What is thrush?

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Thrush is a fungal infection that commonly occurs in infants and young children, especially those with weakened immunity due to prolonged use of immunosuppressants or steroids. It is caused by the infection of oral mucous membranes by Candida albicans. Commonly affected areas include the oral cavity, mucous membranes, gums, and tongue. It appears as white patches on the mucosa that generally cannot be wiped off with a cotton swab. Forceful wiping may lead to bleeding. Treatment mainly involves topical medication, a light diet, and maintaining good oral hygiene, which is very important.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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What department should I go to for thrush?

Thrush is a lesion caused by a Candida albicans infection of the oral mucosa, so the choice of clinic should be based on the specific situation. If it is neonatal thrush, it is usually appropriate to visit a neonatal clinic or a general pediatric clinic. If it is an older child with thrush, then it’s typically seen by a pediatric clinic during normal working hours, or it can also be seen at a dental clinic. During non-working hours, such as at noon, in the evening, on weekends, or holidays, it is generally appropriate to visit pediatric emergency or dental emergency services. Of course, for specialized children's hospitals and dental hospitals, there might be clinics available for pediatric dental medicine, in which case one would visit a pediatric dental clinic.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Can thrush heal by itself?

Thrush is generally caused by a fungal infection due to an imbalance in the microbial flora, primarily involving the formation of a white plaque membrane by Candida albicans on the surface of the oral mucosa. It is mainly seen in individuals with lowered immunity, such as those with long-term malnutrition, repeated use of antibiotics, diarrhea, or the use of certain medications like corticosteroids. Additionally, unsanitary conditions during breastfeeding, fungal contamination on the mother's nipples, or fungal infection from nursing equipment can also lead to thrush. Typically, thrush does not require special antimicrobial medication. If the baby's immunity improves and their intestinal flora are properly established, thrush can heal spontaneously. It is generally recommended to orally take some probiotics and enhance oral care, which can include cleaning the oral cavity with 2% sodium bicarbonate before and after breastfeeding, or locally applying antifungal agents to suppress the fungal growth in the mouth.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Oral thrush is treated in the department of stomatology.

Thrush is a disease caused by the infection of oral mucosa by Candida albicans. Depending on the age of onset of thrush, different departments should be chosen for treatment. If the disease occurs in the newborn period, the neonatology outpatient clinic should be visited. If the child is over one month old, they can be seen at the dental clinic or the pediatric outpatient clinic during normal working hours. During non-working hours, such as noon, evening, weekends, and holidays, the pediatric emergency department should be consulted. Of course, some cases of thrush occur because the individual has an underlying disease, including immunodeficiency, current use of immunosuppressive drugs, or long-term use of steroids; in such cases, the outpatient clinic of the department treating the primary disease should be visited.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What to do about baby thrush?

Thrush in babies generally indicates that the child has low immune function, or it has been caused by the long-term use of antibiotics, leading to an imbalance of bacteria and the overgrowth of white Candida in the oral mucosa. Thrush is not scary, and we can generally treat it by using 2.5% sodium bicarbonate to clean the mouth, followed by applying nystatin tablets to the oral cavity three times a day. It usually heals in three to five days. However, thrush tends to recur, so it's important to pay attention to oral hygiene.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Thrush lacks what element

Oral thrush is not due to a deficiency in any elements, but mainly occurs when there is a fungal infection, improper hygiene, or a decrease in immune function in children, presenting as a common disease characterized by white powdery substances inside the mouth. In terms of treatment, it primarily focuses on addressing the cause of the oral thrush, such as improving immunity if immune function is compromised. If it is simply a fungal infection, we can clean the mouth with sodium bicarbonate and then apply crushed antifungal tablets mixed into a paste with vitamin AD drops to the affected area. Usually, after thorough cleansing, enhancing immunity, and proper care, healing can be achieved in about a week.