Oral infections with Candida albicans.

The majority of oral infections with Candida albicans have a local cause. However some Candida infections, such as chronic muco-cutaneous candidosis, which may be widespread over skin and mucous membranes are associated with systemic disorders. Indeed, antibiotic or corticosteroid therapy and severe debilitating disease are proven causes of Candida infection while the association of various endocrinopathies with candidosis has now become well established. More recently, other systemic factors such as impaired cellular immunity and nutritional deficiency have been recognised as influencing Candida infections, and this knowledge is now being successfully applied to the treatment of the disease.