How Long is Thrush Contagious?

An oral thrust is a yeast infection caused by the fungi named Candida albicans. The candida albicans tend to attack moist places in the body. It is oral thrush if there is a presence of lesions inside the mouth which look similar to a cottage cheese or creamy white curds. It appears to be a coating. The most common areas in the mouth for the lesions are the inner cheek and the tongue, while it is also seen on the tonsils, gums and roof of the mouth.

These lesions cause difficulties like fever, severe pain, difficulty in eating and swallowing of food, discomfort, listlessness and various other problems. In the initial stages the symptoms of mouth thrush are bleeding of skin area, rashes at the corner of the mouth, chapped lips, mouth sores which turn into ulcers, white skin flakes and white skin plaques. If it spreads the complications will lead to gastrointestinal thrush, esophagus candidasis, genital thrush, recurrences of oral thrush and inadequate nutrition.

Mouth thrush in most cases is a minor issue but it tends to be serious with elders who have a weak immune system. Mouth thrushes appear bad but the condition might not be the same. It is always adviced not to use any antibacterial product. The decrease in required bacterial level causes the fungi to take over causing various problems including mouth thrush.

How long is thrush contagious? If not taken care of in time, mouth thrush can spread affecting other parts of the body, like the liver, skin, lungs and genital area. This could prove to be very harmful and hence it is necessary to take doctor prescribed medication in the beginning stages itself.  The mouth thrush infection can last from a few days to months together.

Overgrowth of yeast cells in the digestive tract, mouth and skin causes Thrush. The microflora in our body contains Candida albicans, and hence we own a few. It is not contagious but there is a possibility of fungi growth in the person who has mouth thrush in case of an intimate contact.

Today, you will find many home remedies and natural processes of eliminating the infection. These remedies have proved to be successful over the years, and can be followed in case of minor issues. Moreover these remedies are not only safer than drugs, but are effective and cheap as well.

Some of the available natural thrush treatments are colloidal silver, alka-vita, olive leaf extract, wormwood capsules and zell oxygen. These treatments are used for a gentle approach; correct the pH balance of the body, as an anti oxidant, anti candida herb and to destroy the immune system of the candida, respectively.

People who are more prone to oral thrush are drug users, people with dry mouth, denture users, poor nutrition and those undergoing chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment.

Mouth thrush can be avoided by following good oral habits, visiting the dentist on a regular basis, quit smoking, avoid sprays and mouthwashes and limit food items that contain large amount of yeast and sugar.