Antifungals

Question 1

What are they?

Answer 1

These drugs used specifically against fungal infections + the relevant dental lesions is in cases of infections causing oral thrush. This may appear as denture stomatitis beneath removable appliances or as sores at the angle of the mouth called angular cheilitis. Both are due to infection with the fungus Candida albicans.

Question 2

How they are treated

Answer 2

When present within the mouth, pts are prescribed anti fungal lozenges or pastilles to suck, or oral gels or solutions to apply while their appliance is out. Other antifungals may be prescribed as capsules to be taken internally

Question 3

Fluconazole

Answer 3

Used in difficult fungal infections as a once-daily 50mg capsule dose for between 7 + 14 days

Question 4

Nystatin

Answer 4

As an oral suspension or lozenges to be used 4 times daily after food for 7 days

Question 5

Amphotericin

Answer 5

As 10mg lozenges to be slowly dissolved in the mouth 4 times daily for between 10 + 15 days

Question 6

Miconazole

Answer 6

As an oral gel to be swilled around the mouth 4 times daily