After giving birth, almost all the mother’s thoughts are absorbed by the baby, but sometimes deterioration in well-being and discomfort in the intimate area prevent her from enjoying motherhood. The first months after the birth of a child are a time when women's health is especially vulnerable. Some nursing mothers experience itching and burning in the genital area, the appearance of a white coating and cheesy discharge. These symptoms may indicate the development of vaginal candidiasis. The question arises of how to treat thrush during breastfeeding, because not all active ingredients of medications are safe for the baby. This is why it is important to use drugs approved for use during lactation. Your doctor will help you choose the right medications.
Features of candidiasis during breastfeeding
A nursing woman may experience various symptoms of thrush: itching and burning in the intimate area, redness of the external genitalia, and the appearance of copious discharge with a sour odor. These unpleasant sensations are often accompanied by burning pain in the chest, which makes it difficult for the mother to feed the baby. With thrush, the nipples can become inflamed and red, and sometimes a whitish coating appears on them. In this case, discomfort is caused not only by the baby’s attachment, but also by contact with clothing. In some cases, thrush can also develop in infants: the oral mucosa is usually affected.
For what diseases is Sinaflan indicated?
The drug is approved for use for inflammation of the skin not associated with infectious processes:
- psoriatic rashes;
- eczema of the body and scalp;
- lichen planus;
- multiple erythemas;
- superficial skin burns;
- itching of unknown origin;
- neurodermatitis;
- allergic symptoms;
- dermatitis;
- seborrhea;
- skin reactions to insect bites.
Before starting use, it is important to find out the nature of the symptoms. The use of Sinaflan for infectious or mixed manifestations may complicate the physical condition.
Treatments for thrush in nursing mothers
Creams and ointments.
It is preferable to treat thrush during breastfeeding with drugs for external use, unless otherwise recommended by the doctor. Their active ingredients usually do not penetrate the systemic bloodstream, which means they are not passed on to the baby through mother’s milk. The use of creams and ointments is aimed at combating the causative agent of the disease - the Candida fungus - as well as reducing inflammation, eliminating burning, discomfort and itching. The doctor selects specific remedies in this and other cases.
Suppositories.
Drugs in this dosage form are also used topically: they are inserted into the vagina one or several times a day. The effect of vaginal suppositories can be anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic or complex. The use of such drugs for the treatment of thrush in a nursing mother is allowed under the supervision of a doctor.
Douching solutions.
The right douching product helps reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes and helps restore a healthy balance of microflora. Solutions can also reduce the unpleasant symptoms of thrush: itching, burning and discomfort in the intimate area. Douching is not difficult at all. To do this, a woman needs to lie on her back and slightly raise her legs. The solution, heated to body temperature, is injected into the vagina using a syringe or a special bottle (if the product is available in such a convenient form). The procedure takes from 2 to 15 minutes and can be done in the shower or bath.
Pills.
Treating thrush during breastfeeding with oral medications is permitted only as prescribed by a doctor. The active components of tablets and capsules pass into breast milk and can affect the baby. Systemic therapy for severe thrush is necessary; in this case, the doctor will recommend medications that will provide the greatest benefit for the mother and the least risk for the baby.
Clinical treatment
The success of treatment of candidal stomatitis in children can only be said if all sources of infection have been completely eliminated. When the cause of oral disease is the use of antibiotics, in parallel with general treatment, a course of antifungal therapy may be prescribed.
The principle of treating candidal stomatitis in children comes down to creating an alkaline environment in the oral cavity - it is this pH value that is detrimental to fungi. In addition, in an alkaline environment, most pathological microorganisms die, including those that cause carious tooth decay.
The child’s oral cavity can be treated with a solution of baking soda (the optimal concentration will be determined by the attending physician). The procedure for treating candidal stomatitis in children is quite simple: a gauze swab soaked in a solution is used to treat the oral mucosa of the gums and cheeks.
In severe cases, your dentist may prescribe oral medications.
