Causes of thrush in children

Candida fungi are companions of a person throughout his life. They are found everywhere: in the air that a person breathes, in food, on surrounding objects. They live in limited quantities in the human body: on the skin, in the mouth, in the rectum, on the genitals. Their presence does not always mean some kind of disease.

Thrush in children's mouth

What is Candida fungus?

The body is a very smart system. With the help of immunity, it controls the reproduction and development of foreign organisms. Healthy microflora of the human body inhibits the rapid development of Candida fungus and helps limit their pathological growth, which can cause harm. Hormonal imbalances, taking antibiotics, and dysbacteriosis lead to a decrease in immunity, and the body ceases to control the proliferation of bacteria. This leads to the formation of inflammatory processes, which, in turn, cause damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Infection of the oral mucosa of a child with thrush

Important! The child's body does not yet have a fully formed intestinal microflora. His immunity is just beginning to develop. This explains why thrush occurs most often in young children.

Pathological proliferation of Candida fungi in the oral cavity leads to the appearance of candidiasis. This is accompanied by the appearance of numerous small white dots on the baby’s oral mucosa. They can be easily seen when the child is crying or eating. When in doubt about the presence of plaque, you can gently wipe the area where there are white spots with a napkin. If these are food remains, they will be easily removed, and not a trace will remain in their place. If this is a plaque from the proliferation of a fungus, an inflamed red area will form in place of the white dots.

Important! The formation of white plaque is also accompanied by secondary signs of the disease: problems during feeding, poor appetite, frequent crying, poor sleep, nervousness, moodiness.

About candidiasis

Why does thrush occur?

The child is born without immunity. From the first days of life, immunity begins to develop. Mother's breast milk plays the role of a “donor” of immune cells. But along with the mother’s milk, the fungus enters the child’s body. The second way Candida fungi enter the baby’s body is during his birth. And the third is the transmission of microorganisms from other people through contact: through hands during play and feeding, through the mouth and by air.

The fungus can enter the baby's body through mother's milk.

General tips for caring for a small child, which are also preventive protection against thrush.

1. Boiling nipples, pacifiers, and bottles should be done every day.
2. Periodically, you need to wash the pacifiers in a soda or honey solution.
3. You also need to boil those toys that the child can put in his mouth. If they are not subject to boiling, wash thoroughly with soap and water and rinse in the solution described above.

   Parents should boil toys that the child may put in his mouth.

4. Use antiseptic solutions to wash the mother's nipples if the baby is breastfed. In this case, if the child has thrush, the mother should be treated along with him.
5. The rapid disappearance of plaque from thrush should not mean that the disease is already over. It is necessary to complete the entire course of treatment so as not to provoke a relapse of the disease.

It is important to complete treatment, since the disappearance of symptoms does not guarantee that a relapse will not occur.

Pathogenic proliferation of fungi in a child’s body can cause hot and dry air in the room where the baby is often located. Candida fungi are always found in small quantities in a child's mouth. Saliva, which contains special substances, inhibits their rapid reproduction. Therefore, it is so important that the baby’s oral mucosa does not dry out. In addition to incorrect temperature conditions, a runny nose or frequent crying can cause dry mouth in a child.

Important! A dry and warm environment is ideal for the growth of Candida fungus. Therefore, it is so important to control the air temperature in the room, humidify it, and ventilate it often.

It is worth humidifying the room in which the baby is located

The following problems can also cause thrush:

• frequent regurgitation and retention of food in the mouth;
• formation of microscopic cracks on the gums and lips;
• congenital disorders of the oral mucosa
• the use of antibiotics and hormonal drugs to treat diseases, which make the child’s immunity weaker;
• the child was born premature;
• feeding the child with artificial formulas.

Due to artificial feeding, the baby may develop such a pathology

Premature babies, formula-fed babies and those taking antibiotics for a long time fall into the category at high risk of developing thrush. This is explained by one reason - weak immunity.

Important! In healthy breastfed children, thrush appears much less frequently. And if it does appear, it goes away much easier and faster.

