Prevalence of Oral Candida Species in a North American Pediatric Population

Abstract

Oral candidiasis caused by species other than Candida albicans has been observed. This study evaluated the prevalence of oral yeast species among 196 children during routine oral exam. Based on standard mycological testing, 130 (66%) subjects had fungal growth. Candida albicans isolates were recovered in 56% of children, but an extensive diversity in the non-albicans species was observed. Intrinsic differences in the pediatric population may favor the presence of yeast species other than C. albicans.