Oral and oropharyngeal candidiasis

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    Infection due to Candida albicans, common in infants, immunocompromised or diabetic patients. Other risk factors include treatment with oral antibiotics or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids.

    Clinical features

    • White patches on the tongue, inside the cheeks, that may spread to the pharynx.
    • In patients with frequent recurrences or extensive forms invading the esophagus (swallowing difficulty and pain), consider HIV infection.

    Treatment

    nystatin oral suspension for 7 days
    Children and adults: 400 000 IU daily, i.e. 1 ml of the oral suspension (100 000 IU) 4 times daily
    or

    miconazole oral gel for 7 days
    Children 6 months to 2 years: 1.25 ml 4 times daily
    Children over 2 years and adults: 2.5 ml 4 times daily

     

    Apply the oral suspension of nystatin or the oral gel of miconazole between meals; keep in the mouth for 2 to 3 minutes, then swallow. In young children, apply to the tongue and inside of each cheek.

     

    Show the mother how to treat since, in most cases, candidiasis will be treated at home.

     

    In immunocompromised patients: see HIV infection and AIDS, Chapter 8.