From the Research
Thrush in babies should be treated with fluconazole oral suspension, as it has been shown to be superior to nystatin in terms of clinical cure rates, with a 100% cure rate compared to 32% for nystatin, as demonstrated in a study published in 2002 1.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Thrush in babies is diagnosed by identifying white patches on the tongue, gums, or inside the cheeks that don't wipe away easily and may bleed when scraped.
- Treatment typically involves fluconazole oral suspension, administered as 3 mg/kg in a single daily dose for 7 days.
- For breastfed babies, mothers should also treat their nipples with an antifungal cream like miconazole to prevent reinfection.
- Parents should maintain good hygiene by sterilizing pacifiers, bottle nipples, and toys that go in the baby's mouth.
Prevention of Reinfection
- Good hygiene practices, such as sterilizing pacifiers and toys, can help prevent reinfection.
- Breastfeeding mothers should also treat their nipples with an antifungal cream to prevent reinfection.
Resistance and Alternative Treatments
- A study published in 2020 found that capric acid, nystatin, and fluconazole had varying degrees of antifungal activity against Candida isolates from neonatal oral thrush, with nystatin having the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations 2.
- Another study published in 2015 found that nystatin may be effective for the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by C. glabrata or fluconazole-resistant Candida 3.