eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Infectious Disease

Thrush: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Mudra Kumar, MD, MBBS, MRCP, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 23, 2009

Differential Diagnoses

Aphthous Ulcers
Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
Blastomycosis
Histiocytosis
Candidiasis
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Cytomegalovirus Infection
Lymphohistiocytosis
Diphtheria
Pharyngitis
Echovirus
Syphilis
Enteroviral Infections
Esophagitis

Other Problems to Be Considered

Milk curd
Foreign bodies

Workup

Laboratory Studies

  • A relatively simple way to confirm the suspected diagnosis is to scrape the plaques with a tongue blade to reveal an inflamed and/or bleeding base.
  • Plaques can be cultured, although cultures are rarely indicated. A simple Gram stain demonstrates large, gram-positive yeast.

Other Tests

  • Diagnosis can be confirmed by simple histologic findings.

Histologic Findings

  • Pseudohyphae and gram-positive yeast can be seen on Gram stain or with potassium hydroxide stain.

More on Thrush

Overview: Thrush
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Thrush
Treatment & Medication: Thrush
Follow-up: Thrush
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

thrush, Candida albicans, C albicans, candidal diaper rash, candidiasis, diaper dermatitis, fungal infection, hepatosplenomegaly, human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, immune dysfunction, lymphadenopathy, monilia, moniliasis, mucocutaneous candidiasis, oral candidiasis, oral thrush, oropharyngeal yeast infection, polyendocrine disorders, vaginal candidiasis, white tongue coating

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Consulting; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; sanofi pasteur Grant/research funds Unrestricted research grant; sanofi pasteur  Consulting; sanofi pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Tap Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Baxter Healthcare Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Coauthor(s)

Mudra Kumar, MD, MBBS, MRCP, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Mudra Kumar, MD, MBBS, MRCP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Society of Hematology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Leonard R Krilov, MD, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Winthrop University Hospital
Leonard R Krilov, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Medimmune Grant/research funds Cliinical trials; Medimmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Medimmune Consulting fee Consulting

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Leslie L Barton, MD, Professor, Program Director, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona School of Medicine
Leslie L Barton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine
Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society of Hospital Medicine
Disclosure: Baxter Honoraria Consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Consulting

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD, Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine
Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: None None None

 
 
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