Many mothers of children in the first year of life have encountered such a thing as the presence of a white, cheesy coating in the child’s mouth. What is such a raid? Sometimes parents do not pay attention to it, because they believe that it is a consequence of the baby spitting up or the remains of milk in the mouth of the infant. But in fact, such plaque can represent a serious pathology - thrush.
Thrush is a clinical form of candidiasis. This is a disease that affects the mucous membranes, skin, organs and even nails, caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus candida. The name thrush comes from the appearance of the plaque that covers the affected parts of the body. It looks like milk or cottage cheese. In children, thrush most often develops in the mouth.
There are three main forms of the disease:
- In a mild form, the plaque has the appearance of cheesy discharge, which is located in areas of the mucous membranes of the mouth or other mucous membranes of the body.
- The moderate form of the disease is manifested by foci of redness on the surrounding skin and mucous membranes, as well as the presence of a filmy coating.
- In severe forms, the affected areas are completely covered with plaque, the removal of which causes bleeding.
Thrush in children can appear in several places at once, or in one particular place. There is thrush on the baby's bottom, in the baby's groin, on the nails, and so on.
Almost always candidiasis in children is accompanied by:
- soreness and dryness;
- redness of the affected area;
- loss of appetite, with oral candidiasis;
- curdled coating.
In addition, in girls, thrush on the genitals causes itching and burning in this area. In boys: creamy discharge from the urethra, redness of the glans and foreskin.
Since candidiasis often appears in the mouth, if a child constantly sucks his finger, the disease can spread to the nail plate and surrounding skin.
Reasons for development
Fungi of the genus candida are normal human microflora. This means that they are constantly in the child’s body, but under certain conditions they become pathogenic. Their reproduction begins. As a result, damage to the mucous membranes or skin occurs. Typically, candidiasis develops as a consequence of decreased immunity and resistance to infections. There are endogenous and exogenous factors in the development of thrush. Endogenous factors include:
- Abnormal development.
- Premature birth of a child.
- Serious impairment of physiological functions.
- Condition after operations.
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Constant regurgitation.
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Metabolic disorder.
- Low hemoglobin.
- Lack of body weight.
Exogenous factors (associated with external stimuli) can be:
- Injuries to mucous membranes.
- Taking antibiotics.
- Artificial feeding.
- Lack of treatment for thrush on the genitals of a woman during pregnancy and infection of the child during childbirth.
It is also possible that one of the family members may become infected, for example, through sharing a bath.
What to do if signs of thrush appear?
At the first appearance of symptoms, you should immediately contact your family doctor (pediatrician), or a pediatric gynecologist/urologist if thrush appears on the child’s genitals. In teenage girls, for example, vaginal candidiasis is more common. It is especially often recorded in such conditions(they are no longer uncommon these days):
- taking antibiotics;
- frequent sexual intercourse with different partners;
- taking hormonal medications, including contraceptives;
- pregnancy.
Thrush often does not appear on its own, but as a sign of a more serious illness. Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account individual characteristics. When pathology appears in a small child, the mother and other family members should also be examined for thrush.
Diagnosis of the disease
Thrush is diagnosed based on clinical data and additional studies, as well as the sensitivity of the pathogen to antifungal drugs. Full diagnostics includes: microscopic, cultural cultures, serological studies.
- At microscopic diagnostics The affected areas are scraped, dried and examined under a microscope with the addition of special reagents. In this case, yeast-like cells can be seen.
- At mycological research culture is done to quantify fungal colonies and their susceptibility to antifungal drugs. This is due to the fact that some species are insensitive to certain drugs. Then the treatment may not give the desired result.
- During serological study detect antibodies to the fungus in the blood serum.
Treatment
Treatment of thrush in children consists of suppressing the proliferation of fungi and eliminating the cause of their appearance. At the initial stage, only local treatment is used by applying anticandidal and antiseptic agents to the areas affected by thrush. How to treat correctly? All manipulations for children should be carried out gently. When treating the mouth with a cotton swab, care must be taken to ensure that the child does not swallow or inhale it. Treatment must be carried out until complete recovery, but not less than 2 weeks, since if this period is reduced, thrush may appear again.
The most effective treatment for thrush in children in the groin area is currently taking fluconazole. In this case, the course of treatment may be reduced to 3-5 days. First, a single high dose is given, and after that a maintenance dose. In severe cases, hospital treatment may be required.
