Thrush

Key Stage 4

A picture of a thrush infection in the mouth.

Meaning

Thrush is an infection caused by a pathogenic fungus called Candida albicans

About Thrush

Thrush spreads in warm, moist areas like the mouth, vagina and under the foreskin.

Thrush causes itching and soreness and can produce a white coloured discharge.

Thrush is not always caught through sexual activity. Safe numbers of the thrush micro-organism are found in our faeces and on our skin so it can be transmitted to moist areas of the body through poor hygiene or through washing too harshly, damaging the body's defences against a thrush infection.