Candidiasis of the mouth - symptoms and photos

Fungal diseases of the oral cavity occur against the background of weak immune defense of the body. Candida mushrooms multiply rapidly in a favorable environment and cause a lot of inconvenience to patients. Candidiasis of the oral cavity is more common in infants. Older people are also at risk. The formation of candidomycosis in adulthood is promoted by the wearing of dentures, which injure the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.

Yeast formations are more common in people who prefer carbohydrate foods. Candida fungi are easily transmitted from one person to another. Getting into the epithelium, unicellular organisms begin to multiply intensively, with the destruction of surrounding tissues. This is why patients with candidiasis experience dry mouth, itching and discomfort during meals.

Causes of the disease

Candida fungi live in many people, However, in the absence of favorable factors for their multiplication of the mass colonization of the mucous membrane, fungi do not occur. When the chemical balance is broken amid a decrease in immunity, the fungi begin to form colonies.

Newborn infants often become infected in the hospital. Infection in the vast majority of cases occurs from the mother, but hospital staff can also be a carrier of fungal infection.

The causes of the disease include:

• dysbacteriosis - even if the dysbacteriosis is not the primary cause of activation of Candida fungi, then, as a rule, candidiasis develops against its background;
• oral injuries - can be mechanical or chemical. In combination with unsatisfactory hygiene of the oral cavity promote the active spread of yeast infection;
• antibacterial therapy - prolonged use of antibiotics weakens the body's immune defenses and disrupts the microflora;
• metabolic disorder - the disease can develop against a background of iron deficiency anemia, endocrine disorders, hypovitaminosis;
• radiotherapy - patients with oncological diseases who underwent radiation treatment, often face fungal infection of the oral cavity;
• hormonal therapy - treatment with hormonal drugs, as well as the use of oral contraceptives leads to a change in the hormonal background and, as a consequence, activation of fungi;
• dental prosthetics - badly selected dentures cause microtraumas and disturb the natural microflora.

Candida infection can not only be from humans, but also from animals. For safety reasons, you should not kiss your pets, use someone else's toothbrushes and cutlery.

Symptoms and manifestation of the disease

In the initial stage of the oral form, forced fungal reproduction occurs, which in the course of life secrete certain enzymes. These substances have a negative effect on the mucous membrane, irritating and destroying it. So begins burning and itching - the satellites of any candidiasis.

Other symptoms of the disease:

• plaque -
  

  In the photo, the fungal infection of the oral cavity in infants

  in the initial stage of white plaque may be negligible. Even grains are not always identified in a timely manner. Gradually they increase in size, merge, filling almost the entire oral cavity. They can be formed in any areas, including the inner side of the lips, the sky, tonsils;

• ulcers - damage to the integrity of the mucous membrane occurs under the damaging effects of fungi released by enzymes. As a result of the activity of fungi, deep erosion damage can occur;
• 

  On the photo fungus on the mucosa of the mouth

  difficulty swallowing - occurs when the pharynx is affected. Simultaneously, painful sensations can occur during the process of chewing food. Damaged parts of the mucosa become particularly sensitive to temperature and chemical effects;

• increase in temperature - is more often observed in children of the first year of life. Witnesses the pathological processes taking place in the body, and weakened immunity, unable to resist infection;
• mycotic jams - cracking of the corners of the mouth often appears against the background of colds or candidiasis caused by dental problems. There is increased salivation, while the patient feels dry in the mouth;
• enlargement of papillae of - with severe lesion of the tongue there is hyperemia, sprouting of the papillae, soreness.

Allergic reactions can not be called a direct sign of the disease, but against the background of weakened immunity and the development of dysbacteriosis, various allergic manifestations occur on products that did not previously provoke such reactions. Another secondary sign is the formation of crusts on the lips. At the same time, there may be herpetic eruptions that aggravate the course of the disease.

Treatment of the fungus in the oral cavity

Candidiasis, caused by general weakening of the body or in the presence of systemic diseases, is difficult to treat, because first you need to eliminate the provoking factor. Simultaneously, general and local treatment is performed, based on the clinical picture and individual characteristics of the patient.

The basis of therapy is drug treatment with antifungal drugs. Treatment is usually lengthy. The minimum duration of drug therapy is 2 weeks.

The greatest effectiveness was demonstrated by drugs - fungicidal drugs that suppress the growth of fungi. Preparations of the group of triazoles( Fluconazole, Diflucan ) not only exert a destructive effect on Candida fungi, but also contribute to increasing the resistance of the organism to the pathogen.

Polyene antibacterial preparations( Nystatin, Amphotericin B ) are widely used to treat the disease, including its oral form. Fungicidal drugs interact with fungal cells, destroying them from the inside. Medicines of this kind have demonstrated their effectiveness not only in relation to pathogenic fungi, but also protozoa.

At the same time prescribed fortifying and immunostimulating drugs. In the presence of allergic manifestations, antihistamine therapy is recommended( Tavegil, Erius ).

Local treatment involves oral treatment with antifungal and anti-inflammatory agents.

Candidiasis is assisted by rinsing with soda solution. For the treatment of mycotic jam, the cream Clotrimazole or solution Candide is suitable. Remove the accumulation of fungi in the mouth will help the treatment of the mucous membranes with a solution of boric acid.

For lesions of the lips nystatin ointment is recommended, which suppresses the detail of the fungi and promotes the healing of damaged tissues. For rinsing, you can use the same nystatin, but only in the form of an aqueous suspension.

Together with antifungal therapy, a medicamentous treatment of inflammatory processes is carried out. To improve the effectiveness of treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed.

Possible complications in the absence of therapy

Acute candidiasis can go into chronic form in the absence of adequate treatment. All subsequent relapses are more difficult to treat, as strains of the fungus become resistant. Any immune failure will cause the development of the secondary process.

Erosions in the mouth can lead to the formation of tumors of , including malignant ones. Untreated candidiasis can descend into the esophagus, which leads to poor digestion and other health problems. At the same time, in patients with chronic candidiasis is seen with increased anxiety and a tendency to depression .Often, in order to improve the general condition, methods of psychotherapy are used.

Diet with oral form and esophageal candidiasis

Proper nutrition is the basis for successful treatment. It is known that Candida fungi are well-behaved in a high-carbohydrate medium. It is necessary to exclude sweet dishes and pastries from the patient's diet. At the same time, you should limit the consumption of acute and sour food, which irritates the mucous membranes and prevents the healing of tissues.

Fatty, hot and hard foods are excluded. At least, such a diet should be adhered to in the acute period of the disease. After healing of ulcers in the mouth, the diet can be expanded.

Food is recommended for consumption with a high content of vitamins B and C. Since the disease develops with weak immunity, the patient's diet should be as useful, easy and balanced as possible.

Should be abandoned not only from confectionery dishes, but also sweet food in general. Under the ban fall sweet fruit and berries, as well as yeast pastries, spices, dishes containing vinegar, alcohol and carbonated drinks, mushrooms.

Patients should expand the diet with meals from cereals, greens and vegetables. Especially useful is garlic, which includes components that prevent the reproduction of the fungus. In the daily menu you can include non-fat baked goods and low-fat meat.

Herbal teas are especially useful. They should replace the usual black tea and coffee. You can drink tea from chamomile and calendula, replacing sugar with honey, which is considered an excellent anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating agent.

It should include in the diet products that include natural antibiotics. They include cranberry juice, cranberries, and guelder rose. Patients will benefit from dishes based on raw carrots. To strengthen the damaged mucous membrane it is recommended to drink a glass of carrot juice daily.

The patient's diet can also be varied with nuts, seeds and other products that contain vegetable oils.