My letter to Cathy, but thought I would share it with ya'll. I was not sick nor had I been ill. Crystal Stearns RNC, MS, IBCLC Mercy Memorial Health Center Ardmore, OK 73401 > -----Original Message----- > From: Stearns, Crystal > Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 5:28 PM > To: 'Cathy Bargar' > Subject: RE: oral thrush in adults? > > Hi, > I though I would respond to this, since during the winter I had oral > thrush (had a positive oral yeast culture). Like you the only patients I > had ever worked with that had oral yeast were AIDS patients. I nearly > fell off the exam table when the doctor informed me. I immediately had > all kinds of lab test as well as an AIDS test and all were find. I had no > other symptoms, except my husband had also had a very sore angry looking > mouth and throat two weeks before (we say two different doctors). My > husband suffers from severe jock itch and athletes foot. My doctor was > unable to give me a good reason why two healthy, not immune suppressed > adults would get oral yeast. Had I not washed my hands well after working > with a baby with yeast, had my husband transferred yeast to his mouth, > from another part of his body,and then to me. We will never know, but > healthy adults can also get oral yeast. > > Crystal Stearns RNC, MS, IBCLC > Mercy Memorial Health Center > Ardmore, OK 73401 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Cathy Bargar [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 2:47 PM > Subject: oral thrush in adults? > > I'd put my money on strep throat or a viral infection, esp. if she's had > any > fever with the sore throat. Yes, adults can have yeast infection in the > throat - but the only situations where I've encountered it is with cancer > patients on chemotherapy, or AIDS patients. Immunosuppression creates the > necessary conditions - otherwise, it's kept in check by the body's normal > defenses. When I've looked in the throats of these patients (I used to > work > for an oncologist, and on the hospital unit where chemo was administered & > CA pts. were cared for), most commonly what I've seen is an angry red > throat, more like what you see on baby's bottoms when they have thrush > that > causes diaper-rash. In these pts., it seems to be absolutely excruciating, > often the most painful and miserable aspect of their illness, often making > it impossible for them to take anything by mouth - causes huge problems > with > their nutritional status. The treatment? Same as for babies (oral Nystatin > "swish & swallow"), often combined with an oral "numbing" medication, like > a > 'caine or even cocaine spray. > > But I've never seen it in any other kind of adult - one of the symptoms of > Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is chronic or long-term sore throat that resists > treatment, and CFS is linked to immunosupression, so...But unless there's > other stuff going on with this woman's overall health, I'd bet on strep or > virus! > > Cathy Bargar, RN, IBCLC Ithaca NY *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html