medicine – or the way it is delivered – may need to be changed or the dosage reduced.
Preventing oral thrush
There are a number of things you can do to reduce your chances of developing oral thrush.
Do
- rinse your mouth after meals
- brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride
- floss regularly
- visit your dentist regularly for check-ups, even if you wear dentures or have no natural teeth
- remove your dentures every night and clean them with paste or soap and water before soaking them in a solution of water and denture-cleaning tablets
- brush your gums, tongue and inside your mouth with a soft brush twice a day if you wear dentures or have no or few natural teeth
- visit your dentist if your dentures do not fit properly
- stop smoking if you smoke
- rinse your mouth with water and spit it out after using a corticosteroid inhaler, and use a spacer (a plastic cylinder that attaches to the inhaler) when you take your medicine
- ensure that any underlying condition you have, such as diabetes, is well controlled
If you have a condition or are receiving treatment that could put you at a high risk of developing oral thrush, your doctor may recommend taking a course of antifungal medication to prevent this happening.
Last updated:
13 February 2023
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Is Thrush Contagious? Prevention, Complications and More
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Oral thrush (or simply “thrush”) is a yeast infection caused by Candida. While uncomfortable, a thrush infection isn’t necessarily contagious. The yeast can spread from person to person, but someone who comes into contact with thrush won’t automatically develop the infection. Keep reading to learn more about oral thrush and what you can do to prevent an oral thrush infection.
A fungus called Candida is responsible for causing thrush.
Candida also causes other kinds of yeast infections, such as those that occur vaginally. The fungus itself is common. In fact, you already have small amounts of it throughout your body. Such small amounts don’t cause any issues.
The fungus can turn into thrush when natural bacteria in the mouth are out of balance, however. This makes your mouth a breeding area for Candida to spread and cause infection.
Among the causes of thrush are:
- antibiotic use
- chemotherapy
- dentures
- diabetes
- dry mouth
- HIV
- immune system deficiencies
- inhaled corticosteroid use
- smoking
- use of steroid medications
Thrush is also common in newborns. Infants can develop the infection from exposure to yeast in the mother’s birth canal.
Thrush is most common in infants younger than 6 months, as well as older adults. However, the infection can occur in people of all ages. It’s not age itself that leads to thrush, but rather the conditions and situations that are common at certain ages.
Breastfeeding can also cause oral thrush in babies. Candida can occur anywhere on the body, including your breasts and nipples. You can’t tell the fungus is there unless there’s an infection on your skin. An infection can cause more soreness and redness than usual.
If Candida is present on your nipples during breastfeeding, the fungus then transmits to your baby. They may not necessarily get an infection from this. However, having extra yeast in their mouths increases their risk of developing thrush as a result.
On the flipside, you can get some of the fungus from your baby’s mouth on your breasts and nipples when you breastfeed. This doesn’t mean you’ll automatically develop an infection, either, though.
Symptoms of thrush include:
- white patches inside your mouth, primarily on the tongue and cheeks
- redness in and around the mouth
- pain inside your mouth
- sore throat
- cotton-like feelings inside your mouth
- burning sensations in the mouth
- difficulty swallowing
- metallic taste on your tongue
- new sores that look like cottage cheese
- decreased sense of taste, especially when eating and drinking
- cracking in the corners of your mouth
Babies with thrush will also have irritation inside and around their mouths.
They may also express irritability and loss of appetite. Babies who have thrush might also have a diaper rash from Candida. Learn how to tell the difference between diaper rash and yeast infection.
Thrush must be diagnosed by your doctor. They will first take a look at the physical signs inside your mouth and ask you about any other symptoms you’ve been having.
Your doctor may also take a sample from inside your mouth with a cotton swab for lab testing. This can confirm a Candida infection. The process isn’t fool-proof though, since you likely have small amounts of the yeast in your mouth with or without an infection. Your doctor will weigh the results with your signs and symptoms to make a diagnosis.
It’s important to see a doctor so they can also rule out other causes of white patches on the tongue, such as leukoplakia and scarlet fever.
In many cases, thrush goes away on its own without treatment. A persistent yeast infection may require antifungal medications.
These can be taken orally or applied as ointments directly to your mouth. Antifungal rinses are another option for treating thrush.
