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Original poster

Recurrent thrush

23 replies

WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 19:11

Does anyone know if there's anything I can do to stop dd getting repeated bouts of thrush? Having spent a happy couple of hours at the emergency GPs this afternoon and come home with yet another tube of Canesten I'd really like some ideas of things I can try in the long term to stop it keep coming back.

She has bacterial vaginosis as well, but they won't treat that unless they absolutely have to, as apparently the medication is too strong for a child of my dd's age - is there anything I can give her for that as well, so that it doesn't get worse and I end up having to take her back again? I have tea-tree oil that I could use in her bath, if that would help.

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TearsBeforeBedtime · 25/03/2006 19:14

look on amazon for books about candida/avoiding candida - would imagine they would have lots of potentially useful tips.

only practical things that spring to mind are: avoid any but the simplest soap/bath products, and avoid tights, use cotton undies not synthetic, and iron her undies/bath towels or boil wash them to stop her being reinfected that way??

Turquoise · 25/03/2006 19:23

What about her diet? Avoiding yeast/certain carbs/sugars etc and taking acidopholus?
Tea tree certainly won't hurt, and maybe a bit of lavender too to calm the itching.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 19:46

I wondered about diet - I had problems with candida a few years ago and stopping sugar and yeast did help, although it took two years before I could eat the stuff again. Not easy with a child though (can just imagine the tantrums when told she can't have chocolate anymore!).

I hadn't thought about tights, TBB - she wears either tights or trousers for school, which won't help. Roll on the summer when she can wear socks and dresses! She only wears cotton underwear, hadn't thought about ironing and boiling them - worth remembering.

It's not helped by the fact that she's still not dry at night and has to wear a nappy.

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TearsBeforeBedtime · 25/03/2006 19:50

other thing that occurs to me is whether GP could test her for diabetes again, as I think that makes you more prone to these sort of infections.

TearsBeforeBedtime · 25/03/2006 19:50

btw I'm the MNetter formerly know as MTS!

Flossam · 25/03/2006 19:52

Try and cut down on yeast products. Sometimes when the natural flora inside is imbalanced, those pro biotic drinks / natural yoghurt can be useful to promote the growth of these which can then help to counteract too much yeast. HTH.

Gillian76 · 25/03/2006 19:54

What about Acidophilus? That's supposed to help. What age is she WWB?

Poor love, thrush is awful :(

TearsBeforeBedtime · 25/03/2006 19:54

floss - was I right about the possible link with diabetes, or am I talking out my rear? wouldn't want to worry WWB unnecessarily!

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 19:56

Ahhhhh - MTS! I wondered where you had gone ... and you haven't Grin

I have some Diastix, I might check her wee tomorrow - we wondered about diabetes a year or so ago, because she had a raging thirst all the time, but nothing showed up at the time. The GP dismissed it when the Diastix came up clear but if this carries on I might have to take her and insist on blood tests.

Flossam, do you happen to know if any of these pro-biotic drinks are suitable for children? Dh uses them, but the ones he has say they're not suitable for kids.

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Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 19:56

Gillian, she's not quite 5 yet.

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Turquoise · 25/03/2006 20:00

I read somewhere that the probiotic drinks have so much sugar and so little active acidopholus or whatever, that they're pretty much a waste of money. Look into the supplements - but I'm not sure whether children can take them.

poops · 25/03/2006 20:06

The Diet is v important. white flour, yeast, marmite, fruit juice, sugar, tom ketchup, quorn, mushrooms there are so many things that can contribute to thrush. but if vaginosis is present too then no soap bubble bath, and swimming as the chlorine can upset the balance. Your local library will have loads of books to help.
I am a qualfied aromatherapist, and would not really reccomend tea tree as it is v strong, lavender is ok and mandarin but only a few drops! and not in the bath. mix into veg oil and massage onto legs arms, then pop her into bath. This is a much gentler way of introducing aromatherapy oils.

bit long winded hope this helps?
Prebiotics are great but alot are loaded with sugar so read labels

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 20:07

I'm pretty sure that you can get acidophilus for children - what I'm not sure about is whether you can use it long-term to prevent thrush and so on.

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poops · 25/03/2006 20:08

You could try the old fav which is plain old live yougurt and mix it with fruit etc.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 20:08

Poops, that's interesting - I use essential oils quite a bit, and had assumed that they were OK just dropped in the bath! I think I have some lavender somewhere - will dig it out. Thanks.

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Flossam · 25/03/2006 20:10

Not sure WWB, I don't have them any more. Just buy natural yoghurt instead then, cheaper and just as effective. You could add fruit puree or chunks to it if DD dosen't like the taste, make smoothies out of it, for example.

TBB, I haven't heard that. Doesn't mean you're not right though. If I try and think it through logically though, diabetes = sugar in urine could = more yeast = thrush. WIll google.

poops · 25/03/2006 20:11

They are fine for us, but sometimes they dont disperse properly and can be too concentrated.
I doubt any thing could get through my hide!

Flossam · 25/03/2006 20:13

Yup, tbb, you are very right! (and my theory worked!!)
\link{http://www.diabetes.org.uk/faq/medic.htm\diabetes and thrush}

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 20:15

Thinking about it, I seem to remember hearing about the link between thrush and diabetes before. I wonder if it's worth asking the GP about - don't want to put her through the blood tests unless I really have to.

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Flossam · 25/03/2006 20:16

try giving her the yoghurt in different guises for a few weeks if she seems otherwise well. I wonder if you can buy any urine dipstick tests? This would probably be what the GP would first like to do anyway. will look.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 20:19

I have some of the diptests, Floss - we got some last year when she was constantly thirsty, and diabetes was the first thing I thought of.

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Flossam · 25/03/2006 20:24

oh ok, will stop searching then! Have they ever showed sugar? I don't think they are sufficient as the only way to rule out diabetes, but, if the thrush thrives because of the sugar, and there isn't any in her urine I would think it quite unlikely. Do you see what I mean? Try dipping it at random times, different times of day for a week or so.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 25/03/2006 20:25

They didn't show anything when we tried last year, but I haven't done them again since. I'll try testing several times tomorrow.

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