Oral thrush is transmitted to a person through some mechanism. If the mother has a vaginal yeast infection, the newborn may be exposed during vaginal delivery. Contaminated bottle nipples with Candida may also cause exposure. Another mechanism for the development of oral thrush is the excessive growth of Candida usually in small children, adolescents and adults. Inappropriate techniques using inhaled corticosteroids (without spacers), and the inability to rinse and spit with water after inhaled corticosteroids are also common mechanisms leading to the development of thrush. Thrush does not spread from animals. It is important to note that in the short period of time after birth, everyone has Candida albicans on the skin, inside the mouth, in the intestine and inside the vagina (adolescents and the elderly). The development of candidiasis generally does not shift from the host to decolonized recipients (except for newborns), but because of many underlying causes, the development of symptoms and signs represents yeast overgrowth.
