New Study in Candida Infections

Fungal Diseases
Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus

About
Candidiasis is an infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida. Candida normally lives on the skin and inside
the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems.1 Sometimes, Candida can
multiply and cause an infection if the environment inside the mouth, throat, or esophagus changes in a way that encourages
fungal growth.
Candidiasis in the mouth and throat is also called thrush or oropharyngeal candidiasis. Candidiasis in the esophagus (the tube
that connects the throat to the stomach) is called esophageal candidiasis or Candida esophagitis. Esophageal candidiasis is
one of the most common infections in people living with HIV/AIDS.2
Symptoms
Candidiasis in the mouth and throat can have many
di erent symptoms, including:
White patches on the inner cheeks, tongue, roof of the

mouth, and throat (photo showing candidiasis in the
mouth)
Redness or soreness
Cotton-like feeling in the mouth
Loss of taste
Pain while eating or swallowing
Cracking and redness at the corners of the mouth
Symptoms of candidiasis in the esophagus usually include

pain when swallowing and di culty swallowing.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that

you think are related to candidiasis in the mouth, throat, or
esophagus.
Risk and Prevention
Who gets candidiasis in the mouth or throat?

Candidiasis in the mouth, throat, or esophagus is uncommon in healthy adults. People who are at higher risk for getting
candidiasis in the mouth and throat include babies, especially those younger than 1 month of age, and people with at least
one of these factors:3-7
Wear dentures
Have diabetes
Have cancer
Have HIV/AIDS
Take antibiotics or corticosteroids, including inhaled corticosteroids for conditions like asthma
Take medications that cause dry mouth or have medical conditions that cause dry mouth
Smoke
Smoke
Most people who get candidiasis in the esophagus have weakened immune systems, meaning that their bodies don’t ght
infections well. This includes people living with HIV/AIDS and people who have blood cancers such as leukemia and
lymphoma. People who get candidiasis in the esophagus often also have candidiasis in the mouth and throat.
How can I prevent candidiasis in the mouth or throat?

Ways to help prevent candidiasis in the mouth and throat include:
Maintain good oral health

Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after using inhaled corticosteroids
Sources
Candida normally lives in the mouth, throat, and the rest of the digestive tract without causing any problems. Sometimes,
Candida can multiply and cause an infection if the environment inside the mouth, throat, or esophagus changes in a way that
encourages its growth.
This can happen when:
a person’s immune system becomes weakened,

if antibiotics a ect the natural balance of microbes in the body,
or for a variety of other reasons in other groups of people.
Diagnosis and Testing

Healthcare providers can usually diagnose candidiasis in the mouth or throat simply by looking inside.8 Sometimes a
healthcare provider will take a small sample from the mouth or throat. The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing, usually
to be examined under a microscope.
Healthcare providers usually diagnose candidiasis in the esophagus by doing an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure to
examine the digestive tract using a tube with a light and a camera. A healthcare provider might prescribe antifungal medicine
without doing an endoscopy to see if the patient’s symptoms get better.
Treatment
Candidiasis in the mouth, throat, or esophagus is usually treated with antifungal medicine.6 The treatment for mild to
moderate infections in the mouth or throat is usually an antifungal medicine applied to the inside of the mouth for 7 to 14
days. These medications include clotrimazole, miconazole, or nystatin. For severe infections, the most common treatment is
uconazole (an antifungal medication) taken by mouth or through a vein. If patient does not get better after taking
uconazole, healthcare providers may prescribe a di erent antifungal. The treatment for candidiasis in the esophagus is
usually uconazole. Other types of prescription antifungal medicines can also be used for people who can’t take uconazole
or who don’t get better after taking uconazole.
If you are a healthcare provider, click here to see the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for
the Management of CandidiasisExternal  .
Statistics
The exact number of cases of candidiasis in the mouth, throat, and esophagus in the United States is di cult to determine.
This is because there is no national surveillance for these infections. The risk of these infections varies based on the presence
of certain underlying medical conditions. For example, candidiasis in the mouth, throat, or esophagus is uncommon in
healthy adults. However, they are some of the most common infections in people living with HIV/AIDS.2 In one study, about
one-third of patients with advanced HIV infection had candidiasis in the mouth and throat.9
Related Links
CDC – Oral Health

CDC – Dental Hygiene
CDC – Opportunistic infections
Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents 
Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Exposed and HIV-Infected Children 
References
1. Nucci M, Anaissie E. Revisiting the source of candidemia: skin or gut?  Clin Infect Dis . 2001;33:195 9-67.
2. Buchacz K, Lau B, Jing Y, Bosch R, Abraham AG, Gil MJ, et al. Incidence of AIDS-de ning opportunistic infections in a
multicohort analysis of HIV-infected persons in the United States and Canada, 2000-2010  . J Infect Dis.
2016;214:862-72.
3. Epstein JB, Polsky B. Oropharyngeal candidiasis: a review of its clinical spectrum and current therapies  . Clin Ther
1998;20:40-57.
4. Lynch DP. Oral candidiasis. History, classi cation, and clinical presentation.  Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol
1994;78:189-93.c.
5. Pankhurst CL. Candidiasis (oropharyngeal)  . BMJ Clin Evid 2013;2013:1304.
6. Pappas PG, Kau man CA, Andes DR, Clark CJ, Marr KA, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the
management of candidiasis: 2016 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America  . Clin Infect Dis 2016;62:e1-
50.
7. Lalla RV, Latortue MC, Hong CH, Ariyawardana A, D’Amato-Palumbo S, Fischer DJ, et al. A systematic review of oral
fungal infections in patients receiving cancer therapy  . Support Care Cancer 2010;18:985-92.
8. Coronado-Castellote L, Jimenez-Soriano Y. Clinical and microbiological diagnosis of oral candidiasis  . J Clin Exp Dent
2013;5:e279-86.
9. Thompson GR, 3rd, Patel PK, Kirkpatrick WR, Westbrook SD, Berg D, Erlandsen J, et al. Oropharyngeal candidiasis in
the era of antiretroviral therapy  . Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;109:488-95.
Page last reviewed: February 25, 2021

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Fungal Diseases

Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus

White patches on the inner cheeks, tongue, roof of the

Symptoms of candidiasis in the esophagus usually include

Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that

Risk and Prevention

Who gets candidiasis in the mouth or throat?

How can I prevent candidiasis in the mouth or throat?

Maintain good oral health

This can happen when:

a person’s immune system becomes weakened,

Diagnosis and Testing

CDC – Oral Health

Page last reviewed: February 25, 2021

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