Treatment of thrush in newborns: basic methods

When is it necessary to treat thrush in newborns? If there is a redness on the mucous membrane of the baby's mouth, small white rashes resembling cottage cheese pellets, and milk-colored spots on the tongue. This is candidiasis - an acute form of pseudomembranous oropharyngeal candidiasis, which occurs when the oral cavity is affected by the yeast-like Candida fungus.

According to statistics, in the first two months after birth, at least 2% of children have this fungal disease, and mothers need to know what methods of treatment of this disease should be used.

Methods of treatment of thrush in newborns

Treatment of thrush in the mouth in newborns is carried out at home, but only after the child is examined by a pediatrician. And although the baby may not show the slightest anxiety, it is not worth while lagging with therapy, as the fungus multiplies and affects all large areas of the mucosa.

The main means for combating fungus in the mouth in newborns are applied topically, that is, by applying to the mucous membranes of the inner sides of the cheeks, palate and tongue.

Treatment of thrush in newborn soda

Soda treatment is well known and proven in practice. It is effective due to the alkalization of the medium in the mouth, which is not suitable for candida fungus: it is able to exist and multiply only in an acidic environment.

You need to prepare a 2% solution of sodium bicarbonate: in 200 ml of boiled cold water, dissolve the dessert spoon of baking soda. Using a piece of sterile bandage, wound on a finger and moistened with soda, gently wipe the entire mucous membrane of the cheeks, gums and tongue of the baby. The procedure should be carried out every 3-4 hours for several days.

Separately, the mother must prepare the same solution for herself - to carefully process the nipples and areoles of the mammary glands before and after each feeding, because the fungus is contagious.

By the way, about the acidic environment. According to pediatricians, in infants who systematically regurgitate after feeding, candidiasis occurs more often - due to ingestion of acidic gastric contents (as a result of esophageal reflux). Therefore, doctors recommend giving babies a sip of water (after feeding).

Treatment of thrush in newborns with greenery

One could justify the treatment of greenery in that the Brilliant green (2% alcoholic solution) has a phenolic compound, which provides a strong antiseptic effect. But this does not mean that the means for ripped off knees can be smeared in the mouth of a tiny baby: aniline dye is dissolved in 57% ethanol. In addition, the green can be effective only in case of ulceration of the mucosa. And, besides, after wiping the mucous soda composition, the greens do not work at all, because they are completely incompatible with alkalis.

Another representative of antiseptic dyes - Methylene blue (methylthionium chloride) - is not used to treat children in the form of an alcohol solution, so in the pharmacy you need to find an aqueous solution. This also applies to Fucocin (Castellani paint), whose antiseptic and antifungal activity is ensured by the phenol included in it, which has all the properties of phenol resorcinol, boric acid, acetone, and fuchsin dye. And it is intended for external use, for example, for lubricating papules with chickenpox (acts due to coagulation of protein components of exudate). So do not be surprised if the baby's tongue becomes white and vomiting begins.

Some doctors may recommend the treatment of thrush in the tongue of newborns, treating the surface of the tongue with a sterile tampon moistened with a 20% solution of sodium tetroborate (borax) in glycerin. Tetraborate sodium is a derivative of boric acid, used as a bactericidal and fungicidal agent. However, this substance has an irritating effect at the site of application, and acts at the cellular level as a toxin. According to the instructions, in children it can cause seizures, so in pediatric practice is not used.

And do not listen to advice on the use of boric acid to treat the baby's mouth, as it penetrates through the mucous membranes and can cause epithelial cell detachment, convulsions, vomiting and impaired renal function. Remember that earlier boric acid was used to combat domestic redhead cockroaches ...

Treatment of thrush in newborns Nystatin

Absolutely all pediatricians recognized that treatment with Nystatin for 4-6 days is safe and effective.

It is safe, because the drug is not absorbed into the mucosa and does not possess cumulative properties. Effectively - due to the fact that the Candida fungus does not tolerate it and dies due to the violation of cytoplasmic membranes of its cells and the disturbance of their electrolyte homeostasis.

Polyethylene antifungal drug Nystatin (tablets of 250 and 500 thousand units) can be used to prepare a mixture, more precisely, an aqueous suspension, since it is insoluble in water. Therefore, a tablet (250 thousand units) must be ground as follows - to a powder. And then mix with boiled and cooled water (200 ml). Apply by the same method as the soda solution, but no more than 4 times a day.

You can find information on the possible use in candidiasis in infants 1% of Candida (Kanison, Kandibene), in particular, if Nystatin has not helped. Candid has the active substance clotrimazole (imidazole derivative), which is used in the treatment of skin mycoses, as well as with urogenital localization of candidiasis, including with vaginal yeast infection, vaginitis and vulvitis, as well as treatment of the vagina before childbirth. According to the instructions of most manufacturers of Candida, in pediatrics it is not used. It can give side effects in the form of hyperemia, edema and itching of the vaginal mucosa, so that such side effects are not excluded when using this drug to the newborn. Nevertheless, many doctors recommend smearing plaque in the mouth with this solution (2-3 times a day for a week).

And also give advice to handle the mouth cavity of the baby Sangviritrinom (0,2% rr). Firstly, the solution is alcoholic, and the baby is newborn, so dilute in half a teaspoon of the preparation before warming in warm boiled water (100 ml). Secondly, one should know that the bacteriostatic property of this phytopreparation is provided by the alkaloids of the Macleaya cordata family of poppies growing in China - sanguinarine and chelerythrine (in the form of hydroxides). The same alkaloids contain the celandine known to everyone, the Canadian cane (Sanguinaria canadensis), the Mexican prickly poppy (Argemone Mexicana) and the usual opium poppy. Sanguinarin is a toxic benzyl isoquinoline alkaloid.

Treatment of thrush in newborns by alternative means

It is also possible to treat with alternative means by treating the oral cavity and the child's tongue:

• decoction of flowers of calendula officinalis (tablespoon of raw material for 250 ml of water);
• decoction of chamomile flowers;
• decoction of sage herb;
• decoction of oak bark;
• sea buckthorn oil;
• juice of aloe;
• honey water (a teaspoon for half a cup of warm boiled water);
• syrup of jam from a tea rose (the baby is given a pacifier, dipping it into a syrup).

Doubt causes freshly squeezed carrot juice, because we have not found any arguments in defense of its antifungal properties. And the advice to lubricate the mucous in the mouth with egg whites and salt is a genuine horror: a raw egg white can enter into the body of the baby a bacterium of salmonella, the causative agent of the intestinal disease (salmonella), in which the gastrointestinal tract is affected. In addition, a child may have a tendency to allergic reactions, including egg albumin. And the manifestation of allergies is the most unexpected, up to anaphylactic shock.

As it turned out, treatment of thrush in newborns has many nuances. We tried to keep our moms informed. Health to you and your children!