THRUSH Main Symptoms White, irregularly shaped patches in the mouth. Coats the inside cheeks or inner lips. Sometimes coats the tongue (if the only symptom is a uniformly white tongue, it's due to a milk diet, not thrush). Adherent to the mouth (cannot be washed away or wiped off easily like milk curds). Causes mild discomfort or no symptoms. The child is bottle-fed or breast-fed. Cause Caused by a yeast (called Candida). See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If It doesn't look like thrush, see MOUTH ULCERS. WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR THRUSH Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If Your child looks or acts very sick. Signs of dehydration (very dry mouth, no tears and no urine in more than 8 hours). Age less than 1 month old and looks or acts sick in any way. Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If You think your child needs to be seen. Fever occurs. Bleeding is present. Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If Thrush, but none of the symptoms described above (reason: may need prescription medicine to treat it). Back to Top HOME CARE ADVICE FOR THRUSH (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. Call Your Doctor If: Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms. Back to Top Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Pediatric HouseCalls Online. Copyright © 2000-2004 Barton Schmitt, M.D. FAAP Reviewed 8/2004 Revised 7/2004 See Other Topics: Diaper Rash Mouth Ulcers (Canker Sores) View Index of Topics