Candidiasis is, by far, the most common mycotic
infection of the human oral cavity. The usually manifested clinical expression of
oral candidiasis at all ages from the newborn to the elderly is
thrush. Other forms that affect the mouth include acute atrophic
candidiasis associated with oral
antibiotic therapy, chronic atrophic
candidiasis attributable to the wearing of full upper
dentures, candidal cheilosis ascribable to perlèche or decreased
vertical dimension in the lower third of the face,
chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis emanating from a T-lymphocyte deficiency, and candidal
leukoplakia. Extensive use of
antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs have greatly increased the number of Candida-induced oral
infections. Patients debilitated by irradiation,
cancer chemotherapy, organ transplants,
diabetes mellitus, and defects in cell-mediated immunity are particularly vulnerable. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases of
oral candidiasis are not life-threatening and readily respond to appropriately administered anticandida agents. It must always be remembered, however, that the organism has the capacity to produce fulminating fatal
infection by hematogenous dissemination from seemingly innocuous oral
infections that serve as a portal of entry to the systemic circulation. Consequently, all oral candidal
infections in compromised patients must be treated vigorously and effectively.