Treatment of candidiasis in children is often carried out with such a common remedy as soda-based solution. Since the most favorable environment for the proliferation of thrush is acidic, one of the treatment methods is a soda solution, which makes the environment alkaline. To prepare such a solution, take 1 tsp per 200 ml of water. soda Using gauze, treat the affected areas of the body 5 to 7 times a day. This frequency of treatments causes significant inconvenience.
The drug Candide for thrush in children is a good remedy. It allows you to eliminate symptoms and cure candidiasis as effectively and quickly as possible. The main active ingredient is clotrimazole. The drug is produced in the form of a solution, ointment and tablets. Thrush in the groin, skin around the nails, and mucous membranes are treated. During treatment, apply the solution using a cotton swab no more than 3 times a day. The ointment is used externally.
Complications
Due to the characteristics of a child’s body, infectious diseases can quickly spread to other organs and systems. Therefore, in early childhood, thrush on a child’s skin can quickly spread to the groin area and other areas of mucous membranes on the body.
Vaginal candidiasis is considered especially dangerous in children, particularly in girls, because it can result in fusion of the vagina and labia.
This condition can only be treated surgically. Therefore, thrush must be diagnosed and treated promptly. In addition, other serious complications may occur against the background of thrush, including the generalization of the process that can lead to the development of sepsis - blood poisoning.
A bacterial infection may also occur, spreading, among other things, to internal organs. Oral candidiasis can become chronic, leading to constant relapses. As a result, this provokes nutritional disorders, allergic reactions, and decreased immunity.
Prevention of thrush
Constant care of your child’s skin is mandatory, especially carefully during and after suffering from any illness. Taking antibacterial drugs and other antibiotics must be supplemented with prophylactic antifungal drugs. It is also necessary to treat thrush in the mother during pregnancy and in all family members.
Children who:
- my mother suffered from thrush during pregnancy;
- premature babies;
- suffering from severe congenital diseases.
In such cases, an additional study is prescribed in the first week of life.
Candidiasis can also be prevented by sterilizing bottles and nipples. It is necessary to wash children with special gels for intimate hygiene, instead of soap, which make the environment more alkaline.
Why is thrush dangerous for a baby during pregnancy?
Many expectant mothers know that thrush cannot be completely cured, which is why they often refuse to treat it during pregnancy. And it is during this period that the body becomes most unprotected, which is why thrush on the labia occurs much more often. Could there be consequences for the expectant mother and child if thrush is not treated?
If thrush is not treated promptly, complications may develop for the baby. For example, thrush can be transmitted to the baby during the birth process. Also, genital thrush causes erosion of the cervix and increases the likelihood of both internal and external ruptures. Women who have candidiasis have an increased risk of suture infection and a longer recovery period.
In some cases, there is a possibility of intrauterine infection of the fetus and the disease becoming generalized.
Thrush is not a particularly dangerous disease and in most cases goes away quickly with antifungal medications. Therefore, you should not be too afraid of it, but it is important to see a doctor if your child has thrush in the groin or mouth.
How dangerous is thrush for children and how to get rid of it updated: October 27, 2016 by: admin
Candidiasis, or, as it is otherwise called, thrush, most often affects newborn children and babies with weakened immune systems.
A newborn becomes infected from a sick mother while passing through the birth canal, or infection can occur as a result of negligent treatment of the child by medical personnel and their failure to comply with sanitary standards of behavior in the workplace. Therefore, the mother must ensure that the baby is not fed from common nipples and that the changing tables are covered with disposable diapers.
Older children may get sick due to weakened immunity and when candida multiplies against this background.
So, what is candidiasis, how is it usually expressed in children and what is its treatment, let’s find out below.
How does candidiasis develop in children?
Candidiasis in children and adults refers to fungal diseases and appears due to candida fungus. External manifestations of the disease are characterized by curd-like manifestations, and internal organs may also be affected.
Candida can appear on the mucous membranes of different organs in a person, but it is normal that when it is present in small quantities, it does not interfere with health at all. Active reproduction of the fungus begins when a person has a compromised immune system and does not receive sufficient nutrients and does not have a good blood supply. Thus, in conditions of a weakened immune environment, the fungus begins to multiply and infect the tissues of the mucous membrane on the internal organs of a person, on the skin, and genitals.