The Doka-Dent dental clinic provides quick and safe diagnostics for effective treatment of stomatitis in infants and older children. Branches in Moscow are located at two addresses:
- Teply Stan district, Leninsky Prospekt, building 131, 1st and 2nd floor. One minute from Troparevo metro station in a building located between Leninsky Prospekt and Academician Bakulev Street.
- Tverskoy district, 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya, building 27, 2nd floor. Three minutes from any exit from Belorusskaya station in a building located between the first Tverskaya-Yamskaya and the first Brestskaya streets.
Specialists from both clinics conduct examinations free of charge and help urgently prevent the development of complications and the spread of the disease!
Is it possible to continue breastfeeding while treating thrush?
With properly selected therapy for candidiasis, you can and should continue breastfeeding, because mother's milk is the optimal nutrition for a child in the first year of life. At the same time, of course, a nursing woman does not want to infect her baby. To reduce the risk of infection, thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial products after using the toilet and using topical medications. If your child shows signs of thrush, you should consult your pediatrician, but breastfeeding should not be interrupted.
Possible adverse reactions
When using the drug Sinaflan, the following are rarely possible:
- increased itching, flaking, dry skin;
- the appearance of keratosis;
- swelling, redness, burning.
With long-term use, there are isolated cases of impaired carbohydrate metabolism, increased blood pressure, and decreased immunity. The risk of side effects is higher when Sinaflan is combined with other hormonal ointments or when taking systemic glucocorticoid drugs.
How long does it take to treat thrush while breastfeeding?
Of course, a nursing mother wants to get rid of candidiasis for a long time, because she has enough other worries. With proper treatment, symptoms often decrease and even disappear completely in the first days from the start of therapy. But the process of completely getting rid of thrush is quite long. To prevent the disease from returning, a course of treatment is usually necessary, which lasts 10–15 days. The exact duration of taking the medication is determined by the doctor. To ensure the effectiveness of therapy, you can take vaginal smears to determine the composition of the microflora. If the content of Candida fungi is higher than normal, it is advisable to repeat the course of treatment.
Dosage form, composition
The active component of the drug is fluocinolone acetonide. Sinaflan is available in several forms for external use:
- liniment: yellowish viscous substance containing 0.25 mg of active substance per 1 g;
- gel: transparent yellow mass with similar content of fluocinolone acetonide;
- cream: a homogeneous oily substance.
Among the form-building compounds and stabilizers of the product: glycerin, paraffin, liquid paraffin, lanolin, ceresin, propylene glycol, purified water and other components.
All dosage forms of the drug are packaged in 10 or 15 ml tubes and cardboard boxes, equipped with instructions for its use.
Prevention is easier than cure - measures to prevent thrush during breastfeeding
Proper intimate care.
Young mothers devote a lot of time to their baby, often to the detriment of taking care of their own health. But in order to prevent thrush from appearing, it is very important to provide proper care for the female genital organs. It is advisable to carry out hygiene procedures twice a day using intimate hygiene products. You need to dry yourself with a separate towel, which is changed every 2–3 days and washed at high temperature (60–90 °C).
Healthy lifestyle.
An important condition for preventing thrush is maintaining the balance of vaginal microflora. For this, it is important not only to properly care for the intimate area, but also to maintain immunity. A nursing mother needs to eat a balanced diet, maintain a work-rest schedule, regularly spend time in the fresh air, and engage in physical activity to the extent that her postpartum condition allows.
What is it used for?
