How to prevent thrush

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Thrush is a common oral disease in children, primarily caused by Candida albicans infection. Once diagnosed, it needs to be actively treated, generally with nystatin and sodium bicarbonate applied locally.

It is essential to prevent thrush, starting with oral hygiene and care for the mouth. Additionally, all items that enter the mouth should be sterilized at high temperatures; bottles and pacifiers must be regularly sterilized, and for breastfeeding children, the mother's nipples should also be washed with clean water.

The most critical point is to strengthen the immune system to prevent the frequent use of antibiotics and hormonal drugs, which can predispose children to thrush. Parents must pay close attention to this, so enhancing the immune system is very important to avoid illness and ensure proper care of the child.

(The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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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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Written by Zhang Ai Min
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How to treat thrush?

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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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
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How to treat thrush?

Thrush is caused by an infection of the oral mucosa with Candida albicans, so the treatment focuses on addressing this cause. It is advisable to wash the oral cavity with 2% baking soda water, 3-4 times a day, which generally leads to recovery. If the effect is still not satisfactory, nystatin can be added, dissolved in 2% baking soda water for oral application. Of course, thrush infections are very prone to recurrence. The most important factor causing recurrence is hygiene. Therefore, all items such as bottles, cups, and spoons that come into contact with the baby's mouth should be boiled and sterilized after each use. If breastfeeding, the mother's breasts and nipples should be cleaned with 2% baking soda before and after feeding to avoid recurrence. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Does thrush hurt?

Thrush is caused by an infection of Candida albicans, forming white plaques on the surface of oral mucosa. Typically, it presents as small dots or patches on the oral mucous membranes that resemble curdled milk and can gradually merge into larger patches. They are not easily wiped off, without surrounding inflammatory response. Forceful removal might result in local mucosal redness, roughness, and possible bleeding. Generally, it is painless, does not cause drooling, and does not affect feeding. In severe cases of thrush, the white mucosal coating can extend to the pharynx, esophagus, trachea, and lungs, leading to symptoms like refusal to eat, low-grade fever, difficulty in breathing, and even life-threatening conditions. Typical thrush does not involve significant pain.

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Written by Zhang Ai Min
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How many days can thrush heal?

The duration for the treatment of thrush to be effective indeed varies among individuals, as the development of thrush is sometimes due to inadequate hygiene, or the caregiver might have a fungal infection, and sometimes it is due to a weakened immune system, Therefore, if these factors are not involved and it's simply a case of thrush, generally, after undergoing treatment such as rinsing with baking soda water or using antifungal medications, the condition should improve within 3 to 7 days. If there is no improvement, it's important to investigate the reasons why the child's condition is persistently poor and address these reasons accordingly. Thus, in most cases, the condition should improve within 3 to 7 days. However, if it does not improve, it is advisable to consult a hospital for a check-up and further treatment.