Conditions and symptoms
What Is a Candida Infection? Thrush and Medicine Labels
Candida infection · say it: KAN-dih-duh in-FEK-shunAlso written: candidiasis, thrush, yeast infection, oral thrush, genital yeast infection
Short answer
A candida infection (candidiasis or thrush) is an overgrowth of candida yeast, often in the mouth, vagina, penis or skin folds.
What it means
A candida infection, also called candidiasis or thrush, happens when candida yeast, which normally lives on the body in small amounts, overgrows. Oral thrush causes white patches and soreness in the mouth. Vaginal thrush causes itching, soreness and a thick white discharge. On the penis or in skin folds it causes redness, itching and soreness. Most are mild and treatable, but people with very weak immune systems can get more serious infections.
Candida infections are listed on many medicine labels as a side effect. Antibiotics can upset the normal bacteria that keep yeast in balance. Inhaled steroid labels advise rinsing the mouth after each use to prevent oral thrush. SGLT2 inhibitor diabetes medicine labels list genital yeast infections because extra sugar in the urine helps yeast grow. Antifungal labels list candida infections as what they treat.
Candidiasis is the infection; candida is the organism. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the specific medical name for vaginal thrush. Thrush is different from bacterial vaginosis, which is caused by bacteria and treated differently.
Where you may see it
- 'Adverse Reactions' sections of SGLT2 inhibitor, antibiotic and inhaled steroid labels
- Antifungal medicine labels
- Swab and culture reports
📄 How it looks on a report
Genital mycotic infections, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis and candida balanitis, have been reported.
🙅 What it does not mean
- A yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted infection, although it can sometimes pass between partners.
- Getting thrush on a medicine does not mean the medicine must be stopped; it can usually be treated.
- Not every itch is thrush. Repeated or unusual symptoms should be checked.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Candida infection”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Azithromycin
a macrolide antibacterial (antibiotic) medicine
- Cephalexin
a cephalosporin antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections)
- Clindamycin Phosphate
A lincosamide antibacterial medicine
- Dapagliflozin
a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, a type of diabetes medicine
- Doxycycline
a tetracycline-class antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic)
- Empagliflozin
a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, a prescription medicine that works on sugar handling in the kidneys
- Estradiol
An estrogen hormone medicine
- Fluconazole
an azole antifungal medicine, a type of medicine that treats fungal (yeast) infections
- Fluticasone Propionate
A corticosteroid, which is a steroid medicine, given as a nasal spray
- Metronidazole
An antimicrobial medicine of the nitroimidazole type, used to treat certain bacterial and parasitic infections
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Candida infection” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “candidiasis”
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