Children who are breastfed are less likely to develop oral thrush

How to diagnose thrush?

For a doctor to diagnose “oral candidiasis” in a child, it is enough to observe the clinical picture of this disease. The mucous membranes throughout the oral cavity are covered with a white coating in the form of small dots. Gradually these dots merge into large white spots. They cause poor sleep, refusal to eat, and frequent regurgitation. Visually, they look like curdled milk, which is why candidiasis is called thrush.

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About oral candidiasis in children

Additional tests are usually not required to determine the disease. Local therapy is prescribed.

Important! A quick positive result of therapy indicates a correctly made diagnosis.

A complete diagnosis of thrush in children is carried out using such studies.

Serological study

Treatment of thrush in children

The development of oral thrush in children is one of the disorders in the child’s body that does not need to be treated with special antifungal agents. The main thing in this process is to provide the child with a comfortable microclimate with moist and cool air. It is also necessary to ensure that the child breathes through the nose, since the mucous membranes dry out quickly when breathing through the mouth. This leads to cracks and wounds, which promote the proliferation of fungi.

It is important that the child breathes through the nose

Let us list the basic conditions necessary for the body to fight thrush:

• normal microclimate in the room;
• free nasal breathing;
• strong immunity.

It is worth strengthening the immunity of the baby and schoolchildren

Important! If all three points are followed, the white plaque should go away without any help. Usually, the child’s immunity is not yet fully developed. Therefore, there is a need to help him cope with the disease.

Soda and honey solutions in the treatment of thrush

The appearance of white plaque in a child’s mouth requires immediate action to eliminate it. One of these emergency actions is to moisten the child’s oral mucous membranes with a soda solution. Method of its preparation: one teaspoon of soda is poured into warm water (0.2 l) and stirred until dissolved. Using a bandage, you need to treat the affected areas of the mouth with this solution. It is important to wet it, and not to rub or remove the white coating. Such actions can damage the surface of the shell and thereby allow harmful microorganisms to enter the child’s body.

Important! Such procedures must be done up to five times a day.

Use soda solution

The same procedure can be carried out using a honey solution. The method of preparing it is as follows: dissolve one teaspoon of honey in two teaspoons of warm water. Water for preparing solutions is always boiled. The honey solution tastes good, so the child agrees more easily to this procedure. Of course, the use of honey requires caution, because it can cause allergies in the baby.

Important! All procedures using this solution are performed every two to three hours.

Honey solution is also used for treatment.

Sometimes it is very difficult to force a small child to open his mouth for therapeutic procedures. There is a proven method: press your thumb on his chin and hold in this position until the procedure is completed.

The use of medications to treat thrush

For advanced disease in newborns, traditional drug treatments are used. They are used when there is a risk of candidiasis affecting a larger part of the child’s body. If fungi multiply in the intestines, this will disrupt its natural microflora and thereby harm the body and reduce immunity.

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Important! If the fungus moves to the genitals of girls, vulvovaginitis and synechia may develop, which are difficult to treat or lead to the need for surgical intervention.

Vulvovaginitis

Doctors advise not to expect complications to appear, but to begin treatment immediately with medical means. Treatment of infants begins with checking the mother for thrush, since unilateral treatment in this case will not have a positive effect. The doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment for the baby's mother.

It is better to start treatment after the first symptoms appear

Important! The appearance of signs of thrush in a newborn baby requires immediate examination by a pediatrician. Depending on the degree of the disease, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment.

1. The initial stages of thrush in a child's mouth are usually treated with special aqueous suspensions to treat the white plaque. For example, a Nystatin suspension is suitable, which you can purchase at a pharmacy or make yourself. The recipe for its preparation: one tablet is ground into powder and diluted in a small amount of water. Plaque in the mouth should be treated with this product every five hours.

