Treatment. If you treat thrush infections quickly it can prevent them getting worse. There are a range of treatments available. It's best to see a doctor before starting any treatment, so you've got the right plan for you and your baby.
See your doctor if you think your baby may have thrush. Some cases go away without medical treatment within a week or two, but the doctor may prescribe an antifungal solution for your baby's mouth.
It will go away after your baby starts eating solid foods. If white patches occur inside the lips or cheeks, call your child's doctor. It's safe to call during office hours.
A healthy baby with mild thrush may not need any treatment. More severe cases are likely to be treated with a liquid antifungal medicine. Breastfeeding mothers may develop thrush on their nipples. If you breastfeed, both you and your child will be treated.
If thrush is left untreated, the fungus candida can sometimes spread.
Outlook (Prognosis) Thrush in babies is very common and can easily be treated. Let your provider know if thrush keeps coming back. It may be a sign of another health issue.
Some research suggests that baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, may act as a disinfectant against Candida. To use baking soda as a home remedy for thrush: Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in one cup of warm water. Swish the solution around your mouth.
A baby with thrush may also have cracks in the corners of the mouth. Babies with thrush can be irritable, especially when trying to feed. This is because the patches can sometimes make sucking and swallowing uncomfortable, though not always. Thrush can't be scraped or wiped away and may bleed slightly if you try.
Ignoring the infection can also cause it to spread and become much more serious. For these reasons, you should seek medical attention at the first signs of thrush. Get prompt, personal medical attention for thrush and other non-life-threatening medical issues at your local FastMed Urgent Care clinic.
Thrush is easily treated with an antifungal medicine such as nystatin (Mycostatin®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), or itraconazole (Sporanox®). Your child may get these medicines as a syrup or a pill. Thrush usually clears up in 4 to 5 days.
Baking soda paste: Baking soda is known to work against oral thrush in babies. Make a paste of baking soda and apply it over the affected parts in your baby's mouth. Application at certain intervals of time is sure to get rid of the thrush.
Mild thrush usually clears up on its own and without treatment. If the thrush doesn't clear up after a few days, see your doctor. They may prescribe an anti-fungal liquid medication. The medication is usually taken 4 times a day and continued until 2 days after the infection has cleared up.
In severe cases where worsening thrush has gone untreated, there is also a risk of the infection spreading to the esophagus or other parts of the body. If you suspect your little one has thrush, it's important to get it checked by their provider.
4. Dairy products. Some dairy products contain high amounts of sugar, in the form of lactose and casein, making them more difficult to digest in the body. There are dairy products that contain added sugars and sweeteners, making them one of the foods to avoid with oral thrush.
You'll usually need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush. This can be a tablet you take, a tablet you insert into your vagina (pessary) or a cream to relieve the irritation. Thrush should clear up within 7 to 14 days of starting treatment.
In most cases, thrush isn't particularly contagious (meaning, it doesn't spread from person to person), but it is transmittable (meaning, you can catch it in other ways). If you're worried about getting thrush from another person who has it, avoid coming into contact with their saliva (spit).
In some cases, mild thrush may go away on its own, however we always recommend getting seen by a doctor or taking steps to treat & clear the infection if you know the symptoms. Most yeast infections won't completely clear without correct treatment or a change in lifestyle.
The symptoms of thrush are: soreness and itchiness around your vagina, cottage cheese like discharge that's odorless and burning sensation when passing urine. Bacterial vaginosis causes a fishy, unpleasant odour and greyish watery discharge. BV should not cause you soreness or itchiness in your vagina.
If you have vaginal thrush, the skin outside your vagina may be red, cracked or damaged. You may see a thick, white vaginal discharge (it may look like cottage cheese).
“Newborns can get a Candida infection from their mother during birth or may be at higher risk if they have serious health conditions or were born prematurely. It can also occur after mom or baby have taken antibiotics, which can reduce good bacteria in our bodies.”
Discomfort or pain when feeding can also be a sign of oral thrush.
If you have mild thrush symptoms you can use over the counter antifungal creams to treat your thrush, however if your symptoms are severe you'll need to visit your GP who may be able to prescribe stronger anti-fungal medicines.