Postgraduate medical journal
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Oral candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection of the oral cavity caused by an overgrowth of Candida species, the commonest being Candida albicans. The incidence varies depending on age and certain predisposing factors. There are three broad groupings consisting of acute candidiasis, chronic candidiasis, and angular cheilitis. ⋯ Management involves taking a history, an examination, and appropriate antifungal treatment with a few requiring samples to be taken for laboratory analysis. In certain high risk groups antifungal prophylaxis reduces the incidence and severity of infections. The prognosis is good in the great majority of cases.
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Intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been used by urologists for several years after its first reported use as a cancer therapy in the 1930s. Morales in 1976 described the usage of BCG as a once weekly intravesical instillation for six weeks; this is a treatment regimen that still exists today. ⋯ Unfortunately, the more widespread use of BCG is often limited due its high side effect profile. Present research is directed towards reducing its side effect profile, improving its efficacy, and understanding its exact mechanism of action, which is not fully understood.