Not a Dis Doctors Post - Oral Thrush in a 5 year old

[Monte Cristo]

If there is anyone out there with experience with this, please let me know your story....

Here's our story....5 year old with oral thrush. Found out this morning after a culture that it was thrush. This past Thursday we saw what looked like inflamed taste buds on our precious snowflake's tongue. Went to the pediatrician Friday morning who said it was probably a virus but let's culture for thrush.

Sure enough over the weekend the tongue started to look like the google images of thrush and the Dr. called this morning and it is. I took her in for blood work this morning which ruled out diabetes. They tested for a bunch of stuff which we will find the rest of the results over the next couple days.

My wife is trolling the internet and getting more and more worked up and SCARED.

Apparently thrush in a 5 year old is a symptom of some other problem....

Wife and I are in a tough spot right now mentally and look for words of encouragement or good thoughts.

MC

 

[golfgal]

Has she been swimming a lot lately? Has she had any ear infections or been on any antibiotics in the past few weeks? Those can cause thrush.

 

[FredinFL]

My advice is to stop trolling the internet. Nothing scares the crap out of you more than "what it could be". Has she been on any antibiotics lately, does she go to preschool or camp with younger children? There are a number of ways she could pick it up. Relax, breathe, you'll hear from the doctor soon, pre worrying only makes you cranky.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Pre school ended about 2 weeks ago. No recent antibiotics. She really has been a healthy child to date (knocking on wood).

Swim lessons also ended about 4 weeks ago and then beach/pool vacation 3 weeks ago so she hasn't been in a pool since then.

Too much information can be a bad thing sometimes too as we are finding out tonight....

 

[Poohforyou]

Thrush is pretty common and not something to get overly concerned about assuming your child has a normal immune system. If she's having trouble eating because of the discomfort in her mouth try freezing a good quality yogurt in popsicle molds. I did this for my DD when she hand herpangina several years ago and she loved them. As a matter of fact I still make them for her during the summer.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Thrush is pretty common and not something to get overly concerned about assuming your child has a normal immune system.

But in a 5 year old?

Thanks.

 

[sparklynails23]

She's probably cutting her six year molars and salivating alot. Don't know if this can cause an environment conducive to thrush, but it would make sense. Inhalers can cause thrush.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Both of my kids had oral thrush as infants from breastfeeding, so I can tell you how to treat it. But I don't have any advice about how a 5 year old got it. Recent antibiotics was my first guess, but barring that, I don't know.

Poster above me mentioned inhalers - good idea. Does she suck on her fingers? Yeast can grow in any damp environment, so there are lots of possibilities.

 

[Poohforyou]

But in a 5 year old?

Thanks.

It's a common yeast infection caused by the candida fungus which is likely living in your daughter's body. Chances are she got a little virus that weaken her immune system just enough for the candida yeast to overgrow. Giving her yogurt either frozen or not will actually help balance the bacteria and yeast in her body.

 

[Monte Cristo]

She's probably cutting her six year molars and salivating alot. Don't know if this can cause an environment conducive to thrush, but it would make sense. Inhalers can cause thrush.

Her two front bottom teeth are coming in.

 

[Nette]

Does she bite her toenails (yes, I know ick... but kids are weird.)

Also consider her toothpaste. I get horrid yeast infections in the corners of my mouth when I use baking soda toothpaste.

I'm not sure what you are worried about. But I hope my first thoughts are way off.

I'm sure they will get it all fixed up... But for pete's sake, don't let them give you Nystantin... inisist on the good stuff. Diflucan.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My advice for treatment is to get a prescription for oral Nystatin, and give her OTC oral probiotics (cultures found in yogurt, but you can also get a pill or powder).

 

[Monte Cristo]

Both of my kids had oral thrush as infants from breastfeeding, so I can tell you how to treat it. But I don't have any advice about how a 5 year old got it. Recent antibiotics was my first guess, but barring that, I don't know.

Poster above me mentioned inhalers - good idea. Does she suck on her fingers? Yeast can grow in any damp environment, so there are lots of possibilities.

No inhalers....and yes we are constantly telling her to take her fingers out of her mouth.

Thank you everyone.

 

[sparklynails23]

My kids have gotten yeast outside their mouths from their palate expanders and the extra saliva they create. I wouldn't sweat it. It's probably because she's cutting those teeth. Tell your wife to stop the internet searches and calm down. If you have no other indications that her immune system is compromised, it's probably nothing and will be a distant memory in a couple weeks.

Cut down on her sugar intake until it's gone.

 

[golfgal]

No inhalers....and yes we are constantly telling her to take her fingers out of her mouth.

Thank you everyone.

With playing outside and getting dirty, this is the most likely cause. It's good your dr checked for all the "bad" things it could be though. I agree, yogurt is a good thing for her--make sure it has active cultures though.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Make sure to throw away the toothbrush and really sanitize the cups she drinks out of or uses to rinse her mouth. Does she have a favorite toy that she could still stick in her mouth? I would try to wash it if so.

I've had thrush 3x as an adult and was miserable. I received this nasty mouthwash stuff that was like glue to rinse my mouth.

 

[Monte Cristo]

In case anyone is wondering....got the results from the final test back today...all clear. Everything looked fine. The majority of the results came back yesterday and it was a huge relief. There was one last test that took a couple extra days to come back but that was it....

After the fact, you wonder, did I over react or not? I don't know how else I could have felt! Big relief now though.

Thanks all.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Make sure to throw away the toothbrush and really sanitize the cups she drinks out of or uses to rinse her mouth. Does she have a favorite toy that she could still stick in her mouth? I would try to wash it if so.

I've had thrush 3x as an adult and was miserable. I received this nasty mouthwash stuff that was like glue to rinse my mouth.

Yes, throw away the toothbrush, and sanitize with vinegar anything that comes into contact with her mouth! Yeast is resilient and stubborn, and you don't want to reinfect after you get it under control.

 

[emamia]

Dear Monte Cristo:
We are going through the same thing with our daughter. I was wondering how is your daughter doing now? And have you ever found out what was the reason she got it? As you can imagine, I'm going through some really tough time. Thank you very much for your response!

 

[zurgswife]

Edited to add: I saw that results came back and all is clear.