thrush in toddler

[phen]

Hi. My 21 month old daughter has had recurring bouts of vaginal thrush for the past nine months. We have used Canesten cream, with some success, but now that is not longer effective. We recently started using Isocort cream, which worked well, but as soon as we stopped using it the thrush came back. She doesn't eat a lot of sweet things (except fruit) and she hasn't been on antibiotics. She's toilet trained and is only in nappies at night (in air-con). Has anyone else had this problem? Could it be dietary? I don't know what to do, especially now we're heading into the peak of summer. Please advise!!!

[LLL_Sarah]

The following information is taken from an article about breastfeeding and thrush but a lot of the information is good for general thrush outbreaks. So skim over the breast references.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery,
SARAH


Destroying Yeast

To kill yeast on surfaces other than skin, immersion in very hot water (50°C or 122°F) will work in minutes. A bleach solution (10% bleach and 90% water) will also kill yeast as well as discolor fabric and irritate skin. Boiling is preferred where possible. Laundered wet, all-cotton underwear may be microwaved on high for five minutes to kill yeast. Exposure to sunshine also kills yeast; hanging clothing outside to dry during an outbreak may be helpful. Freezing does not kill yeast. Prudence suggests that milk expressed at this time should not be stored for feeding after the yeast infection has cleared.

If a dishwasher is used, the hottest water setting should be selected. If pump parts, bottles, teats (nipples), pacifiers (soothers, dummies), teethers and other items in contact with the baby's mouth or milk are handwashed, dipping these into a 10% bleach solution before thoroughly rinsing will prevent the spread of yeast. Rubber gloves can be worn to protect hands from the bleach solution. If there is yeast on the hands, the gloves should be replaced frequently.

Anything that comes in contact with the mother's breasts, the baby's bottom or other affected areas on the baby, mother and other family members should be washed or disinfected daily. This includes breast shells, breast pads, bras, drip- catching cloths, pump parts, teats (nipples), pacifiers (soothers, dummies), teethers, toothbrushes, toys, clothing, underwear and diapers. Yeast can live on towels and washcloths so they should be used once and then washed in very hot water and dried in the sun if possible. Some families have found that during a yeast outbreak using paper rather than cloth napkins, towels and breast pads is helpful as well as using disposable utensils and cups.

Using distilled vinegar (heat treated to remove mold spores) and water solution to add to baths, final rinses of washing machines and directly on affected or at risk skin can also be effective. The resulting pH change makes it less congenial to yeast.

Points to Consider with Recurrent Yeast

1. Avoid sugar, including fruit and artificial sweeteners, anything with yeast including breads, anything fermented, like wine and vinegar, and dairy products, except yogurt with live cultures. Cut back on high carbohydrate foods.

2. Set your dishwasher to heat the water hot enough to kill yeast on glasses, dishes and utensils for oral yeast in family members using these dishes. If you handwash, dip the dishes and utensils in a bleach solution first.

3. Eliminate the use of Natural B vitamins such as Brewer's Yeast for a time.

4. Brush your tongue as well as your teeth.

5. Replace toothbrushes regularly. Boil or soak in a 10% bleach solution after each bout of thrush.

6. Disinfect dental or orthodontic appliances each and every time they are removed from the mouth.

7. Discard roll-on or solid deodorant after the initial yeast outbreak has cleared.

8. Use regular, rather than antibacterial soap. Killing bacteria can make yeast overgrowth more likely.

9. Check for yeast growing in or under/around finger or toenails, under arms or breasts, in the groin or baby's diaper area. Does baby suck thumb, finger or knuckles? Check them carefully. Wash baby's hands frequently. Also check the finger and toenail beds and where skin touches skin for the entire family.

10. Take precautions to avoid the spread of yeast with family underwear, bras and towels.

11. Wear pantyhose with a cotton crotch, cut the crotch out of the panty or wear thigh-high hose.

12. Avoid synthetic underwear and tight jeans.

13. Change quickly out of sweaty exercise clothes or wet swimsuits.

14. Notice any correlation between your menstrual cycle and thrush reoccurence, particularly a few days before menses starts.

15. Ask your partner to be checked for a yeast infection.

16. Wash your hands every time you use the toilet, handle your breasts or milk, put your fingers in your own or your baby's mouth, change diapers (nappies).

17. Treat every single thing possible that you put in your mouth or your children put in theirs to kill yeast.

18. Disinfect inhalers or breathing treatment machines for asthma or other conditions between uses.

19. Replace makeup after clearing up a yeast infestation. Yeast can live on lipsticks, lip and eye liners, eye shadows, mascaras, foundations and powders. Disinfect or replace makeup applicators.

20. Check everyone in the family for cracks in the corner of the mouth.

21. Have a veterinarian check animals for yeast. Pets with fur can harbor yeast, particularly in their ears. Feathered pets can have yeast overgrowths, too.

Avoiding Sugar in the Diet

Yeast feeds on sugar, so those who suffer recurrent yeast infections may wish to try to avoid sugar in their diets. This can be difficult because those with yeast infections often crave sugar.

Check labels of all processed foods carefully. Sugar and other sweeteners can be listed as corn syrup, corn syrup solids, sugar, malodextrose, dextrose, fructose, levulose and maltose. Honey, molasses, raw and brown sugar as well as artificial sweeteners such as calcium saccharin (Sweet 'n Low), aspartame (Nutra-Sweet) or acesulfame potassium (Sunett) or those made from kiwis (Ki-Sweet) also feed yeast.

The above was taken from an article called
Yeast Infections and the Breastfeeding Family:
Helping mothers find relief for symptoms and treatment for the infection preserves the breastfeeding relationship
http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleade...tNov98p91.html

[NewMama]

Hi
I hope you've solved this problem now, but if you haven't my friend had a similar problem with her toddler. She went to Dr. Tim Trodd (SHun tak Centre) and he was great. He doesn't over medicate like some doctors and is very keen on preventitive medicine.