Candidiasis in children and adults develops due to the following factors:
- weakening of the human body’s defenses;
- frequent colds;
- long-term use of antibiotics and hormonal drugs;
- thyroid diseases;
- diabetes;
- presence of hypovitaminosis;
- poor nutrition;
- presence of chronic diseases;
- HIV or other signs of immunodeficiency;
- dysbacteriosis;
- prematurity.
Exists next classification of this disease depending on the affected organ:
- damage to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, genitals and ENT organs (stomatitis, gingivitis, vulvovaginitis, balanoposthitis);
- skin lesions;
- nail lesions;
- damage to internal organs, including digestive, respiratory and urinary (cystitis, urethritis, laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia);
- an allergic reaction to candida, which can manifest itself in the form of urticaria, bronchial asthma and other diseases.
Candidiasis in children: main symptoms
So, let's look at what symptoms are characteristic of this or that type of candidiasis in children. Many symptoms may not differ from symptoms of other diseases Therefore, a diagnosis of the disease is needed in order to prescribe the correct treatment for thrush in children.
Most often in children, thrush manifests itself in the form of damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth. It is accompanied by itching and pain. Often parents and even doctors confuse it with aphthous stomatitis, which is a consequence of herpes, and prescribe the wrong treatment. However, for thrush The following symptoms are typical:
- dry mouth;
- redness in the mouth;
- deterioration of appetite or loss of appetite;
- general deterioration of condition;
- white cheesy appearance on the gums, palate, lips or cheeks from the inside;
Sometimes parents believe that such deposits remain after the child has eaten dairy products. However, if they are too abundant and do not resemble in consistency the dairy products that the child consumed, this is thrush, which requires treatment.
Another type of candidiasis in children is fungal sore throat, which may appear as a result of improper or long-term treatment of a child’s sore throat. It manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:
- normal body temperature;
- abundant curd-like deposits on the tonsils;
- sometimes – pain and burning in the throat, but not always.
Often, Candida fungi can provoke intestinal dysbiosis, as well as vice versa. Dysbacteriosis is typical for both newborns and adult children. To check for a fungal infection, you should take a special test for dysbacteriosis.
If a child's skin is affected by thrush, it manifests itself in the form of redness and small lesions, dense spots and raised blisters on the skin.
And with genital thrush, girls complain of burning and itching in the genital organs on their outer part and the appearance of white thick discharge, reminiscent of cottage cheese. In boys, there is redness of the head and foreskin of the genital organ, as well as creamy discharge in the area of the urethra.
Treatment of candidiasis in children and its prevention
Naturally, the treatment of candidiasis in children depends on its manifestation and focus, as well as severity of the disease. If you have this disease, you should follow a diet during treatment and take additional measures:
- the consumption of sweets, milk and yeast-based flour products is limited;
- the diet as part of the treatment is enriched with meat, fish, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits (all foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins);
- products such as cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir or yogurt should not be excluded from the diet, but their consumption should be kept to a minimum;
- the child should wear underwear made exclusively from cotton;
- temporarily stop using diapers.
The fact is that synthetic fabrics and diapers limit the access of air to the child’s body, and excessive overheating during the treatment of thrush can only aggravate it.
Local treatment of candidiasis for a particular lesion
If due to thrush in a child affected skin and mucous membrane, then it is recommended to give him a soda-based solution if we are talking about stomatitis. In this case, you first need to make a solution, take a bandage, wrap your finger around it, dip it in the solution and then treat the child’s mouth in this way.
Also, in case of damage to the mucous membrane or skin, such treatment methods:
If infection affects the nails, then you can use iodine solution, all kinds of ointments like levorin, clotrimazole, decamine and mycoseptin. If your toenails are damaged, it is recommended to make a foot bath based on salt, tea tree oil, lavender and other medicinal herbs.
Self-medication should never be prescribed without the participation of a doctor, especially for internal medications and ointments.
If there is severe candidiasis, the doctor has the right to prescribe antifungal drugs.
Also, general treatment for candidiasis may include taking the following substances:
- probiotics (preparations based on living beneficial cultures);
- vitamins of groups C and B;
- folic acid;
- brewer's yeast;
- drugs to enhance immunity.
Please note that if thrush is poorly treated and goes on for too long, it may be a sign of immune deficiency. In such cases, the child should be taken to the doctor immediately.
Preventive actions
In order to prevent the appearance of thrush in a newborn child, a pregnant woman should identify the presence of thrush in advance, have it examined in time and, if possible, treated before birth. Also, the newborn should be put to the breast immediately.