Babies with thrush will need antifungal ointments or drops. These are applied with a sponge applicator or dropper inside the mouth and on the tongue.
More aggressive treatment measures may be required if you have immune system deficiencies. Intense treatment helps prevent thrush from infecting other areas of the body, such as the lungs, intestines, and liver.
The signs of thrush will start to diminish with time. Most people recover from thrush within 1 to 2 weeks.
Shop for thrush treatment options online at Amazon.
Without treatment, thrush can eventually affect the esophagus. Severe infections can spread and worsen. That’s why it’s important to call your doctor if you don’t see any improvement in your symptoms within a week. People with compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to severe infections from thrush.
Thrush may possibly be prevented with probiotics.
You may also find some of the same benefits by eating yogurt with lactobacilli. Lactobacilli are bacteria that help get rid of yeast throughout the body. Talk with your pediatrician before giving any probiotics to your baby.
Shop for probiotic supplements online at Amazon.
Oral hygiene is also important in preventing thrush. This not only includes brushing and flossing your teeth, but also using a mouthwash to get rid of excessive microorganisms. Rinse your mouth after taking medications, too. Mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine are especially helpful if you have a weakened immune system.
Shop for mouthwash online at Amazon.
If you’re currently breastfeeding, you may also be able to prevent the spread of Candida from your body to your baby’s mouth. Because the yeast likes warm, moist environments, try to allow the area around your nipples to dry well after breastfeeding. See your doctor if you think you have the fungus on your breasts. It can cause excessive soreness and redness.
You may also have deep pains within the breast area. If Candida is found on your breasts, you may need to apply antifungal ointment to the area until the yeast infection clears up.
Shop for antifungal ointment online at Amazon.
Thrush itself isn’t a contagious infection. You won’t necessarily “catch it” from another person. However, it’s important to take precautions if you or a loved one has thrush. Exposure to the yeast can turn into an infection, especially if your immune system isn’t working well.
Q:
Is thrush contagious through kissing?
Anonymous patient
A:
If you have an overgrowth of Candida in your mouth causing a yeast infection (thrush), that yeast can be passed from your mouth to your partner’s by kissing. However, yeast is everywhere and we all likely have small amounts in our mouths already. Candida will only cause thrush if the right conditions are present. If you think you have thrush, see your doctor as soon as you can to begin treatment.
Karen Gill, MDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Is it possible to have sex during thrush?
Is it possible to have sex during thrush? Is candidiasis sexually transmitted? These questions concern patients all over the world. Let's figure out together with the doctor what partners should know about thrush before sexual intercourse.
Lyudmila Starichenko
doctor of the highest qualification category,
chief physician of the Clinic of Innovative Technologies
work experience 41 years
doctor's consultation by phone:
+7 (963) 380-10-31
+7 (865) 257-76-05
find out more on the website
Thrush and sex: what is the relationship?
Is thrush sexually transmitted?
How candidiasis affects how you feel during sex
Thrush after intercourse: symptoms
Why should you abstain from sex with thrush?
Sex during treatment of thrush: is it possible?
Treatment of thrush
Prevention: how to avoid thrush
Thrush is a very common disease of the vaginal mucosa.
Thrush itself has nothing to do with sex. Therefore, candidiasis cannot occur after intercourse or because of it. The main cause of the manifestation of the disease is a fungal infection.
Read more about who can get candidiasis in our article "Thrush in Women".
Thrush and sex: what is the relationship?
Many patients with candidiasis are greatly mistaken when they say that they caught the disease from their partner. Despite the common belief, thrush and sex have nothing to do with each other.
Candidiasis is a urogenital disease, and it is simply impossible to catch it from your partner!
However, you can "catch" opportunistic fungi of the genus Candida, which cause thrush. But they are often already in the body in both men and women.
And if everything is in order with your immunity, you follow preventive measures and do not fall into any group of factors that cause thrush, there is a great chance that your body will cope with “extra” fungi on its own and the disease will not develop.
Is thrush sexually transmitted?
Most often, patients ask a similar question and are very worried if they had a sexual relationship with a partner with thrush. But we hasten to reassure you. By itself, candidiasis cannot be transmitted in any way. Only yeast-like fungi that cause thrush can be transmitted. The presence of such fungi on the mucous membranes does not yet mean that the infection will "take root" and the sexual partner will definitely get candidiasis.