   "Nystatin"

2. Plaque can be cleaned with a soda solution, the preparation recipe for which is described above, or with a one percent solution of hydrogen peroxide.
3. To wash the affected areas, a one percent solution of clotrimazole or the drug “Candide” can be used. These products can be used to treat the mucous membranes of the mouth two or three times a day.

   "Clotrimazole"

4. If external rinsing with medicinal agents does not produce results, this means that the child has a more severe form of candidiasis and is the basis for the use of antibiotics. In such cases, the doctor prescribes antifungal drugs for oral administration.

With effective and timely treatment, the white plaque from thrush disappears quickly. The maximum treatment period for the disease is 10 days. The older the child gets, the less often relapses of this disease are observed. This is explained by the formation of stable immunity to this genus of microorganisms.

If treatment is started on time, the white plaque in the mouth will quickly disappear

What are the causes of oral thrush in infants?

In most cases, the presence of Candida fungus is not dangerous, since Candida is “good bacteria” under control of the immune system. But in newborns, especially those under six months, the immune system is not yet fully developed, as a result the fungus begins to grow excessively, which leads to thrush in the mouth.

If your child is being treated with antibiotics, this may also increase the risk of thrush. Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, but can also kill “good bacteria.” When taking antibiotics, the body's natural defenses are weakened and fungal growth can get out of control.

Treatment of thrush in children after one year

When a child develops a white coating after a year, soda solutions are used, which are also used for very young children. It is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible to prescribe treatment. Oral antifungal medications are usually prescribed.

Important! You should not decide to take such medications on your own.

It is very important to see a doctor right away

In addition, local procedures are carried out.

1. Areas with a white coating are lubricated with medications: Nystatin ointment, iodine-containing Lugol solution or Miramistin antiseptic ointment.
   "Lugol"
2. Instead of rinsing, you can rinse your mouth with a special solution if the child knows how to do this. The preparation recipe is as follows: an ampoule with vitamin B12, a crushed Nystatin tablet, 12 ml of pharmaceutical saline solution are mixed in a glass. The doctor may prescribe a complex of vitamins to be taken orally in the form of syrups.

   Use saline solution

3. Itchy areas of the skin around the mouth may appear. They are treated with Fenistil gel, which has antihistamine properties.

   "Fenistil"

4. For children after three years of age, antiseptic preparations in the form of aerosols are widely used. They are convenient for treating the oral cavity.
5. When treating thrush, rinsing the mouth with tinctures of medicinal herbs: calendula, eucalyptus, sage has a good effect. They are prepared according to this recipe: a tablespoon of dried leaves is poured into 0.2 liters of boiling water and left for 30 minutes. Such tinctures promote rapid healing of cracks in the mouth, relieve itching and inflammation. Instead of herbs, you can use aloe juice, which is diluted with water and used as a mouth rinse.

You can rinse your mouth with tinctures of calendula and sage

All described methods of treating thrush in children after one year require a special diet. It is necessary to exclude all sweets and baked goods, dairy products, sweet teas and drinks. Meals should consist mainly of boiled eggs, semi-liquid porridges with water, lean meat, fish, and potatoes. Drinking plenty of fluids is recommended.

It is important to temporarily exclude dairy products and sweets from the diet of the baby and mother.

Treatment of thrush in newborns, infants and children of different ages

Therapy for the disease is carried out taking into account the individual condition, the age of the small patient, the presence of allergic reactions to drug components, and the form of the disease. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. Relief from the disease is carried out mainly at home.

Thrush that appears in the mouth of newborns is recommended to be treated locally, without the use of antifungal drugs. Among the most effective remedies are soda, hydrogen peroxide (1%), a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and traditional methods.

Soda solution can be made at home. It is prepared as follows: a teaspoon of soda (sodium bicarbonate) is thoroughly stirred in half a glass of pre-boiled water.

Before the child reaches the age of 6 months, medications are used only after consultation with a doctor.

It is permissible to treat thrush localized in the mouth of a six-month-old infant with the use of antifungal drugs: Nystatin, Miramistin, Vinilin, Candida. In some cases, Fluconazole tablets, Diflucan capsules (the dosage is determined by the doctor), and a solution of Nystatin with Cyanocobalamin are used.

