Oral thrush

thrush does affect the elderly quite often.

meds can cause it, such as abx and steroids.

overall debility w/compromised immunity can can also predispose the elderly to thrush.

leslie

I know that oral thrush is often seen in newborn babies, but how often is it seen in elderly people? And what is the cause of it in the elderly ?

Thanks:confused:

You can see it quite often with older people (or even younger) with poor oral care. It is mainly caused by a decrease in native bacteria in your mouth usually caused by long-term antibiotic use. Whenever you get a patient that has been on antibiotics for a while, be very vigilant in assessing for thrush and getting order to counteract it.

Hope this helps

Pat

I could be wrong, but I think it's common among immunocompromised patients, so AIDS patients, or patients on chemotherapy, for example. I think all it takes is a compromised immune system?

I know that oral thrush is often seen in newborn babies, but how often is it seen in elderly people? And what is the cause of it in the elderly ?

Thanks:confused:

Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th edition:

Basically, thrush is a fungal infection. When the normal flora of a body is disrupted and the right situation is created for prolific growth of fungi, a person gets "oral thrush".

Many women have yeast infections after taking broad spectrum antibiotics that kill off normal flora (bacteria) in the lady parts that typically compete for food in the moist environment.

Microbiology - a very interesting subject :-)

I could be wrong, but I think it's common among immunocompromised patients, so AIDS patients, or patients on chemotherapy, for example. I think all it takes is a compromised immune system?

Yup. Immune compromised people also can get thrush as the body is less capable of fighting off the growth of fungi.

Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th edition:

Overgrowth of Candida albicans, for example, causes oral candidiasis (thrush), esophogeal candidiasis, intestinal symptoms, and vaginitis, depending on the affected site.

Basically, thrush is a fungal infection. When the normal flora of a body is disrupted and the right situation is created for prolific growth of fungi, a person gets "oral thrush".

Many women have yeast infections after taking broad spectrum antibiotics that kill off normal flora (bacteria) in the lady parts that typically compete for food in the moist environment.

Microbiology - a very interesting subject :-)

Yeah, I really liked Microbiology...really wish I could have had the same professor for Anatomy!

I work on a post-op unit and we often see thrush in our patients. Pts also get yeast in groins, underarms, abd folds. Basically any warm, dark, moist environment.

Can be same causes as newborns....

Antibiotics, steroids (alot of the inhaled asthma medications are known to cause thrush) and immune compromised.

Taking a probiotic or eating yogurt daily while your on any of the above can help your normal flora remain in balance.

And some of us have the joy of just being yeasty people. I seem to be very susceptible to it, unfortunately, and know the first warning signs of thrush very well. Hormonal changes can really impact the ability of the yeasties to take over. Some women deal with a yeast infection every month, which would cause me to just go more insane than I already am.