Oral thrush in 4 year old

[tgwjslo]

Hi

I've been trying to find information as I feel like I'm getting dismissed by the GPs.

My 4 year old initially got diagnosed with oral thrush back in late August. She was prescribed Nystatin which seems to have no effect. She was later prescribed Dakartin which thankfully cleared it up. I continued to apply for 7 days thereafter as instructed and stopped 2 days ago. Unfortunately last night, she complained that her tongue is sore again.

I have two questions I was hoping you could be so kind to help me answer:

1. From what I read so far, a healthy 4 year old does not usually have oral thrush. She doesn't have inhalers or on any other medication. Has anyone had experience of oral thrush with their 4 year old/young child (not bottle/breastfeeding children as I know this is common for them)
   The GP didn't seem to know why she got it but just kept saying it's rare for her age to have it - reassuring!

2. why has it come back? Is there anything else that I should be doing?

Thanks it advance for this worried mum!

No idea on this one sorry @tgwjslo but hopefully this will bump for you.

Thank you

I don't know if it helps but my gran had it a lot as an older person. The district nurse advised pineapple juice regularly as it naturally breaks it down and kept it at bay rather than constant medication. She even suggested a soft toothbrush to massage the tongue with it.
Obviously your GP as first call but could it be something dietary?

Does she have any underlying conditions? Oral thrush tends to happen to people with a weaker immune system ie. newborns, elderly, chemo patients.

Oral thrush can be difficult to shift and it's easy to reinfect yourself. Did you change tooth brushes, toothpaste and anything that's come in to contact. Is she a thumb sucker?

Vitamin C, zinc and b-glucan are good for boosting the immune system.

Has she been on any antibiotics in her life between that and diet may be the cause? I'd lower or cut out any sugar intake or fruit juices dried fruit etc and give a good quality probiotic to prevent after you have treated this

@Rubytinsleslippers thanks! I'll try pineapple juice. I've been weary of sweet things as I've heard it makes it worse but I'll give it a go!

@quinin this is what's worrying me. As far as I'm aware she's a healthy 4 year old. She has a temporary ezcema patch on her arm that comes in the summer and allergic to penicillin. That's all I can think of.

She's not a thumb sucker but I'll definitely try changing toothbrushes and toothpaste. She has multivitamins everyday but do you think she needs an extra boost?

@Learnthroughplay3 she had antibiotics a couple of years ago so it wouldn't have triggered it his time. I'll try and reduce sugar intake though.
Do you have a probiotic that you suggest?

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. It's very helpful.

I have an autoimmune immune disorder that means I would get random stuff like this sort of thing before diagnosis in my 30's. I once had 25 veruccas on my foot that would not go, despite lots of treatment. The thing that helped in the end was a Dr. Suggesting I boost my immune system with vitamin C & zinc.

My DS also has an immune deficiency and I give him B-Glucans and additional foods high in zinc. He currently has ringworm that won't go despite months of 2nd line treatment, so I've started them again.

I would definitely change tooth brushes etc and squeeze as many fruit and veg in to her as possible, along with limit added sugar. Does she like mushrooms? These are great immune boosters, as are berries, oranges, broccoli.

You can buy probiotics in the health food shops, they are usually in the fridge but the evidence for them is mixed (I spent a fortune in the past). You are better off trying to get probiotics through foods, yogurt, fruit and veg. The more variety the better to feed the microbiome.

Thanks @quinin for sharing your experience and advice!

I will look into all your suggestions and hope I can resolve it soon.

Yes without the use of probiotics I really struggle with yeast infections, I use dr formulated ones always read label make sure no maltodextrin as this is as bad as sugar the ones in places like Holland and barrat are not good,@quinin I have trained in nutrition due to candida problems myself and really interested in you saying about yourself and your son as my son has experienced similar to yours and I suffer horrendously with candida if you don't mind me asking what you and your son are diagnosed with? because I haven't came across anything to suggest with us any underline problems?