What to do if your baby has thrush

If a one-month-old baby gets thrush, it only means that the baby's physique is not very good and the parents are negligent in taking care of the baby. At this time, it is easy to cause thrush. In this case, parents should not be anxious. Generally speaking, the treatment of thrush is relatively simple. It can be treated by applying topical medications to the affected area, or taking antifungal drugs. In addition, attention should be paid to the baby's oral hygiene and strengthening care in terms of diet.

What to do if your baby has thrush

1. After cleaning the mouth with a small amount of 2% soda solution, use a cotton swab dipped in 1% gentian violet to apply it in the mouth, 1 to 2 times a day.

2. Dissolve one Nystatin tablet (500,000 units per tablet) in 10 ml of cold boiled water, then apply it to the mouth, 3-4 times a day. Generally, swan mouth ulcers can improve or heal in 2-3 days. If there is no improvement, you should go to the pediatric department of the hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

For the treatment of thrush, pay attention to the baby's cleanliness and hygiene, especially oral hygiene. Give the baby a few sips of water after feeding to clean the mouth. All baby feeding utensils must be sterilized. Mothers should wash their nipples before feeding and wash their hands when in contact with the baby.

In terms of diet, you should choose foods that are easy to digest and absorb, rich in high-quality protein, and appropriately increase the supply of vitamin B and vitamin C, such as animal liver, lean meat, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Common Misconceptions about Treating Thrush

1. Abuse of antibiotics

When a baby is diagnosed with thrush, some mothers often take the initiative to give their children antibiotics to eliminate the infection. When antibiotics are used irrationally, some microorganisms will be inhibited or killed, thus destroying the ecological balance between them. When the number of microorganisms that can produce anti-Candida albicans substances is reduced due to the use of antibiotics, Candida albicans will multiply rapidly, thereby aggravating the disease.

2. Do not apply gentian violet

The oral mucosa of infants and young children, especially newborns, is thin and tender, their salivary glands are not fully developed, saliva secretion is less, and the oral mucosa is dry. Long-term application of gentian violet can make the oral mucosa drier and cause ulcers and gelatin-like lesions. After applying gentian violet, the oral mucosa is dyed purple and it is not suitable to observe changes in the condition.

3. Incomplete treatment may lead to relapse

Using 1% to 2% soda water (sodium bicarbonate solution) to clean the child's mouth before and after each breastfeeding is an effective way to treat thrush. Using this method, children with mild symptoms do not need other medications and the lesions will disappear in 2 to 3 days. Some mothers stop taking medication immediately when they see that the lesions in their baby's mouth have disappeared, which can easily lead to relapse. Therefore, when using soda water to treat thrush, it is necessary to continue using the medication for 4 to 5 days after the lesions in the mouth disappear.