In addition, in the maternity hospital you should strictly observe the rules of sanitation and hygiene, this applies to both young mothers and their visitors, as well as maternity hospital workers.
If at the birth of a child there is a suspicion of reduced immunity, he should be examined and determined whether the baby has candidiasis or another disease.
If these rules are followed, the risk of thrush in a child will be minimized both at birth and later.
“Thrush”... This disease is known, perhaps, to every woman. But, both men and even boys are not immune from this problem. The paradox is that the more often “thrush” occurs, the less often the “stronger sex” goes to the doctor, although ignoring this disease is fraught with serious complications.
The issue of thrush in boys is broad and multifaceted and covers different age periods from infancy to puberty. At different stages of life, this disease has its own characteristic features, favorite places of manifestation, and therefore different approaches to treatment.
One thing remains unchanged: at the first signs of candidiasis, you should immediately consult a doctor, since self-medication is often not only ineffective, but also harmful.
Candidiasis or thrush is a disease caused by a fungus of the Candida family, which is part of the normal microflora of the human body. The fungus inhabits the mucous membrane of the intestines, oral cavity, genitourinary organs and the surface of the skin without causing the development of the disease. This is the so-called opportunistic microflora.
Why conditional? The fact is that this microorganism can exist in our body for a long time without showing itself in any way, but with the slightest change in the constancy of the internal environment, it shows itself “in all its glory.”
Features of the causative agent of the disease
The danger of candida varies widely and largely depends on the general condition of the body, the presence of risk factors and concomitant pathology. It has been established that the main risk factors in boys include:
All this creates the preconditions for changes in the balance of microflora and the development of an infectious-inflammatory process.
Clinical manifestations in boys: from oral candidiasis to candidal balanoposthitis
The main clinical forms of thrush in boys are oral candidiasis or candidal balanoposthitis or thrush of the external genitalia.
Especially in breastfed children. Initially, the fungus enters the child’s body when passing through the mother’s infected birth canal and begins to multiply rapidly if the baby’s hygiene is insufficient.
Basically, the disease manifests itself in the form of whitish films on the inner surface of the cheeks, soft palate, tongue, and gums. If the infection has not become chronic, these deposits can be easily removed with a cotton swab; if the process is advanced, the films are almost impossible to remove without causing pain.
On the contrary, genital candidiasis in boys manifests itself in the form of balanitis or balanoposthitis, namely inflammation and swelling of the genital mucosa, itching, drops of whitish mucus on the head of the genital organ or underwear, enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, pain when urinating.
Balanitis in boys- This is an inflammation of only the head of the genital organ. If the infection also affects the foreskin, then this is already balanoposthitis. Most often, boys experience balanoposthitis, and there are reasons for this.
Firstly, this is physiological phimosis in boys of preschool and primary school age. At the same time, the anatomically the foreskin is very narrow, which greatly complicates the removal of the head of the genital organ and leads to the accumulation of smegma, which is desquamated cells of the epithelium of the head and foreskin.
Secondly, errors in caring for the boy’s external genitalia. Often, balanoposthitis is provoked by an infection that gets into the preputial sac when trying to separate synechiae (or adhesions), open the foreskin, or other careless actions on the boy’s genitals.
In adolescence, the main provoking factor is puberty, and therefore changes in hormonal levels. Often it is at this age that a teenager has his first sexual experience and begins to lead an active sex life.
At the same time, his knowledge about infection prevention is extremely fragmentary and scattered. If a teenager does not pay due attention to the hygiene of the external genitalia, the development of candidal balanoposthitis is almost inevitable.
The main methods for diagnosing thrush in boys are a typical clinical picture, confirmed by laboratory data. A modern laboratory has many methods for identifying fungus, but microscopy of a smear discharged from a pathological focus has still not lost its relevance.
In this case, diagnostic sensitivity is in the range of 60-80%. There is also a cultural method, which is based on inoculating the discharge on a special nutrient medium with further determination of the sensitivity of the resulting colony to antibacterial drugs.
Its diagnostic value is 90-95%, but the high cost of this type of study and the duration of its implementation (up to 7 days) sharply limits its use in clinical practice.
A modern diagnostic method is a molecular biological study, in which the DNA of the fungus is determined by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) in real time.
The sensitivity of the method is 90-98%, but the complexity of its implementation and the fairly high cost do not allow this diagnostic method to be placed in first place.
