If a newborn has white patches on the tongue, inside of the cheeks or lips, appears to be particularly irritated or feels discomfort while breastfeeding, they may have thrush. It is an infection caused by candida yeast and usually occurs as a result of an antibiotic treatment by the baby or the mother, since yeast tends to develop in the body as a result of the destruction of the bacterial flora. If the mother and the baby have mycosis at the same time, it is important to treat both, as during breastfeeding the baby runs the risk of a new infection. In most cases, thrush is not considered fatal, because it can be easily treated at home and often heals without the need for medication. In severe cases, however, it can cause dehydration and fever, requiring prompt medical intervention. Knowing how to recognize symptoms and signs, as well as being able to treat mild infections at home, can help your child stay healthy and happy.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Natural Remedies
Step 1. Consult your pediatrician
Before using any home remedies, consult your pediatrician. Your doctor will be able to confirm the diagnosis and give you his or her professional opinion on which treatment is most appropriate. While many of these remedies are safe, you still need to keep in mind that the baby's digestive system and immune system are still developing; your pediatrician may in fact advise you to proceed with caution.
Step 2. Give the baby acidophilus
It is a supplement, usually in powder form, made up of bacteria usually found in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy people. In the human body, yeast and intestinal bacteria are balanced with each other, but taking antibiotics or developing thrush encourages the proliferation of fungi in the body. Acidophilus helps reduce their growth and treat the underlying cause of thrush in the newborn.
- Make a paste by mixing acidophilus powder with water or breast milk.
- Rub this solution on the baby's mouth once a day until the thrush disappears.
- If the baby is being formula-fed, you can also add a teaspoon of the supplement to the powdered milk solution. Again, give him the acidophilus once a day until the problem goes away.
Step 3. Try yogurt
If your child is able to ingest it, your pediatrician may recommend this food, as long as it is sugar-free and enriched with lactobacillus acidophilus, in order to restore the balance between yeast and bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
If your child is still not old enough to be able to eat yogurt, try applying it directly with a Q-tip to the area affected by thrush. Use only a small amount and monitor your baby closely to make sure he doesn't choke on yogurt
Step 4. Use grapefruit seed extract
It is believed that this substance, when mixed with distilled water and given daily, can manage the symptoms of thrush in some babies.
- Mix 10 drops of the extract into 30ml of distilled water. Some doctors believe that the antibacterial treatment given to tap water can reduce the effectiveness of grapefruit extract.
- Take a clean cotton ball to apply the mixture to the baby's mouth once every hour when he is awake.
- Dab his mouth with the mixture even before breastfeeding. in this way you reduce the bitter taste that the baby with thrush experiences while drinking milk. Doing so allows him to feed normally.
- If the thrush does not improve significantly from the second day of treatment, try increasing the concentration of grapefruit seed extract by adding 15 or 20 drops to 30 ml of distilled water, instead of the original 10.
Step 5. Use pure, virgin coconut oil
This element contains caprylic acid, which can effectively fight the yeast infection that causes thrush.
- Take a clean cotton ball and apply the oil to the affected area.
- However, consult your pediatrician before using the oil, as some children may be allergic.
Step 6. Make a baking soda paste
This product is able to fight the infection through a topical action both on the baby's mouth and on the mother's nipples (in case of breastfeeding).
- Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in 240ml of water.
- Apply the paste to your mouth with a clean cotton ball.
Step 7. Try a salt and water rinse
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 240ml of hot water. Rinse the baby's mouth with the solution or try to apply it directly to the affected area using a clean cotton ball.
Method 2 of 3: Medications
Step 1. Give him miconazole
This is typically the first treatment that pediatricians choose to treat thrush. It is available in gel form and a parent or caregiver can apply it directly to the baby's mouth.
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap; you need to make sure they are clean before administering the drug to the baby.
- Apply ¼ teaspoon of miconazole to the affected area up to 4 times a day. Use a clean finger or a cotton ball to spread the gel over the infected area.
- Do not wear too much, otherwise there is a risk that the baby could choke. Also avoid putting the gel in the back of your mouth, otherwise it could easily end up in your throat.
- Continue this treatment until your pediatrician tells you to stop.
- Miconazole is not recommended for children under 6 months of age, as the risk of suffocation is undoubtedly greater in such young children.
