Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth.
- Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. This group of rare disorders is marked by a chronic candida infection of your mouth and fingernails and of the skin on your scalp, trunk, hands and feet. Scaly, crusted lumps known as granulomas also may develop in your mouth or on your nails and skin.
- HIV/AIDS. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) — the virus that causes AIDS — damages or destroys the cells of your immune system, making you more susceptible to opportunistic infections your body would normally resist. One of the most common opportunistic infections is oral thrush. Thrush is rare in the early stage of AIDS. It usually only appears if levels of the virus-fighting cells known as CD4 fall below 300.
- Cancer. If you’re dealing with cancer, your immune system is likely to be weakened both from the disease and from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, increasing your risk of candida infections such as oral thrush.
- Diabetes mellitus. If you don’t know you have diabetes or the disease isn’t well controlled, your saliva may contain large amounts of sugar, which encourages the growth of candida.
- Vaginal yeast infections. Many women experience at least one vaginal yeast infection (Candida vulvovaginitis) before menopause. Vaginal yeast infections are caused by the same fungus that causes oral thrush. Although a yeast infection isn’t dangerous, if you’re pregnant you can pass the fungus to your baby during delivery. As a result, your newborn may develop oral thrush within the first several weeks after birth.
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