MSc. Dr. Hoang Quoc Tuan (Department of Dermatology, Central Military Hospital 108) shared that many people often think that the white patches appearing in the oral cavity are just common mouth ulcers or minor problems that are not worrying. However, this may be a sign of oral and throat fungus caused by Candida albicans - a common but easily overlooked form of infection.
At the Department of Dermatology - Allergy, Central Military Hospital 108, recently the number of patients coming for examination due to prolonged pain in the mouth and tongue has been increasing. Through examination, many cases were diagnosed with Candida fungus in the mouth and throat area.
A female patient (64 years old) was treated for polymyalgia with Medrol. For three weeks, the patient developed many white patches in her mouth accompanied by a severe burning sensation, making eating difficult.
After endoscopy and necessary tests, doctors determined that the patient had white pseudomembrane candidiasis. The patient was treated with Fluconazole combined with topical Nystatin. After about a week of treatment, symptoms improved significantly.
MSc. Dr. Hoang Quoc Tuan said that Candida is a type of fungus that exists naturally in the human oral cavity. Under normal conditions, they are not harmful. However, when the immune system is weakened or oral hygiene is not guaranteed, this type of fungus can develop strongly and cause disease.
Some groups with a higher risk of disease include people with diabetes, immunodeficiency such as HIV or cancer; people who use antibiotics or corticosteroids for a long time; people with poor oral hygiene or wearing dentures incorrectly," MSc. Dr. Hoang Quoc Tuan added.
The most characteristic manifestation of the disease is white patches appearing on the tongue, oral mucosa or throat area. Patients may also experience symptoms such as pain in the mouth and tongue, difficulty eating and drinking, difficulty swallowing, reduced or lost taste.
The disease has many different forms. The acute form, often called stomatitis, usually responds well to treatment if detected early. Meanwhile, the chronic form is prone to recurrence, requires long-term treatment and is common in people with underlying conditions.