Key points of treatment and should you trust traditional medicine?
So how to treat candidiasis in boys? First of all, you should not self-medicate. Despite its apparent simplicity, this disease is dangerous due to its complications, including infertility due to impaired spermatogenesis and even oncology of the head of the genital organ.
In general terms, treatment follows three basic principles:
- Elimination of predisposing factors, namely treatment of the underlying disease, careful hygiene measures, normalization of nutrition.
- Antifungal therapy using drugs.
- Prevention of relapse.
Let us dwell on these points in more detail.
Since thrush most often occurs against the background of antibacterial and cytostatic therapy, it makes sense to try to adjust the medications received and start taking additional medications that restore normal microflora.
For young children, it is necessary:
- wash nipples and feeding bottles with baking soda and boiling water;
- a nursing mother should observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash her hands thoroughly before picking up the baby;
- change diapers in a timely manner, and also use products of the appropriate size.
It is necessary to exclude sweets, baked goods, and sweet carbonated drinks from the diet at least temporarily, since excess glucose in the body can also provoke the development of candidiasis.
As for medications, there is a whole group of antibacterial drugs whose action is directed against the fungus of the Candida family, these are the so-called antimycotics.
In particular, azole derivatives - for example, fluconazole, clotrimazole, which are approved for use in children. Most often, local forms of medications are used in boys.
The drug clotrimazole, which is available in the form of 1% cream and 1% solution for treating affected surfaces, has proven itself well. In the case of chronic candidiasis, it is necessary to use systemic drugs, for example fluconazole, the dosage of which depends on the form of manifestation of the disease and the severity of its course.
It is worth remembering that only a doctor can select adequate therapy.
Relapse Prevention « thrush" in boys can be represented as a set of simple rules:
At the same time, a logical question arises: is it worth trusting traditional medicine in such a sensitive issue as the treatment of candidiasis?
Undoubtedly, the most productive treatment is possible only when traditional medicine is harmoniously combined with traditional medicine.
For example, you can make baths with chamomile, sage, and oak bark.
These herbal teas can be purchased at almost every pharmacy. To prepare the infusion, take 1 tablespoon of the plant, pour in a small amount of boiling water and infuse.
With the resulting infusion you can make lotions, compresses, and baths.
It is important to remember that when taking a bath, you cannot forcibly move the foreskin in order to avoid additional trauma to the affected organ.
Under no circumstances should you use iodine, potassium permanganate, or alcohol solutions! They dry out the mucous membranes, and when used in high concentrations can cause burns.
Thus, this is a serious disease that requires timely treatment from a competent specialist. There are many symptoms of this pathology, depending on the location of candidiasis, and no fewer ways to treat it.
However, we must not forget that it is impossible to get rid of the fungus forever. All that remains is to try to coexist peacefully with it and not let it get out of control.
The most important thing is to pay maximum attention to your child, monitor his hygiene, identify allergens in time and eliminate them. If you follow known precautions, there is a high chance of never encountering this problem!
She graduated from the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education "Smolensk State Medical Academy" of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation with a degree in Pediatrics, residency in the specialty "Obstetrics and Gynecology". Advanced training under the additional professional training program "Reproductive dysfunction in men and women", State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education "North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov" Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, participant of the scientific and practical seminar "Systemic factors of reproductive health" under the program "Sacredness" motherhood", participant of the master class "Cervix, genital infections, hormones. Features of colposcopy", participant of the regional scientific and practical conference "Current problems of obstetrics and gynecology". She also received training on conducting pre-trip and post-trip medical examinations of vehicle drivers, and conducting a medical examination for intoxication. I work at the Demidov Central Regional Hospital in the Smolensk region. Specialization: outpatient obstetric and gynecological care, emergency care in obstetrics and gynecology.
Not all mothers have heard about the appearance of candidiasis in boys of different ages. According to a study, boys, teenagers and young men suffer from thrush less often than girls. However, inconvenience and discomfort are inevitable, which requires special knowledge so that you don’t have to ask about this problem on forums or from strangers.
Candidiasis in young boys
The causative agent of thrush in boys, like adults, is represented by a fungus called Candida. This fungus is quite dangerous and enters the baby’s body at the time of birth from his mother. This occurs if the illness during pregnancy was not completed. In a child under one year old, a fungus called Candida is quite capable of actively multiplying in the oral cavity. In this case, plaque forms from the inner surface of the cheeks on the tonsils, tongue, gums and throat. This is a manifestation of thrush in boys. Most often, these phenomena are observed in breastfed infants.
