Thrush - Angleton,TX

Updated on June 22, 2009
T.S. asks from Angleton, TX
11 answers

My seven week old has what I'm sure is thrush. (Her tongue is very white and she thrusts it out of her mouth at times like it is itching or something.) We have gotten the gentian violet and have given it to her once daily for the last three days, today will be day 4. Are we giving it right? How soon should we see results? Also, are there any precautions I should take so that her twin brother does not get it?

Also, I am breastfeeding, but we are taking a short break from it because I am recovering from gallbladder surgery. And I'm afraid of breastfeeding her until her mouth clears up. So they are getting some pumped breastmilk mixed with a little formula.

1 mom found this helpful

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H.J.

answers from Houston on

T.,

I know that some mothers will apply the gentian violet to their breasts until the thrush resolves, thereby preventing the baby from passing it onto the breasts and reinfecting himself. I would think this would be even more important for you because you have twins. You also don't mention how you are giving it. You might consider giving it to the twin prophylactically.

H.

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L.B.

answers from San Antonio on

I've been fighting thrush with my four-month-old as well. For gentian violet, you're supposed to apply twice daily for at least three days. Use a Q-Tip, dip it in the gentian violet, squeeze out all excess and then paint the entire inside of mouth. Also paint your nipples if you are breastfeeding, or else you can re-infect each other.

Sterilize all bottles, nipples, and pacifiers (anything that goes in baby's mouth) regularly until infection is cleared up.

You can also call your pediatrician for a prescription of Nystatin - oral suspension for baby and topical ointment for you. Oral suspension is syringed into baby's cheek and rubbed in with a Q-tip, four times a day for at least three days. Topical ointment is applied to your nipples 2-3 times a day for at least three days, but has to be washed off before nursing or pumping.

Hope this helps! If it's stubborn, you may want to treat for three additional days after symptoms disappear.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Austin on

Hi T.-
My baby had thrush when he was around 4 months and this recipe worked very quickly and you don't have to worry about staining (like the gentian violet). Mix 1/2 tsp of baking soda to 1 cup boiled water (the water should be cool when you use it and I just kept using the same batch until I used it up, then made more). Dip a washcloth into it and rub all around your baby's mouth each time after he eats. She won't be happy but it works! If you do breastfeed, rub your nipples with it afterwards so it doesn't spread to you. I started out just using a q-tip, but it wasn't doing much and a friend told me about rubbing it out with a washcloth, which really worked well. After the white stuff is gone, you can just use a q-tip but keep doing it for 4-5 days just to make sure it's gone. (I know it's a pain!). I stopped right when the white stuff went away and it came back, so stick with it even though it looks gone.
Good luck!

K.

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D.L.

answers from Houston on

You are on the right path! Cover a Qtip with the gentian violet and completely coat the baby's mouth and tongue. It may be a goog preventative measure to treat the other baby because the yeast that causes thrush may be on your nipple or areola without you seeing anything or having any pain. It will not hurt the babies one way or the other. It will however, keep them from passing it back and forth from breastfeeding.

Keep up the good work!

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R.C.

answers from Houston on

I think my son was a little older when he got Thrush. We treated him (and me) with the Gentian Violet for around 6-8 weeks. When it wasn't working, the doctor put him on something else. I can't remember what it was, but one shot and the Thrush was gone. Maybe if you call your Pedi, you can find out what else is available.

Good luck, momma!

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M.W.

answers from Houston on

You have some good advice here...I'll add my experience with my second child. She's 3 1/2 months old, and about a month or so ago we finally took care of the yeast infection that had been plaguing both of us. It was very painful for me to nurse, and she acted bothered, also. I never tried the gentian violet although I read about it. The lactation consultant I talked to recommended that I try to get prescriptions for Diflucan from my pediatrician for the baby and from my obstetrician for me. She also recommended using bleach for clothing and sterilizing the things that were going in the baby's mouth fairly often. Also, she, my pediatrician and my obstetrician all recommended using Lotrimin AF on my nipples. (You need to take care of any yeast that infects you or you will just reinfect your baby again, and might infect your little boy, although I think he's probably already infected since you've been nursing both of them; you should most likely treat him also or he might give it back to both of you). I applied it with a Qtip after I nursed and then washed it off using a damp washcloth right before the next time I nursed. I also applied the Lotrimin to my baby's bottom with a Qtip (to not get yeast under my fingernails) because she had a red, bumpy diaper rash associated with yeast infections. It ended up that the pediatrician wanted to try Nystatin first, before Diflucan. As the lactation consultant had predicted, the Nystatin really didn't work to take care of all of the infection. After Diflucan, my baby and I feel much better! You might also consider taking your baby into the sunlight for short periods, as well as anything that possibly has yeast on it, because I've been told sunlight kills yeast. Oh, and make sure that you sterilize the pump bottle and everything also; anything that goes on your breast should be sterilized often. Good luck!

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H.W.

answers from Austin on

I don't know much about thrust, because neither of my children got it. However, my daughter did have a very white tongue when she was an infant, I believe it was just from the milk. She also stuck her tongue out often, she did it from birth. I never had any of the symptoms of thrush or pain while nursing and the whiteness of her tongue eventually just went away. Just wanted to give you another option if the medicine isn't making it go away. Good luck!!

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S.C.

answers from Houston on

Go to the Dr and get some Nystatin, thrush can be painful and prevent your child from eating right.

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D.C.

answers from College Station on

You don't mention that you are breastfeeding your twins. If you are, then please treat yourself for thrush as well and the other twin.

What you are seeing may not be thrush. I would suggest having a pediatrician examine the twins. Be sure to report any itching you may be experiencing.

Good luck

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F.P.

answers from Houston on

Be careful with the genitan violet, it is a poison and should not be over used. So is Boric acid which is what my mom always recommended for thrush mouth. A little boric acid on a cotton ball wrapped around you finger. The trick is to clean her mouth with a cotton ball that is not saturated with the boric acid but dipped into the solution and the excess squeezed out. Just try keeping her tongue clean after each meal. Babies with bad thrush will not want to eat.

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J.L.

answers from Austin on

I'm not sure what the gentian violet is, but I would get a prescription for a statin type medication that will get rid of this. My son had this while I was nursing and its a true "pain" as you need to constantly clean yourself before and after nursing as well ask keeping the medication on your child's sores. Its a yeast type of infection that needs to be stopped asap.

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