How to treat thrush?

Written by Zhang Ai Min
Pediatrics
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Thrush is a fungal infection, so its treatment is relatively simple. Generally, the approach involves maintaining an alkaline environment in the affected area, such as using 2% baking soda solution to cleanse and apply to the mouth. This 2% baking soda solution is made by diluting the 5% baking soda solution commonly available in pharmacies or hospitals by half, resulting in a 2%-2.5% solution. This can be used to rinse the mouth three to four times a day. After three to four days of cleaning, if there is no improvement, antifungal tablets such as miconazole or fluconazole dissolved in water can be applied to the affected area, typically yielding very good treatment outcomes. If there is no improvement after applying the baking soda solution and the antifungal solution, oral antifungal medication may be considered. In addition to these treatments, I believe prevention is most important. Preventing fungal infections involves maintaining cleanliness of the mouth and hands, ensuring the cleanliness of items such as baby bottles, pacifiers, and spoons, especially ensuring that adults' hands are free of fungal presence.

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What medicine is used for thrush?

Thrush is caused by an infection with Candida albicans, commonly appearing as a white, membrane-like layer in the mouths of infants that is difficult to wipe off. In such cases, it is important to administer medication promptly. Typically, this involves alternately applying a solution of sodium bicarbonate and an antifungal suspension. Additionally, all items that enter the mouth must be sterilized at high temperatures. With the aforementioned treatment, thrush can generally be well-controlled. If a child is on long-term antibiotics or corticosteroids, preventive application of sodium bicarbonate should be considered. For some newborns, it may be necessary to use antifungals to prevent the occurrence of thrush. (Note: Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
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How to completely cure thrush?

Oral thrush is caused by the infection of the oral mucosa with Candida albicans, so the following points should be emphasized in treatment to achieve a radical cure. Firstly, treatment should aim at the cause. It is recommended to use bicarbonate medications to wash the mouth. In severe cases, antifungal agents can be used together with the bicarbonate solution to cleanse the mouth, and the treatment duration should be sufficient to eradicate the condition. Secondly, it is crucial to maintain good oral hygiene. All tools entering the baby's mouth should be sanitized before and after each use, not just daily. Thirdly, children with recurrent oral thrush usually have relatively poor immunity. It is important to maintain sanitation, take probiotics orally, and manage gastrointestinal functions. At the same time, proactive infection prevention is necessary and, if there are underlying primary diseases, active treatment of these is also required to prevent recurrent oral thrush. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor)

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Which department to see for thrush

Oral thrush is a disease caused by Candida infections of the oral mucosa. If you go for pediatric treatment, in a division with detailed specialties, newborns can visit the newborn outpatient clinic; infants or older children usually visit the pediatric outpatient clinic during normal working hours. During non-working hours, such as noon, evening, weekends, and holidays, it's appropriate to visit the pediatric emergency department. If visiting a specialized children's hospital or a dental hospital, the pediatric oral medicine outpatient clinic is also a good option. Of course, if a child with oral thrush also has some underlying diseases, it might be advisable to visit the outpatient clinic for the primary underlying disease.

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Thrush should be seen by the Department of Stomatology.

Thrush is a mucosal lesion in the mouth caused by an infection of Candida albicans. Which department to visit depends on the child's age, the specific condition of the disease, and whether there are any underlying diseases. Usually, if it is a newborn, they should visit the neonatology clinic. For infants and young children, it is generally appropriate to visit the pediatric clinic or pediatric emergency department during normal working hours. During non-working hours, which means noon, night, weekends, and holidays, the pediatric emergency department should be visited. Of course, if the child has an underlying disease or is taking immunosuppressants that lead to a decrease in immunity, causing thrush, the department treating the primary disease should be consulted.

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Can thrush be wiped off?

Oral thrush is caused by an infection of Candida albicans, typically forming white plaques on the surface of the oral mucous membrane. These plaques generally appear as small, curd-like spots or dot-like patches that can merge into a large area and are difficult to wipe off. If forcibly removed, the underlying oral mucosa may become reddened, rough, and even bleed. Therefore, one should not attempt to wipe it off and instead should seek proper treatment. The usual treatment involves the local application of 2% baking soda solution. This type of oral thrush generally does not affect a child's appetite or quality of life.