Epidemiology

Oral candidal colonisation has been reported to range from approximately 40% to 70% of healthy children and adults, with higher rates observed among children with carious teeth and older adults wearing dentures.[6][7][8]Candida carriage rate has been shown to also increase with cancer radiation therapy, diabetes, and HIV infection.[9][10][11][12]Candida colonisation may lead to opportunistic mucosal infection as well as disseminated and multi-system organ involvement in immunocompromised people. The rate of infection has been reported as 50% during chemotherapy, 70% during radiation therapy, and 90% in HIV infection.[13][14]

Antifungal agents are often used during radiation and chemotherapy to prevent opportunistic infection among patients receiving treatment for cancer.[15] In addition, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to a decrease in the incidence of oral candidiasis and cases of refractory diseases among people living with HIV.[16][17][18] The beneficial effect of antiretrovirals may be through their effect on immune recovery and lower oropharyngeal colonisation of Candida species or a direct inhibitory effect on the yeast organisms.[19][20][21]

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