After a boy reaches the age of 1 year, candidiasis can be found not only in his mouth, but also in the penis area. The same fungus is to blame for the disease, but it begins its reproduction on the mucous membrane of the head of the genital organ. Mothers begin to note with alarm the first signs of illness in the genital area:
- Drops of whitish mucus on the head or underwear
- Discharge with a sour odor
- Itching sensation in the perineum
- Swelling and swelling of the head
The main reason that the Candida fungus begins to develop rapidly is the long-term treatment of colds with antibiotics, the constant use of diapers and insufficient personal hygiene. Any manifestations of candidiasis will require an immediate examination of the child by a surgeon or pediatric urologist, because a pediatrician is not always able to identify and treat a yeast infection.
Candidiasis in young men: manifestations, causes, treatment
In adolescence, every guy begins to have problems. In addition to acne, which spoils the face of a growing person, thrush occurs. She hides in an intimate place, causing great anxiety, panic and fear.
As soon as the first manifestations of the disease begin, it turns into a real test of nerves. The nightmare begins when the head area itches and the worst suspicion begins. Those who have found themselves in this unpleasant situation have no idea what thrush can look like in guys, much less its origin. Mothers avoid this delicate issue because they are sure that their sons will not be affected. At school this problem is not given due attention.
It is important for teenage boys not to be afraid of this disease, to have knowledge of how to prevent it, or to begin treatment in a timely manner.
Candida fungus is part of every guy's microflora, and therefore it does not come from outside. Fungi are permanent residents of the mucous membrane of the head or intestines. In small quantities they are not harmful. But as soon as the immune system is weakened, the composition of the microflora changes, the frantic proliferation of the fungus begins, as a result of which thrush is detected in guys.
There are many reasons for the development of juvenile candidiasis. This may be poor personal hygiene, as well as poor nutrition. The disease can develop in the presence of persistent colds.
Teenage boys experience a whitish discharge on the head of the penis. This is the most characteristic sign of thrush. The discharge has a sour odor. The disease is accompanied by itching, redness on the skin of the genitals and swelling.
You should not think that the symptoms of candidiasis (thrush) will disappear after a certain time on their own. The disease cannot be defeated until the amount of fungus is adjusted and the composition of the microflora is restored. There will be an easy transition to the chronic stage of the disease, which will hasten to affect the health of the genitourinary system and the psyche of the teenager. In order to quickly get rid of the disease, you will need to use antifungal drugs, as well as drugs that strengthen the immune system. However, they are prescribed exclusively by a doctor who treats candidiasis.
A child has thrush due to antibiotics
From the first second of birth, a child is susceptible to various diseases due to young and unformed immunity, so his body is not able to fight many harmful microorganisms. The first year of a baby’s life is a serious test for mothers, because illnesses arise one after another and require constant visits to the doctor, tests, treatment, preventive measures, etc. Very often, doctors prescribe antibiotics to children, since they treat many emerging ailments.
Unfortunately, these drugs cause a decrease in the number of beneficial bacteria (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli). They lead to the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms - yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida, which provokes a very popular disease in the 21st century called thrush. In the material below you will learn what to do if a child has thrush from antibiotics, methods of treating a fungal infection, which organs most often suffer from the active activity of fungi.
Causes of thrush
Let's consider the causes of such a common disease, in addition to antibiotics. A child can be given the disease by his mother, who during pregnancy did not pay attention to vaginal thrush in time and let it take its course. As a result, when a child passes through the birth canal, the infection can easily take up residence in the body and become its “close friend.” Lack of hygiene, period of teeth growth, premature birth, dry air and lack of ventilation, overheating can very easily provoke the formation of fungal colonies. In adolescent children, the development of fungal flora is caused by hypothermia, colds and chronic diseases, various inflammations, and hormonal disorders.
Thrush in the mouth
Oral thrush is an infection on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Antibiotics can lead to two forms of this type of disease: persistent and recurrent. Plaques that have spread in the mouth in the form of cheesy tubercles can be easily seen on the gums, inside the cheeks, and on the tongue. After removal of such formations, small bleeding wounds are formed. Symptoms of thrush will become a reason for whims, refusal to eat due to painful sensations. If the disease is not treated in time, the infection will spread to the corners of the child’s mouth, throat and lips. The occurrence of fungal tonsillitis is a lesion of the tonsils with a white coating with cheesy inclusions, a burning sensation in the throat, and the body temperature usually does not rise.
