Oral Candidal Infections and Treatment

Candidal infections in humans occur as a result of defects in the immune system. Oral candidal infection usually involves a compromised host and the compromise may be local or systemic. Local compromising factors include decreased salivation, poor oral hygiene, wearing dentures among others while systemic factors include diabetes mellitus, nutritional deficiency, HIV infection/ AIDS and others. Oral candidosis is generally a localized infection and rarely appears as a systemic fungal disease. This review discusses the various predisposing factors, clinical presentations, clinical differential diagnosis, diagnosis and management of oral candidosis.