Definition
The typical symptoms of a mouth soor include primarily the characteristic appearance of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat area. On the strongly reddened, inflammatory mucous membrane, a whitish coating can be found, which can easily be wiped or scratched off – for example with a small wooden spatula. At the beginning of the infection, the coating is limited to more or less numerous whitish spots, preferably on the tongue, on the inside of the cheeks or on the palate.
As the infection progresses, the spots can then flow together (a so-called confluation), resulting in the formation of larger, whitish spots. When such larger fungal plaques come off, the underlying mucosa may bleed slightly under certain circumstances. A predisposed site of infection in the mouth are mainly dentures, under which Candida fungi can easily settle and cause oral thrush.
In the case of more severe, complicated processes, the infection may not only affect the oral cavity but also the pharynx and/or the esophagus (pseudomembranous candidiasis). In addition, many affected persons complain about a feeling of dryness and fur in the mouth and occasionally a burning sensation on the mucous membranes. In addition, taste disorders can occur, whereby a metallic taste perception is typical for a mouth sores. Due to the feeling of dryness, many affected persons also notice an increased feeling of thirst, but also a typical bad breath can be observed.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a mouth sound can be made by its characteristic, clinical picture, usually by a doctor at first sight. The typical whitish coating on the tongue, cheeks or throat leaves hardly any room for confusion (except with the so-called leukoplakia, a precursor of tumors). If it is uncertain whether it is a fungal infection or a leukoplakia, a so-called scratch-off attempt can be made: the whitish coating of a candidiasis can easily be scraped off with a wooden spatula, whereas the leukoplakia, as a tumorous change of the mucous membrane, cannot be scratched off or wiped off. To be sure that it is a fungal infection and, above all, to determine the exact type of fungus, the treating physician can take a smear from the affected mucosa and send it to a laboratory where the exact pathogen is diagnosed under the microscope. In addition, antibodies against the Candida fungus can be found in the blood, but as a rule, no blood sample is required for the diagnosis