Thrush

Exams and Tests

Thrush is a yeast infection that can develop in the mouth and throat and on the tongue. Thrush is most common in newborns, infants, and older adults, but it can occur at any age. In healthy newborns and infants, thrush is usually not a serious problem and is easily treated and cured.

A visual examination is usually all that is needed to diagnose thrush. In addition to looking in your mouth, your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history.

In rare cases, your doctor may order a KOH prep test in which one of the white patches is scraped and examined. A KOH prep test is used only in cases when thrush is not clearly evident on visual examination or when a diagnosed case of thrush is not responding to prescribed medications.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Amy Fackler, MA Merrill Hayden	Last Updated: March 30, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.