How to treat oral thrush in a baby

The procedure algorithm is very simple. It consists of 3 steps:

1. Cleaning the mouth with boiled water cooled to room temperature.
2. Treatment of the oral cavity with the above solutions. To carry out manipulations, a piece of sterile gauze (bandage) is secured around the finger, and the surface of the fabric is moistened with an antiseptic (soda, other solutions). The procedure begins with the mucous membrane of the cheeks, then the gums and tongue of the child are treated. The lips are cleaned last. You need to remove plaque with careful movements. The frequency of therapeutic manipulations is 3–6 times a day.
3. Spot lubrication of affected surfaces with antimycotic medications (do every 8–12 hours).

Similar manipulations, with the exception of the third point, are also carried out to relieve the disease in newborns. It is important to remember: the last stage of the considered algorithm is included only in treatment regimens for infants from 6 months of age.

In order to avoid repeated problems, after curing the baby, it is necessary to eliminate all factors that provoke the development of the disease.

Treatment nuances

Using the mentioned remedies for oral thrush in newborns, a nursing mother should:

• pay attention to your own health;
• adjust your daily diet;
• ensure the creation of an optimal microclimate in the children's room;
• before each feeding, treat the breasts with soda solution;
• after feeding, give the baby a few sips of clean water;
• Boil bottles and nipples in a baking soda solution.

A baby can be cured only if all the recommendations of a pediatrician are carefully followed.

Folk remedies for thrush in children's mouths

When deciding how to treat oral thrush in infants, you should not forget about alternative medicine recipes. Therapy may include herbal decoctions: a mixture of equal parts of chamomile, calendula, sage, yarrow, birch and poplar buds, eucalyptus leaves and juniper berries. The collection must be poured with 2 cups of boiling water and left for 12 hours. When the composition is infused, it is used to treat the affected areas. It is recommended to perform manipulations every 8 hours. The decoction can be given to the child instead of water.

A good remedy for thrush localized in the mouth of infants is a solution of honey. The liquid obtained by diluting 10 g of beekeeping product in 2 tbsp. l. water, applied to the affected areas. It should be remembered that treatment with honey often causes allergic reactions, so before starting therapy it is recommended to ask your doctor whether the remedy can be used to relieve the manifestations of the disease in a child.

You can get rid of the disease by irrigating the oral cavity with a decoction of St. John's wort: pour 60 g of leaves with water, boil, and let it brew. The course of treatment can last up to 3 weeks.

Treatment of thrush in young children under one year of age

The appearance of a mild form of oral thrush in children under one year of age is usually treated without the use of medications. It is only necessary to provide the baby with the right living conditions.

1. Maintaining cleanliness in the room where the baby is, regular wet cleaning, washing the toys he uses, boiling pacifiers, feeding bottles and pacifiers are essential.
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   Parents should carry out wet cleaning regularly

2. The ideal microclimate in the room where the baby is: air temperature no higher than 20 degrees Celsius, sufficient humidity, but not more than 60%. Excessive dampness in the room allows various bacteria and mold to develop. Mold can lead to various diseases.
3. Constantly moisturize the child’s oral mucosa with special means. It is important to ensure that your baby breathes through his nose. A stuffy nose causes the child to constantly breathe through the mouth.

It is worth moisturizing the baby's oral mucosa

For more severe forms of thrush, medications are used even for the smallest children. The doctor may prescribe antifungal and antiseptic solutions for local therapy. There is an effective remedy for washing affected areas in the mouth, which can be easily prepared at home: mix 10 ml of pharmaceutical hydrogen peroxide, 12 g of baking soda in 1 liter of boiled water. Soak your finger wrapped in a bandage in this solution and treat your gums and tongue.

You can treat your baby's mouth with a bandage.

What is thrush?

Thrush in the mouth is an inflammation of the mucous membranes caused by fungi of the genus Candida, which can be found anywhere on the human body, including in the mouth and intestines. Thrush in the mouth can happen to people of any age, but it most often occurs in infants, especially those under six months of age.

