(801) 442-2000
36 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111Map

KidsCare Online

Thrush

TEMPORARY CARE - Pending Talking with Your Doctor

Decrease Sucking Time to 20 Minutes per Feeding: Reason: prolonged sucking (as when a baby sleeps with a bottle or pacifier) can irritate the lining of the mouth and make it more prone to yeast infection. For severe mouth pain with bottle feeding, offer fluids in a cup, spoon or syringe rather than a bottle (Reason: the nipple increases pain).
Limit Pacifier Use to Bedtime: Again, prolonged sucking on a pacifier can irritate the mouth. If your infant is using an orthodontic pacifier, switch to a smaller, regular one (Reason: bigger ones can irritate the mouth more).
Breastfeeding: If mother's nipples are red and sore, apply Lotrimin Cream (no prescription needed) 4 times per day AFTER feedings.
Diaper Rash: If there's a bad diaper rash, it's also probably due to yeast. Apply Lotrimin cream (no prescription needed) 4 times per day (see DIAPER RASH guideline).
Contagiousness: Thrush is not contagious, since it does not invade normal tissue. Your child can go to day care with thrush.
Expected Course: With treatment, thrush usually clears up in 4 to 5 days. Without treatment, it clears up in 2-8 weeks.
IF your child becomes worse: Review Should I Call? recommendations.