Thrush on the skin
The skin of children is very sensitive, so fungi easily choose it as their habitat after antibiotic therapy. As soon as the immune system becomes weak and cannot protect the body, infectious disease specialists will quickly take their places of honor. Thrush often develops in the groin folds, on the skin between the buttocks and near the anus, on the chest and shoulders, the skin of the arms and back. Characteristic signs of thrush will be rough and dry skin, and with the initial development of infection - small red spots with a clear edge. After some time, you can see bubbles with bright borders. If there is no treatment for thrush, the erosions increase in size, unite with each other, forming a single large lesion. The affected areas cause discomfort due to severe itching.
Sometimes the infection spreads to the area around the eyes. In such a situation, the eyelids and mucous membranes swell, the eyes turn red, and tears flow. It is impossible not to notice small bubbles that over time turn into erosions in the form of individual points.
Or a yeast infection (scientific name candidiasis), a fungal disease caused by a fungus of the genus Candida. They look like cottage cheese or curdled milk. This is where the name comes from - thrush. In case of damage to internal organs, the term “thrush” is no longer used, but the name “candidiasis” is used.
Most often, newborns and weakened children suffer from candidiasis. Infection of a newborn child can be from a sick mother when he passes through the birth canal or from the medical staff of the maternity hospital, as well as from violation of sanitary and hygienic rules (use of shared nipples, oilcloths, diapers for infants). At an older age, the growth of one's own candida usually occurs when it weakens. How does this happen?
Candida is ubiquitous and can live on the mucous membranes (mouth, intestines, vagina) of a normal healthy person. At the same time, it does not harm the mucous membranes and skin in any way, but simply exists in small quantities, without disturbing anyone. For normal functioning of the mucous membranes, a stable slightly acidic environment, a certain microflora composition, a sufficient amount of nutrients, good blood supply, and regular cleansing are required. The immune system of a strong, healthy person under normal conditions restrains candida and does not allow it to multiply. And only when the immune system is weakened and conditions on the skin and mucous membranes change, the process becomes pathological, candida multiplies intensively and thrush develops. For the disease to occur, it is necessary to create conditions and circumstances that would disrupt the normal coexistence of candida and humans.
Factors contributing to the development of candidiasis:
- Weakening the body's defenses.
- Frequent ARVI.
- Treatment with antibiotics, cytostatics, hormonal drugs, drugs that suppress the immune system. Especially frequent and long lasting.
- Diseases and/or parathyroid glands.
- Blood diseases (decreased number of white blood cells).
- Diabetes.
- Hypovitaminosis. Insufficiency of B vitamins, vitamin C, fodleic acid.
- Eating disorders (foods rich in carbohydrates, sugar and poor in vitamins).
- Chronic diseases.
- Immunodeficiency (including HIV infection, radiation injuries).
- Intestinal dysbiosis.
- Newborn children.
Classification of candidiasis
There are candidiasis:
1. Mucous membranes:
- Oral cavity:
Cheilitis (lip damage),
Gingivitis (damage to the gums),
Glossitis (tongue damage).
- Genital organs:
Vulvovaginitis (damage to the external genitalia, vagina in girls);
Balanoposthitis (damage to the head and foreskin in boys).
- Oropharynx and ENT organs (candidiasis of the tonsils, ear, sinuses).
3. Nails.
4. Internal organs. Candida can affect any internal organs. The digestive organs (intestines, esophagus), and urinary organs (cystitis, urethritis) are especially susceptible to infection. And respiratory organs (laryngitis, pneumonia).
Symptomscandidiasis in children
Discharge is almost always accompanied by itching and pain.
Most common lesion candida in children- mucous membranes of the mouth.
Fungal stomatitis :
- Dryness and redness in the mouth.
- A loss . There may be a slight deterioration in general condition.
- White or cream-colored cheesy deposits on the gums, palate, inner surface of the cheeks and lips. Sometimes the plaque in the mouth is so similar to the fact that the child drank milk or kefir that parents often do not pay attention to the “white tongue” and miss the thrush.
Thrush can easily be confused with aphthous stomatitis, which is caused by a virus.
