Thrush in Children: Care Instructions

Your Care Instructions

Thrush is a yeast infection inside the mouth. It can look like white patches of milk, formula, or cottage cheese. But it is hard to remove. If you scrape the thrush away, the skin underneath may bleed. Your child might get thrush after using antibiotics. Often there is not a specific cause. It sometimes occurs at the same time as a diaper rash.

Thrush in infants and young children isn't a serious problem. It usually goes away on its own. Some children may need antifungal medicine.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Clean bottle nipples and pacifiers regularly in boiling water.

• If you are breastfeeding, use an antifungal medicine, such as nystatin (Mycostatin), on your nipples. Dry your nipples after breastfeeding.

• If your child is eating solid foods, you can massage plain, unflavored yogurt around the inside of your child's mouth. Check the label to make sure that the yogurt contains live cultures. Yogurt may help healthy bacteria grow in the mouth. These bacteria can stop yeast growth.

• Be safe with medicines. Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with any medicines.

• It's important to get rid of any sources of infection, or thrush will come back. Items your child may put in their mouth should be boiled or washed in warm, soapy water.

When should you call for help?

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

Current as of: June 12, 2023

Content Version: 14.0

Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.