Mouth Thrush
Mouth thrush is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Candida Albicans, which spreads mainly in the area of the mouth and throat. The characteristic symptom is a whitish, wipeable coating on a reddened oral mucosa. Sometimes only reddened areas of the tongue appear.
Other symptoms are a feeling of dryness in the mouth and an associated feeling of thirst, as well as impaired taste and bad breath. In most cases, the infection occurs when the immune system is weakened, when another disease is currently predominant or when medication is taken to suppress the immune system. The treatment is done with special antimycotics, so-called anti-fungal agents, such as Nystatin.
These are administered in the form of lozenges, solutions or gels, rarely an administration in tablet form is necessary. It is important here to keep to the exact duration of treatment so that a recurrence of the disease can be prevented. The prognosis is good, as soon as the treatment is completed, the fungus is fought and no further restrictions have to be expected.
Thyroid gland disease
In thyroid diseases, hypothyroidism is the main cause of symptoms in the oral mucosa. Those affected report a generally dry mucous membrane, especially in the mouth area, because the mucous membranes can no longer produce sufficient fluid due to the lack of hormones. However, these feelings disappear again with the administration of the right medication.
On the other hand, oral mucosal changes also occur during the treatment of hyperthyroidism, especially Graves’ disease. The excessive production of hormones leads to nervousness, palpitations, sweating and increased reflexes. To reduce the symptoms, the doctor prescribes thyroid hormone blockers, so-called thyrostatic agents. If this medication is not tolerated, allergic reactions occur, which can also affect the mucous membrane of the mouth.
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infectious disease that occurs mainly in childhood. In addition to headaches and sore throats, the infection causes redness on the palate and throat, and the tonsils are often whitish. The typical sign in the mouth, however, is the so-called raspberry tongue: after the whitish coating is gone, the tongue reddens raspberry-colored, which is also called glossitis, the inflammation of the tongue. Therapy with antibiotics can prevent long-term damage and bring about rapid healing.
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