Step 2. Try Nystatin
This drug is often prescribed instead of miconazole. It is in liquid form and is applied to the infected area of the mouth using either a dropper or a soaked cotton ball.
- Shake the bottle before withdrawing the dose. The drug is in liquid suspension, so it is important to shake the contents of the bottle so that the active ingredient is well dissolved in the liquid.
- Your pharmacist can provide you with a dropper, a syringe or a measuring spoon to give you the right amount of medication. If he is unable to give you the right tool to determine the right dosage, follow the instructions on the drug packaging.
- If your baby is small, your pediatrician will probably recommend that you give him half the dose on each side of the tongue or use a clean cotton ball to apply the liquid to the sides of the mouth.
- If the baby is old enough to follow your instructions, ask him to rinse the entire mouth with nystatin to completely cover the surface of the tongue, cheeks and gums.
- Wait 5 to 10 minutes after giving him the medication before breastfeeding him if feeding time is imminent.
- Give him the drug up to 4 times a day. Continue the treatment for up to 5 days after the thrush has disappeared, as the fungus may reappear within a short time after the therapy is finished.
- Nystatin can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach problems or even allergic reactions in some children. Talk to your pediatrician to learn about possible side effects before deciding to give the drug to your child.
Step 3. Try gentian violet
If you cannot get positive results with miconazole or nystatin, your pediatrician may recommend this antifungal solution to apply to the affected area with a cotton ball. It is a product easily available in pharmacies without the need for a prescription.
- Read the instructions on the package to know the right dosage or follow the instructions of the pediatrician.
- Apply gentian violet to the infected area with clean cotton wool.
- Repeat the procedure two to three times a day for at least three days.
- Keep in mind that this dye stains skin and clothing. Also, the baby's skin may appear purplish during the treatment period, but it will return to its natural color as soon as you stop the treatment.
- Talk to your pediatrician before giving this antifungal product to your baby, because in some cases they have experienced allergic reactions to the drug or to the dyes and preservatives in the mixture.
Step 4. Ask your pediatrician about fluconazole
If the other methods are not effective, the doctor may prescribe this drug; it is an antifungal that must be ingested once a day for 7/14 days. Slows the growth of the fungus that causes the baby to become infected.
Regarding the doses, follow the instructions of the pediatrician
Method 3 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Learn about thrush
While this infection can be painful for the baby and difficult for you as a parent to manage, be aware that in most cases it is not particularly dangerous and can almost always be cured without the need for medical treatment in a week or two. In severe cases it can take eight weeks to heal without medication, while with the right care from a pediatrician it can disappear quickly in just four or five days. However, thrush can sometimes cause more serious complications, and if so, it's a symptom of a bigger problem. Contact your pediatrician immediately if your child:
- He has a fever;
- Has any form of bleeding;
- You are dehydrated or drink less than usual
- Have difficulty breathing or swallowing
- It shows some other complications that are particularly troubling.
Step 2. Reduce the time of bottle feeding
Prolonged sucking from the nipple of the bottle can irritate the baby's mouth, facilitating the formation of mycosis. Limit breastfeeding time to 20 minutes per feed. In severe cases of thrush, the baby is no longer able to drink milk due to pain in the mouth. If this also occurs with your baby, you need to feed him with a spoon or syringe instead of a bottle. Talk to your pediatrician to find the best solution to avoid further irritating your mouth.
Step 3. Limit the use of the pacifier
It is generally a great way to soothe and soothe the baby, but continuous sucking can cause mouth irritation and make the baby more prone to yeast infection.
If your baby has or has had thrush, give him the pacifier only when you can't calm him down in any other way
Step 4. Sterilize teats, bottles and pacifiers if your baby has this infection
To prevent its spread, it is important to keep milk and bottles ready in the refrigerator to prevent the fungus from proliferating. You must also clean all the equipment thoroughly in hot water or in the dishwasher.
Step 5. Talk to your doctor regarding stopping antibiotic treatment
If the child has thrush because it is infected by the mother on antibiotic or cortisone therapy, it is advisable to evaluate whether it is appropriate to interrupt the treatment or reduce the dosage until the fungal infection disappears. However, the treatment should only be interrupted or reduced if it does not involve medical complications for the mother. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned that your medications are the cause of thrush.
