Abstract

FOURIE, J et al. Oral candidosis: an update on diagnosis, aetiopathogenesis and management. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2016, vol.71, n.7, pp.314-318. ISSN 0375-1562.

Candidosis is the most common oral opportunistic infection and can be caused by any member of the heterogeneous genus Candida. Diagnosis is based on clinical features and on microscopic identification of the candidal hyphae or pseudohyphae on a smear or in a biopsy specimen of the lesional tissue. Although candida in both commensal and pathogenic forms has similar immunogenic properties, commensal yeasts generate a state of immune tolerance while pathogenic hyphae or pseudohyphae provoke an immuno-inflammatory reaction. The first step in the treatment of oral candidosis is to moderate any local and systemic predisposing factors, and to prescribe a course of topical antifungal agent. Systemic antifungal treatment should be considered only if topical treatment has been unsuccessful or in cases of severe oral candidosis in debilitated or immuno-compromised subjects. In this paper, we briefly describe the clinical variants, the diagnosis and the management of oral candidosis, and discuss the commonly used pharmacotherapeutic agents.

Keywords : oral candidosis; commensal organism; hyphae; nystatin; miconazole; fluconazole; amphotericin B.

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