Fungal sore throat. Very often occurs after treating a sore throat with antibiotics, when the course or dose was calculated incorrectly (long-term treatment, large amounts of antibiotics).
- Usually the body temperature is normal.
- The tonsils become covered with abundant cheesy deposits.
- There may be pain and burning in the throat, or no complaints at all.
Very often, dysbiosis is caused by fungi of the genus Candida. But there is also the opposite opinion: against the background of microflora disturbances due to dysbacteriosis, candida begins to actively multiply in the intestines. Dysbacteriosis in infants This also happens quite often, so this disease should not be ruled out in newborns.
Fungi of the genus Candida can be detected in an analysis for dysbacteriosis.
Fungal skin infection. Often accompanies fungal infection of the mucous membranes and appears on the skin around them. For example, near the mouth with stomatitis or in the anus and groin with dysbacteriosis.
It manifests itself as redness and rounded lesions with clear boundaries, blisters and dense dots rising above the surface of the skin - papules.
Candidiasis of the genital organs:
- With vulvovaginitis, girls experience itching and burning in the area of the external genitalia, and a white, curd-like discharge is characteristic.
- In boys, there is a white creamy discharge from the opening of the urethra, swelling and redness of the head and foreskin.
Treatmentcandidiasis in children
Diet. Limit sugar, confectionery, baked goods, honey, milk, yeast bread. Increase the amount of protein products (meat, fish, eggs), vitamins and minerals supplied with fresh vegetables and fruits (especially lemon, carrots, seaweed). Fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt, sour cream) are allowed, but they should not be abused.
Cloth. If your skin is affected, use only cotton underwear. Infants temporarily need to give up, it is better to keep the sore bottom in the air naked as often as possible. Synthetics, no matter how good they are, do not provide sufficient air access to the skin. And additional heating of the skin and increased laziness due to difficult evaporation of sweat are favorable conditions for the proliferation of fungus.
Local treatment.
Damage to mucous membranes and skin.
- Rinsing and treating the oral cavity for stomatitis or the external genitalia if they are affected with a 2% soda solution (1 teaspoon of soda per 1 glass of water).
To treat a small child's mouth, do the following. The mother wraps gauze or a bandage on her clean finger, moistens it in a solution of soda or other recommended liquid and thoroughly treats the child’s mouth.
- 1-2% aqueous and alcoholic solutions of brilliant green, methylene blue, fucorcin. Treatment of skin and mucous membranes. Infants can be given a pacifier lubricated with brilliant green to suck.
- A solution of sodium tetraborate (borax in glycerin). Treatment of mucous membranes.
- Miramistin - treatment of mucous membranes.
- Clotrimazole solution, cream or ointment. Treatment of skin and mucous membranes.
- Travogen, nitrofungin, pimafucin, daktarin, nizoral - drops, solutions, creams, vaginal suppositories. Treatment of skin and mucous membranes. Suppositories for vulvovaginitis. Prescribed only on the recommendation of a doctor.
- Hexoral spray for stomatitis and sore throat.
- Tea tree oil has a pronounced antifungal effect. Used to treat skin and mucous membranes.
Nail damage
- 1-2% alcohol solution of iodine.
- Ointments (sulfur-salicylic, nystatin, levorin, amphotericin).
- Cream "Clotrimazole".
- Ointments “Dekamin”, “Mikoseptin”.
- Foot bath for fungal nail infections: 2 tsp. salt, 7 drops of tea tree oil, 2 drops of essential oil of lavender, rosemary and thyme add to 10 liters of warm water. Use daily for 15 minutes for a month.
If you have fungal nail infections, be sure to show your child to a dermatologist.
General treatment for candidiasis
- In case of severe damage, antifungal drugs are prescribed orally on the recommendation of the attending physician.
- Probiotics are bacterial preparations containing live cultures of beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth of pathogenic microflora and fungi. Courses are prescribed on the recommendation of a doctor.
- B vitamins, vitamin C, folic acid. It's good to drink brewer's yeast.
- Drugs that enhance immunity. Prescribed by a doctor.
Attention! Difficult to treat, long-lasting thrush- a reason to seriously examine the child’s immune status. Perhaps he has an immunodeficiency. Show your baby to an immunologist.
Prevention of candidiasis
1. Examination and timely detection of thrush in pregnant women.
2. Early attachment of newborns to the breast.
3. Strict observation of sanitary and hygienic conditions.
4. Examination of children with reduced immunity for candidiasis.