Hi, I think my baby has oral thrush. Should we see a doctor to get an antibiotic? Thank you

Hello,

Mouth thrush, also called oral thrush, is an infection of the mouth and throat. Rarely painful, it is accompanied by whitish, creamy-looking patches on the inside of the cheeks, gums, tongue, roof of the mouth and back of the throat. Diagnosis is made by observing the signs and symptoms.

Thrush is caused by the fungus Candida albicans, also called yeast. Although this is naturally present in the mouth, it can sometimes multiply and cause an infection, for example following antibiotic treatment. This fungus can also cause diaper rash in babies.

Thrush usually clears up on its own within a few days when it is mild. If it persists, it is treated with an antifungal (fungus) medication that is available by prescription called Nystatin that will be dabbed inside the baby's mouth, usually one milliliter four times a day. It is very important to continue treatment until the infection has been gone for at least 2 days.

Some steps can help prevent re-infection:

So, for now, you can wait to see if the infection will pass on its own, if not, you'll need to see the doctor to ask for a prescription for the antifungal treatment.

Hope this helps. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you.