Thrush is a yeast infection typically found in the mouth and throat as well as on the tongue. Thrush typically occurs in newborns, infants and older adults, but anyone can get thrush. Most of the time thrush is not a serious problem in newborns and infants and treating thrush in babies is very easy.

Treating thrush typically focuses on preventing the spread of the infection unless it is a mild case. The standard method of treating thrush is an antifungal medication which will inhibit the growth of yeast that leads to the thrush infection. Antifungal medications can either be applied directly to the affected area topically or swallowed with an oral medication.

How the medication is given is determined by the general health of the patient, the severity of the thrush infection and the persistence or recurrence of the thrush infection. A topical antifungal medication is the preferred method for treating thrush in infants. However, topical medications don’t work as well since adults have larger mouths which means that treating thrush is usually accomplished through oral medications.

Treatment In Mild Cases

For adults most mild cases of thrush can be treated at home with a simple method. It typically involves an antifungal mouth rinse or lozenge that prevents the spread of the yeast. The treatment will typically be continued for a period of fourteen days. Topical medications are used for mild cases of thrush in infants and are continued until forty-eight hours after the symptoms have gone away completely.

Treatment In Moderate To Severe Cases

An oral antifungal medication is used in treating thrush that has spread to the esophagus. Sometimes for severe thrush infections a topical antifungal may be used in addition to the oral medication. A treatment period of longer than fourteen days may be need in severe cases. During pregnancy oral antifungal medications will not be used in treating thrush since it can harm the fetus. However, the oral antifungal medications will be used if a pregnant woman has a rare and severe case of thrush that has spread to the blood. In these cases it is more dangerous to leave the thrush infection untreated than it is to use the antifungal medications.

Persistent Or Recurrent Infections

When it comes to treating thrush that is persistent or recurrent it needs to be treated twice as long as other infections and it requires treatment with both topical and oral antifungal medications. Those who have weakened immune systems may have a continuous dose of antifungal medications in order to prevent thrush infections from occurring. Thrush will continue to come back if you don’t completely treat any sources of a thrush infection. You can do this by cleaning toys, pacifiers, bottles and other items that children put in their mouths or share with other children.

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