Kid Tips - Thrush

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Thrush is a yeast infection involving the mouth. It is most commonly seen in young infants. Thrush is characterized by a white appearance on the inside of the cheeks and on the tongue. It resembles a coating of "milk curds" that cannot be wiped off. The infection makes the mouth sore, and can interfere with feedings.

Treatment

If your child has thrush, your physician will prescribe an appropriate oral treatment. Often, Nystatin™ is used.

• Use a clean, soft cloth to wipe out the inside of your baby's mouth prior to each application of the medicine.
• Shake the bottle well before giving medication.
• Put one-half of the dose into each side of the mouth. Generally, it is best to put it on the inside of the cheek. Use your little finger to wipe the medication all around the inside of the cheek. Then repeat the process on the other cheek. It is generally not necessary to rub the medication into the tongue. Your baby will be curious about this interesting stuff that you put in his or her mouth, and will take care of that for you.
• Give the dose immediately after feeding.

If you use bottles or pacifiers, it is a good idea to clean these items daily. Generally, the best way to do this is by placing them in a pan of boiling water.

Thrush is a very tenacious infection. It often takes 2 to 3 weeks to see resolution of the infection. Don't become discouraged early in the course of treatment. Because it is so tenacious, you should continue to give the medication for 48 hours after the white patches have disappeared. This will help to ensure complete resolution of the infection.

Call your physician's office if

• Your child's thrush has not disappeared after two or three weeks of treatment.
• Your child is experiencing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• You have any other questions or concerns.
  
  

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This patient education handout provided courtesy of the
University of Kansas Department of Pediatrics.
Copyright 2003-2006 KU Pediatrics. All rights reserved.