Let's give an illustrative example. Your friend is very sick.
Let's say he caught another SARS. You, in order to support the poor fellow, decided to take care of him and spent the whole day near his bed. The sick person was served either chicken soup or hot tea with lemon and honey. Could you "catch" the same infection? Yes, sure. But are you sure you will get sick now? Not at all. Everything here will depend on the strength of your immunity.
The same analogy can be drawn with thrush. Even if you had a sexual relationship with a person who has candidiasis, it is not at all necessary that now you will have the same disease. Yes, Candida fungi can be transmitted to you, but strong general and local immunity, the composition of your own microflora and the absence of predisposing factors, which we talked about earlier, can “defeat” them.
So, returning to the question, we can definitely say that candidiasis itself is not transmitted, but opportunistic fungi are transmitted. Yes, they can be sexually transmitted, but this is not at all a guarantee that you will now get candidiasis.
However, it is still better to protect yourself and engage in exclusively protected sex.
The dangers of oral and anal sex in thrush should also be mentioned. Although the disease itself is not transmitted, oral sex during thrush is dangerous due to the possibility of microcracks and infection of the oral cavity with yeast-like fungi. Such infection can lead to oral candidiasis.
Thrush during anal sex is also dangerous due to the possibility of microcracks and infection of the rectal ampulla with yeast-like fungi, which, with a weakened immune system, can lead to intestinal candidiasis and systemic diseases.
How candidiasis affects the sensations during sex
Unfortunately, thrush significantly impairs the patient's quality of life, and especially the quality of sexual life.
Often, unpleasant symptoms bother patients so much that they simply don’t feel like having sex. However, if you really want to, then no one limits the patients, although this is undesirable. And yet, doctors strongly recommend protected intercourse.
Those who do decide to have sex during thrush should not expect much. Both men and women experience burning and itching, pain in the lower abdomen and discomfort during candidiasis. These symptoms are greatly aggravated during intercourse. As a rule, men with candidiasis may experience increased sexual desire, but severe pain begins during an erection and the patient fails to enjoy it.
Thrush after intercourse: symptoms genitals.
In addition, in women after intercourse, an unpleasant odor increases significantly, and men may complain of a pronounced swelling of the penis. In addition, the stronger sex may suffer after intercourse from inflammation of the urethra and burning during urination, gray and white plaque, dryness of the mucous membrane and cracks on the surface of the penis, multiple rashes, discharge from the urethra with a specific smell.
Why should you abstain from sex when you have thrush? Doctors recommend giving up sex during thrush for several reasons. Firstly, unpleasant symptoms simply “kill” all desire. Secondly, itching and burning simply interfere with focusing on pleasure, which means that it becomes difficult and almost impossible to get an orgasm.
The last and most important reason is that it is best to avoid all sexual contact during treatment. Of course, thrush itself is not transmitted, but only opportunistic fungi are transmitted, which may not take root at all. But if a person is already sick with candidiasis, then these yeast-like fungi in most cases will take root and may even cause a relapse of the disease. Therefore, if you still really want to, no one will limit you. But then do not neglect protective measures and use a condom without fail.
Why should you abstain from sex when you have thrush?
When prescribing treatment, sexual contact should be avoided at all costs. It is necessary to do this in the first place precisely because during sexual contact there is a risk that again there will be a re-infection with yeast-like fungi. With this outcome, the formation of drug-resistant strains of fungi and transformation into chronic processes is possible in the body. And getting rid of chronic thrush is much more difficult. Therefore, it is better to wait a little with sexual contacts. However, if you still really want to, then no doctor will limit you. Just remember to protect yourself and use a condom.
Sex during thrush treatment: is it possible?
When prescribing treatment, sexual contact should be avoided at all costs.
It is necessary to do this in the first place precisely because during sexual contact there is a risk that again there will be a re-infection with yeast-like fungi. With this outcome, the formation of drug-resistant strains of fungi and transformation into chronic processes is possible in the body. And getting rid of chronic thrush is much more difficult. Therefore, it is better to wait a little with sexual contacts. However, if you still really want to, then no doctor will limit you. Just remember to protect yourself and use a condom.
