Oral thrush (oral candidiasis) is caused by a fungus called candida that causes an infection in the mouth. It is not an infection that can be passed on to others.
Everybody has some thrush in their mouth, even babies.
It is also possible to get thrush in other parts of the body, such as the vagina, nappy area or nail folds.
Oral thrush most commonly affects people who wear dentures. People who have difficulty keeping their mouth clean, people with diabetes and those who take steroids are also at a higher risk of developing the condition.
Some antibiotics may cause thrush, and many people find that taking certain antibiotics encourages the infection to recur, especially if taken over a long period of time.
A dry mouth caused by certain drugs, or after chemotherapy or radiotherapy to the head and neck, may also lead to thrush.
Very rarely, oral thrush is one of the early signs of HIV.
Steroids
Steroids are types of chemicals found naturally in the body. They are also produced artificially to treat diseases.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines that can be used to treat infections caused by micro-organisms, usually bacteria or fungi. Amoxicillin, streptomycin and erythromycin are examples of antibiotics.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of an illness or disease with a chemical substance. It is used, for example, in the treatment of cancer.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses X-rays to treat disease. It is often used to treat cancer.
