C.W. asks from Homestead, PA on February 19, 2011
Thrush - Homestead,PA
My 5 week old son was diagnosed with thrush when he was a week old. He was put on Nystatin drops and finished the prescription. I looked like it worked but I noticed today his tongue is green! It has made me worry and I Googled green tongue and its a fungus also associated with Thrush. My question is that have anyone had any experience with this and is it something I need to take him to the ER or can it wait till Monday or Tuesday.
To add, I regulary wipe his mouth (gums, etc) with a wash cloth to remove excess formula. I also clean all bottles and pacifiers everyday, try to boil them at least once a week. Also he has been strangely fussy the last two days. He eats fine, 4oz every 3-4 hours or so. No spit up at all.
Thanks in advance for your advice!!
So What Happened?™
Thanks for all the responses. I took him to ER couldn't get into his doctor today. Well the doctors couldn't find a reason why it was green. Which I am very confused about they must have never seen it. They gave me nystatin again so I will go this round and see. He has his one month appt on Friday. I will try to update on Friday
More Answers
J.S. answers from Chicago on February 20, 2011
I didn't read the other answers, guess I should have!! So, I apologize if I repeat anything here! My daughter also had thrus when she was about 5wks old. With her, they gave nystatin for me to rub in her mouth. They also gave me an antibiotic to take as well. I can't remember the name of it..sorry! But, they said the reason being that when she was nursing, she was actually giving it to me as well thru my breast. So, to really take care of it, maybe you should ask your OB about that as well??
Good luck!!
J.G. answers from Springfield on February 19, 2011
Totally unrelated to thrush, but you can put the bottles, nipples, pacifiers, just about anything in the dishwasher. Then you don't have to boil it. They even make baskets to put the nipples and small items in.
K.L. answers from Erie on February 22, 2011
I know nothing about green tongue, but I had to add my two cents about the thrush... Our little one had thrush after a round of antibiotics which suppressed his immune system. We did the Nystatin in his mouth and on me for a full dose. It seemed to help at first but then the thrush came back. After his immune system (and mine) were back up to snuff, our bodies got rid of the thrush on their own. I would ask the pediatrician what risks there are if you skip treatment all together. In our case, the doc said not to worry unless it impacted my guy's ability to nurse (but he was older at the time)...
M.S. answers from Philadelphia on February 20, 2011
I am so sorry... My son and I had thrush when I had him 17 months ago and it was AWFUL... It ruined breastfeeding for me..
First- Nystatin didn't work for us... It took two rounds and two pediatricians before I could get my son what he really needed. (Diflucan) If you look at the directions for Nystatin it says "Gargle, swish... keep in your mouth as long as possible." Yeah right... try that with a 5 week old... :) Diflucan will knock the yeast right out of both of you, but you both have to be treated. Keep pestering the pediatrician over the phone and tell them the Nystatin is not working. Even if you have to try different pediatricians... that's the one that will work.
I did try Gentian Violet, an old natural remedy where you paint this bright blue/purple stuff in your baby's mouth. However, as soon as I did it I panicked and called poison control... He looked like the Joker! I was told it was alright, but it was still scary...
I went to Whole Foods and bought every single thing I could find... Coconut oil.........grape seed extract.. any kind of natural anti-fungal remedy I could find... I would paint my nipples with so much stuff... but we just kept passing yeast back and forth... I had a C-section and they just pump your body with so much antibiotics that your body kills off the good bacteria... You could probably try a probiotic for the both of you.
Also- I got this pamplet from the lactation consultant about other things like washing ALL linens, sheets, and towels every day.. Eliminating sugar and carbs from your diet.......... (for you and EVERYONE in the house) As a first time Mom, I was lucky I was eating or washing anything, let alone doing it every day without sugar. It just wasn't going to happen...
One thing that did really help was a microwave sterilizer. I could sterilize the bottles and pacifiers after each use with very little effort. And- Vagisil antifungal cream helped with my son's SERIOUS diaper rash. (The stuff the doctor gave us made him bleed and did not help, but over-the-counter Vagisil cream worked)
I wish you the best of luck. I wouldn't wish thrush on anyone! They don't really tell you about it in the baby books or in the hospital... Now I know what to look for...
D.S. answers from Allentown on February 21, 2011
Hi, C.:
Genetian Violet was used in the old days for Thrush.
D.
D.C. answers from Pittsburgh on February 20, 2011
Some strains of thrush are resistant to nystatin. It's not an emergency, but you will want to take him back to the pediatrician on Monday for a prescription for a different antifungal agent. And thrush can definitely make a baby fussy. If he also has a diaper rash, that's probably also the thrush.
If you are breastfeeding, then you'll need to be treated too. If not - just keep sterilizing the nipples, paci's, and anything else he puts in his mouth.
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