Treatment of thrush
If you are even 100% sure that you have thrush, you cannot choose medications and prescribe treatment for yourself. This can only be done by a doctor on the basis of laboratory tests, based on the clinical picture, the age of the patient, reproductive plans and many other factors.
Self-selection of medicines and even more self-medication is strictly prohibited! All drugs against thrush are divided into three types: capsule tablets, ointments and suppositories .
Read more about the treatment of thrush in the material "Thrush in women".
Prevention: how to avoid thrush
What can I do to avoid thrush? To begin with, strengthen your immunity, since it is thanks to its weakening that the growth of yeast-like fungi begins. Watch your health, temper yourself, eat right, take vitamin complexes and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Antibiotics should also be avoided, which are excellent breeding grounds for Candida.
In addition, basic hygiene rules must be observed. Wear comfortable cotton underwear: after all, synthetic thongs can injure delicate skin and form microcracks that will provoke the appearance of candidiasis.
Girls should forget about scented pads. It is worth paying attention to the timely replacement of pads and tampons according to the instructions.
Oral contraceptives are best replaced with conventional contraception in the form of a condom.
Try to avoid unprotected sex. First, it will protect you from contracting diseases such as AIDS and syphilis. And secondly, unprotected sex can lead to the exchange of bacteria, among which there will be yeast-like fungi that cause thrush.
And, of course, do not forget to visit a gynecologist or urologist at least twice a year. The main thing to remember is that disease prevention is the main guarantee of good health and improving the quality of life for many years to come.
find out how to get diagnosed
Conclusion After all, this way you can protect yourself and your body from possible infection with fungi of the genus Candida.
The main thing to remember is that even chronic candidiasis can be cured. It is only necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and start taking medications. And only if you follow all the recommendations, you can once and for all forget about what thrush is. Be healthy! If you still have questions, you can ask them to the specialists of the Innovative Technology Clinic.
Website: https://3dkit.ru/
Phone: +7 (963) 380-10-31 +7 (865) 257-76-05
. Dovatortsev, 53 B
Author: Ekaterina Vlasova
Photo: Anastasia Ryazhskaya
symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Article contents
- Symptoms and signs of candidiasis
- Causes of vaginal candidiasis
- Routes of transmission of thrush
- Risk factors for disease
- Complications after thrush
- When to see a doctor
- Preparing for a doctor's appointment
- Diagnosis of thrush in women and men
- Treatment and its features
- Home remedies, myths and misconceptions
- Prophylaxis
- How to make an appointment with a gynecologist or urologist
Thrush refers to urogenital diseases of a fungal nature.
The second name is candidiasis. The causative agent is a fungus of the genus Candida. They affect the genitourinary system, but do not belong to sexually transmitted infections. Most often diagnosed in women, but men also have cases of infection with these opportunistic pathogens. Their habitat is the vagina, human intestines and skin. Under certain conditions, the fungal microflora begins to multiply and exceed the allowable amount, which leads to a diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with thrush are treated on an outpatient basis.
Symptoms and signs of candidiasis
Not everyone knows what thrush looks like in women at the onset of the disease. It is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms:
- severe itching in the intimate area;
- swelling of the vaginal mucosa;
- burning sensation during intercourse;
- Sour smell of white or yellowish curdled discharge.
Signs of fungal candidiasis in men
Appeared thrush in men shows symptoms in the form of painful urination, swelling of the glans penis, redness and white plaque under the foreskin.
Unpleasant sensations can intensify after intercourse, which should alert. In a state of calm, thrush in men is less pronounced.
Causes of vaginal candidiasis
The causes of thrush are associated with a decrease in immunity. The list of provoking factors also includes:
- taking oral contraceptives;
- taking antibiotics;
- pregnancy;
- violation of the microflora in the body;
- hygiene products with unsuitable Ph.
Ways of infection with thrush
Thrush during pregnancy appears due to changes in the hormonal background and the composition of the microflora. In other cases, in women, the risk of infection depends on the state of health. Thrush can also appear in men if there was unprotected intercourse with a Candida carrier. The fungal microflora is transmitted if hygiene is not observed (foreign towels, shared bedding). Pools and beaches are often places of infection.