There is a possibility that the child has already had contact with the fungus. It is transmitted through saliva through hand-to-mouth contact, as well as when a baby passes through the birth canal during vaginal delivery.

If the fungus actively grows in the mouth, a child may develop thrush, which appears as a white coating. Thrush can be uncomfortable or painful, especially during feeding.

Thrush from the baby can spread to the mother's nipples if she is breastfeeding, which can also cause pain and discomfort when feeding.

Complications of thrush

Thrush (candidiasis) is a disease, so its appearance requires special measures for immediate treatment. A mild form of candidiasis can develop into a more severe form if left untreated. The child’s body is designed in such a way that an infection from one place quickly spreads to another. Therefore, thrush as a disease cannot be underestimated. In weakened children, Candida fungi can spread into the intestines and disrupt its natural environment.

Fungi can enter the intestines, where they will also begin to multiply

Manifestations of thrush in the genitals of girls can become especially difficult to treat. Delayed treatment can lead to serious consequences: a fungus in the vagina can cause vulvovaginitis, which leads to fusion of the labia or vaginal mucosa (synechia). Treatment of this problem occurs only surgically. Therefore, treatment of white plaque in the mouth of girls should be accompanied by constant parental monitoring of the condition of the genital organs.

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Important! At the slightest sign of complications in the form of redness and discharge, consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Synechia

The presence of a large number of bacteria in the oral cavity can cause them to enter the child’s blood, lymphatic system, and from them to all organs. It is necessary to start treatment on time to prevent such a serious complication of thrush.

Important! Treatment should continue until the child recovers completely. Otherwise, the disease can become chronic, which will significantly weaken the immune system, and this will cause the development of allergies and other diseases.

Bacteria can also enter the blood

Basic diagnostic methods

At the first symptoms of the disease, you should consult a doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment regimen for oral thrush in an infant. The primary determination of the presence of the disease occurs during a visual examination. Confirmation of the preliminary diagnosis is carried out on the basis of laboratory tests: plaque separated from the mucous membrane is dried on a glass slide and processed using special preparations. The technique allows you to determine the presence of fungal threads.

The degree of resistance of infectious agents to antimycotic drugs is determined by using cultural inoculation. The method is used for frequent relapses of candidiasis, low effectiveness of classical treatment regimens prescribed to relieve oral thrush in infants.

It is necessary to closely monitor the health of infants: with early detection of the disease, it is easier to determine the list of medications that require use.

Prevention of thrush in children

Preventive measures for the occurrence of candidiasis in children.

1. In case of general or infectious diseases of the child, monitor the condition of the oral mucosa so as not to miss the appearance of thrush at the initial stage.
2. Use antibiotics only when necessary. They are prescribed after conducting a general blood test of the child and obtaining the appropriate results. During the use of antibacterial drugs, fluconazole is prescribed. Its use is associated with disease prevention. The dose is prescribed by the doctor depending on the child’s body weight and the degree of risk of developing thrush.

   Antibiotics should not be used unless prescribed by a doctor

3. Timely detection of thrush in the mother of the child and application of appropriate treatment. Observation should be carried out from pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
4. Screening for the presence of thrush in newborns who are at risk. These include children born during complicated labor, premature babies and those with any developmental abnormalities. This also includes children with birth injuries of the central nervous system, respiratory disorders, and encephalopathies. If the child’s mother is diagnosed with thrush and has chronic gynecological diseases, her child is also subject to mandatory examination for the presence of Candidiasis fungus. Such an examination is carried out in the first seven days of a child’s life using microscopic and bacteriological methods. If results indicate the presence of candidiasis, treatment with antifungal drugs is used. In addition to these examinations, stool samples are periodically analyzed for dysbacteriosis.

You need to check your baby regularly

Candidiasis is a very common disease in early childhood. But if you adhere to all preventive measures, it is quite possible not to encounter it.