How to Determine Whether It Is Thrush

Oral thrush—also known as “snow mouth disease” or “candidiasis”—is a common oral fungal infection in children. Diagnosis is primarily based on predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, and response to treatment. It is caused by *Candida albicans* and commonly occurs in individuals with compromised immunity, including infants and elderly persons, as well as pregnant women undergoing prolonged treatment with immunosuppressants or glucocorticoids.

Clinically, it typically presents as diffuse, variably sized, white, membranous plaques on the oral mucosa, tongue, pharynx, and gingiva. In severe cases, the lesions may resemble curd-like (cottage cheese–like) deposits. There is no surrounding erythema or vesicles, no tenderness upon palpation, no interference with eating, and the plaques cannot be easily wiped away. Antifungal therapy and alkalinization of the oral environment (e.g., using sodium bicarbonate rinses) promote healing.

However, definitive diagnosis of oral thrush requires prompt evaluation by a qualified dentist or oral medicine specialist at an accredited hospital. A fungal scraping test should be performed: if hyphae are observed microscopically in the scraped specimen, the diagnosis of oral thrush is confirmed.

If a child develops oral thrush, irritability and refusal to feed are common. Treatment options include rinsing the mouth with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution or gently applying the solution to affected white lesions using a cotton swab. Topical antifungal ointments may also be applied directly to the lesions to suppress fungal growth.