There may be signs of thrush after a kiss. Oral contact is a common route of infection because Candida can be found on any mucous membrane of the body.
Risk factors for disease
Risk factors depend on external exposure and health status. The chances of getting a diagnosis increase with frequent stress, hypothermia, the use of condoms, due to recent infectious diseases. Thrush often appears during pregnancy in women, which become a risk factor for men as well.
The list also includes the following items:
- diabetes mellitus;
- HIV infection;
- chemotherapy;
- beriberi;
- dysbacteriosis.
Complications after thrush
At first, thrush symptoms are less pronounced. Especially during menstruation, when the alkaline environment in the vagina changes. Then the thrush eliminates these causes and the regression of recovery begins. Without treatment, the disease will progress, provoking the development of complications:
- extensive redness of the mucosa in the intimate area;
- sores and fissures;
- frequent relapses of candidiasis;
- infection of internal organs;
- outbreaks of inflammatory processes;
- weakening of the immune system;
- risk of infertility in women and sexual dysfunction in men.
When to see a doctor
If the occurrence of thrush in women or men is recorded, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor. Over-the-counter medications may not work as expected. In addition, before making a diagnosis, you need to take smears for laboratory analysis. According to the clinical picture, it is not always possible to determine the nature of mycosis: bacterial vaginosis, thrush or colpitis. Gynecologists of JSC "Medicina" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) in the center of Moscow are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. If you haven't been exposed to Candida before, don't self-medicate. Especially in the case of illness in children under the age of 12, with regular relapses and with an allergic reaction to ointments, suppositories. Any drugs for thrush are selected according to individual criteria.
Preparing for a doctor's visit
Thrush in women causes and symptoms are almost the same, so you need to follow the general rules for preparing for the visit.
It is recommended to come in the first days after the end of menstruation. Before visiting a gynecologist:
- do not douche, just take a shower;
- refrain from sexual intercourse 2-3 days before taking;
- Do not take any medication 2 weeks before your appointment.
Diagnosis of thrush in women and men
During the diagnosis, the clinical picture is taken into account. This is the patient's well-being, discharge with thrush and the presence of a number of symptoms. At the appointment at JSC "Medicina" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) near the Mayakovskaya metro station, a gynecologist conducts an examination and takes tests to study the microflora. Thrush has different causes. Truth can only be found by inspection. And for this, men need to contact a urologist. The clinic has the necessary doctors, its own laboratory and equipment that allow you to quickly get the result and make an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment and its features
Thrush in women is treated depending on the tests and the severity of the symptoms.
If they are not very pronounced, topical medications will be prescribed: antifungal creams, vaginal suppositories, ointments. After that, preparations are used to restore microflora and probiotics. But chronic thrush requires a more systematic approach and antibiotic therapy. You also need to follow a diet. Sweets, store-bought juices, fatty foods, smoked meats, starchy foods, sweet fruits, pickles, and alcohol should be excluded from nutrition. It is worth knowing about the diet, how to treat thrush in women and maintain the microflora to stop relapses.
Home remedies, myths and misconceptions
Traditional medicine knows how to cure thrush at home. Douching, baths and tampons are used. The traditional way: dilute 1 tsp. soda in 1 liter of water. You need to douche 2 times a day. Decoctions of herbs are also suitable for this method: St. John's wort, yarrow, chamomile, oak bark, knotweed, sage, juniper. A common myth is that there is no need to buy a cure for thrush.
You can quickly and cheaply get by with folk remedies. No, that's not possible. Treatment with herbs and lotions takes about 2-3 weeks. And not the fact that they will help. Thrush requires treatment without fail. It doesn't go away on its own.
Prevention
Often, thrush in women appears due to the use of daily sanitary pads and wearing tight synthetic underwear. In order to prevent, it is worth abandoning these habits. Cotton underwear is the best choice. Avoid hypothermia at any time of the year, dress warmly. Do not use scented hygiene products, select the appropriate composition and Ph level. With symptoms of the disease, do not self-medicate, any candles and tablets for thrush should be prescribed by a doctor. Avoid stress and overwork, and do not abuse alcohol and sweets.
How to make an appointment with a gynecologist or urologist
You can make an appointment with the specialist you need online.