The Candida fungus is a conditionally pathogenic yeast-like microorganism that requires certain conditions for active reproduction. Weakened immunity and imbalance of microflora due to long-term use of antibiotics are the main factors in the development of candidiasis. Nystatin selectively inhibits the growth of fungi and creates conditions for the active development of “beneficial” microorganisms. It is advisable to prescribe the drug for the following conditions:
- fungal infection due to prolonged use of antibiotics, surgery;
- candidiasis of the skin and mucous membranes;
- fungal stomatitis;
- candidiasis of the vagina, external genitalia;
- fungal sore throat;
- damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
Tantum® Rose for thrush in nursing mothers
Tantum® Rose can be used in the complex treatment of inflammation of the female genital organs (vulvovaginitis)1, which is accompanied by candidiasis. The drug has no age restrictions and is approved for use during pregnancy and lactation1. Tantum® Rose helps restore the delicate balance of microflora in the intimate area and fights only harmful microorganisms - bacteria and fungi that cause thrush2. The product relieves the unpleasant symptoms of inflammation within 20 minutes after use3. You can choose Tantum® Rose in convenient syringe bottles for single use or in economical sachet form with powder. The prepared solution is heated to body temperature and injected into the vagina. This simple procedure is carried out 1-2 times a day1.
Bibliography
- According to the instructions for use of the drug Tantum® Rose.
- MaglianoE. At al. The role of benzydamine in the topical treatment of the so called non specific vaginitis. Int J Tiss React 1987; X1(2): 151–156.
- Czajka, R. et al. Assessment of the efficacy of benzydamine (Tantum Rosa) in the form of vaginal lavage in the treatment of perineal complaints in the early puerperium. Pol J Gyn Invest 2001; 4(2): 99–105.
Instructions for use of Nystatin for children
For babies under one year of age, the drug is recommended to be used in the form of an aqueous solution or drops. Despite the fact that Nystatin is low-toxic, its use for the treatment of young children should still be supervised by a specialist. In addition, painful sores and lesions can be lubricated with ointment. In a situation where the infectious focus is in the intestines, Nystatin for infants is indicated in the form of rectal suppositories. You can find out the exact dosage of the drug for a particular age group below:
| Child's age (years) | Single dose of Nystatin (thousand units of active substance) |
| Newborns and children up to one year old | 100-125 |
| 1-3 | 250 |
| Up to 13 | 250-400 |
| From 14 | 500 |
Pills
This form of release of the drug is recommended for children with oral thrush. For this purpose, a tablet of 250 thousand units is ground into powder and combined with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). Nystatin for oral candidiasis in the form of such a solution is used to treat the affected mucosa. It is allowed to replace the vitamin component with chilled boiled water. Older children are allowed to dissolve a Nystatin tablet after meals. It is recommended to repeat the procedure 3 to 5 times a day.
Rectal suppositories
Nystatin is prescribed to a child in the form of suppositories when the lower intestines are affected by a fungus of the genus Candida. Rectal suppositories are introduced and used after defecation and all necessary hygienic procedures. Antifungal suppositories are administered twice a day, 250-500 thousand units each. within 14 days. In order to obtain the maximum therapeutic effect, it is recommended to combine the use of rectal suppositories with taking tablets.
Nystatin vaginally
The antimycotic drug is widely used in gynecology for the treatment of fungal diseases of the vagina. Before directly using vaginal suppositories, perform hygiene procedures for the external genitalia. At the end of all manipulations, insert one suppository deep into the vagina. The procedure should be carried out twice a day. The course of therapy lasts at least 14 days, after which, in order to monitor the effectiveness of treatment, they resort to culture of the secretions.
Nystatin ointment for children
The medicinal composition for external use is not absorbed from the surface of the skin, therefore it is absolutely safe for a small child. Nystatin ointment is applied to the affected area of the dermis in a thin layer twice a day. On average, the duration of the therapeutic course is no more than 7-10 days. However, in some cases, treatment of fungal skin lesions can last up to 4 weeks.
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Suspension
This dosage form is recommended for children under one year of age. In order to prepare a suspension, the required amount of granules of the medicinal substance (250-500 thousand units) is diluted in a small amount of boiled water or in milk. The resulting composition is given to the baby to drink. It is recommended to use nystatin in the form of a suspension for stomatitis in a child for at least 10 days. If it is necessary to prepare a solution for external use, it is necessary to dissolve 2 granules of the drug in 200 ml of water.
