What does oral thrush look like

When to seek medical advice Speak to your GP if you develop symptoms of oral thrush. What causes oral thrush? 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.

Treating oral thrush Oral thrush can usually be successfully treated with antifungal medicines. Tweet Click here to share this page on Twitter This will open a new window. Print Click here to print this page This will open your print options in a new window. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window.

Last updated:. How can we improve this page? Email Address e. Message Maximum of characters. Send feedback. Also on NHS inform. Thrush may appear as white or pale yellow spots on the inner surfaces of the mouth and throat, the tongue, and the lips.

It may resemble cottage cheese or milk curds. However, scraping off these membranes may be difficult and may leave slightly bleeding sores. Thrush may be associated with a burning sensation in the mouth or throat. Thrush may make eating and drinking uncomfortable, and people with thrush may become dehydrated.

It is important to maintain good nutrition and hydration while infected with thrush. Thrush needs medications prescribed by a health care practitioner.

Thrush requires prescription medication after a quick visit to the physician. People with an immune system deficiency need even prompter and more aggressive treatment to make certain that the yeast does not enter the bloodstream or infect other organs. If the white or yellow membranes of thrush are accompanied by fever, chills, vomiting, or generalized illness, more immediate medical attention is warranted. The gel is suitable for adults, children and babies over the age of 4 months.

Ask your pharmacist for advice. Always follow the instructions on the medicine packet. If you leave oral thrush untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. Thrush is an infection caused by a fungus called Candida.

Some things can make the fungus grow more than usual.