Because the fungus that causes thrush lives in all of our bodies every day, anyone can be effected by it.  Thrush is also known as a yeast infection.  A yeast infection can occur throughout the body and on the skin.  A fungus called Candida Albicans is usually responsible for the infection.  Candida thrives in warm, moist places.  Candida is an opportunistic fungus—meaning it is present in everyone, but it waits for our bodies to weaken due to stress, illness or another factor.  Once our bodies weaken the infection finds a window to grow out of control.  Our body’s normal good bacteria cannot fight it off when they are weak and an infection will soon develop.

Thrush is most common in people who have weakened immune systems such as chemotherapy patients.  Chemotherapy often removes normal healthy cells from the body along with cancer causing ones.  Without the normal immune system to keep candida under control it is very easy for thrush to occur.  Thrush is also common in people who are using or have used antibiotics.  Antibiotics work in much the same way—removing good fighter bacteria from the body and allowing the candida yeast to take over. People with poorly controlled or undiagnosed diabetes will often suffer from thrush.  Candida thrives on sugar, so those with poorly controlled or undiagnosed diabetes will often suffer from thrush as well as yeast in other areas of the body. A compromised immune system also makes thrush a problem for those with HIV/AIDS infections as well.

If you have risk factors for thrush or are suffering from frequent recurring candida infections see your doctor to determine a cause and find treatment.  Thrush often responds well to anti fungal medications and you can expect to find relief anywhere from a few days to a week after beginning treatment.