In a 2-month-old with thrush, which finding would be observed in the saliva?

In a 2-month-old with thrush, which finding would be observed in the saliva?

• A. Spores
• B. Hyphae
• C. Yeast
• D. A positive KOH

Answer: (A)

Candida infections in the mouth produce yeast forms that you can see on a smear. In an infant with thrush, exam of saliva after a KOH prep typically shows budding yeast cells along with slender pseudohyphae. Spores are not a characteristic feature of Candida in saliva. True hyphae can appear in tissues or cultures, but the common saliva finding is yeast with pseudohyphae. A positive KOH is a testing method indicating fungal elements are present, not a direct morphologic finding by itself, so the most specific observation in saliva is the yeast cells.

Candida infections in the mouth produce yeast forms that you can see on a smear. In an infant with thrush, exam of saliva after a KOH prep typically shows budding yeast cells along with slender pseudohyphae. Spores are not a characteristic feature of Candida in saliva. True hyphae can appear in tissues or cultures, but the common saliva finding is yeast with pseudohyphae. A positive KOH is a testing method indicating fungal elements are present, not a direct morphologic finding by itself, so the most specific observation in saliva is the yeast cells.