Disease
Candidiasis / thrush
White oral plaques that scrape off
kan-dih-DYE-uh-sis
High-yield clue
White curd-like oral plaques that scrape off to leave a red base is thrush, a clue pointing to infancy, inhaled steroids, or immunosuppression.
Overview
A mucosal or cutaneous overgrowth of Candida, studied for pseudomembranous oral thrush, host-factor triggers, and immunosuppression links such as esophageal candidiasis being AIDS-defining.
Classification
- Fungal (yeast) syndrome
- Candida (usually C. albicans)
- Mucocutaneous and opportunistic
- Endogenous normal-flora overgrowth
Lab & identification clues
- Scrapeable white pseudomembrane vocabulary
- KOH prep budding yeast with pseudohyphae vocabulary
- Germ tube test link (C. albicans)
Associations
- Triggers: infancy, antibiotics, inhaled steroids, uncontrolled diabetes
- Esophageal candidiasis is AIDS-defining
- Vulvovaginal 'yeast infection' vocabulary
- Invasive candidemia in ICU and catheter settings
Commonly confused with
- Oral hairy leukoplakia (EBV)
- Oral lichen planus
- Leukoplakia
Frequently asked questions
What is Candidiasis / thrush?
A mucosal or cutaneous overgrowth of Candida, studied for pseudomembranous oral thrush, host-factor triggers, and immunosuppression links such as esophageal candidiasis being AIDS-defining.
What is the high-yield clue for Candidiasis / thrush?
White curd-like oral plaques that scrape off to leave a red base is thrush, a clue pointing to infancy, inhaled steroids, or immunosuppression.
What is Candidiasis / thrush associated with?
Candidiasis / thrush is associated with Triggers: infancy, antibiotics, inhaled steroids, uncontrolled diabetes; Esophageal candidiasis is AIDS-defining; Vulvovaginal 'yeast infection' vocabulary; Invasive candidemia in ICU and catheter settings.
What is Candidiasis / thrush commonly confused with?
Candidiasis / thrush is commonly confused with Oral hairy leukoplakia (EBV), Oral lichen planus, and Leukoplakia.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.