Candidiasis in children

The emerging thrush causes many uncomfortable symptoms in the child. Frequent exacerbations of the disease indicate that there are signs of pronounced trouble in the child's body, which it signals with manifestations of candidiasis.

What it is?

Candidiasis are diseases that are caused by fungi. In everyday life, the name "milkmaid" was stuck behind them. This is due to the presence of specific symptoms that occur with candidiasis. The disease usually proceeds in young children in different ways. In most cases, the course of the disease is mild. In newborns, candidiasis develops more difficult and is accompanied by the appearance of numerous uncomfortable symptoms that greatly worsen the well-being of the baby.

Special types of fungi are considered to be the culprit - Candida... They can be present in small amounts in a healthy child. Under the influence of various provoking exogenous and endogenous factors, the amount of candida in the body increases many times over. The grown fungal colonies are able to settle on various mucous membranes. This is what causes numerous clinical variants of the disease with different localization.

The disease can occur in both girls and boys. According to statistics, cases of candidiasis are more often recorded in babies. This feature is due to the peculiarity of the structure and physiology of the female body. In early childhood, both boys and girls develop candidiasis equally often. To eliminate the adverse symptoms of the disease, special treatment is required.

Causes

Currently, there are a huge number of provoking factors leading to increased growth and reproduction of fungal flora. Each age has its own leading causes of the disease. The activation of the growth of fungi is possible in any physiological state, accompanied by a decrease in immunity.

The most common causes of the disease include:

Infection during childbirth. In this case, the infection of the child occurs at the moment when he passes through the birth canal. If the mother is sick with candidiasis, then the baby often has signs of this infection immediately after birth. In this situation, adverse symptoms of the disease can be found already in the baby.
Direct contact with the mother. This form of the disease usually occurs in the first days after the birth of a baby. If the mother has signs of an acute form of candidiasis, then she can infect the newborn baby with this disease. Premature babies are most susceptible to this type of infection.
Failure to comply with the rules of personal hygiene. You can get candidiasis by using someone else's towels. There are also confirmed cases of illness after bathing in a bathroom that has not been previously treated with disinfectant solutions. The risk of infection in young babies is higher than in older children.
Prematurity. Babies born prematurely often have lowered immune system performance. Any infection, including fungal infections, easily infects them and causes adverse symptoms.

Zdiseases or clinical conditions with impaired carbohydrate metabolism. Type 2 diabetes mellitus or alimentary obesity contributes to the development of thrush in babies. Glycemia or high blood glucose provokes active growth and rapid reproduction of the fungal flora. Chronic metabolic disorders often contribute to the development of childhood candidiasis.
Taking some medications for too long. These include: antibacterial agents, cytostatics and steroid hormones. When taken for a long time, the immune system is disrupted. Subsequently, this leads to the development in the child of signs of immune deficiency conditions, contributing to the appearance of thrush.
Frequent respiratory infections. Weakened babies have lower immunity. After severe and frequent colds, the child's body weakens sharply. In such children, as a rule, the growth of fungal flora increases, which leads to the appearance of signs of candidiasis.
Immunodeficiency states. They can be congenital and acquired as a result of various diseases. Insufficiently effective work of the immune system often contributes to the rapid growth of various opportunistic microorganisms, including Candida fungi. A prolonged decrease in immunity leads to the appearance of adverse symptoms of thrush in the child.
Chronic diseases of internal organs. Pathologies of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract often contribute to the appearance of a fungal infection in the body. Disturbed digestion provokes the rapid development of fungi in children. If the treatment of chronic diseases of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is not fully carried out or is not selected correctly, then this can cause the appearance of persistent thrush.

Kinds

Doctors identify several variants of the disease by localization:

In the oral cavity. By settling in the mouth, fungi cause many different types of damage. These include: cheilitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, glassitis. According to statistics, oral candidiasis is most often found in infants and schoolchildren. Newborn babies can become infected from the mother during breastfeeding.
In the throat. Quite a rare form of candidiasis. Often this clinical type of thrush is disguised as various childhood infections. To establish the correct diagnosis in this case, a differential diagnosis is required. This type of candidiasis usually interferes with breathing and can be quite severe.
On the face and in the eye area. This type of candidiasis occurs with the appearance of lacrimation, severe swelling of the eyelids. In some cases, a white, cloudy discharge, which contains a large number of fungi, flows out of the eyes. This form of candidiasis is dangerous by the appearance of complications - various visual impairments.

In the intestines... The provoking cause in this case is often dysbiosis or chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Long-term constipation contributes to the formation of anal candidiasis in the baby. A pediatric gastroenterologist is engaged in the treatment of such forms of thrush.
In the esophagus... Causes indigestion and heartburn. To detect esophageal candidiasis, it is necessary to conduct fibrogastroscopy with the collection of biological material for research. Such differential diagnosis is carried out in order to exclude various neoplasms in the esophagus.
In the brain. Quite a rare clinical form, however, very dangerous. The course of the disease is extremely difficult. In terms of symptoms, the disease resembles meningitis. To eliminate adverse symptoms, among which severe headache and persistent nausea, large doses of antifungal drugs are used.

Vaginal. It is the most common form. Localization - in the groin. In girls, with this form of candidiasis, cheesy vaginal discharge appears. At the same time, many acute forms of thrush can become chronic.
In the respiratory organs. The fungal flora contributes to the occurrence of candidal bronchitis. This disease causes the child to cough and breathe. The cough is most often dry, but phlegm may appear when bacterial flora is attached. In some cases, hoarseness or hoarseness of the voice appears, as well as the body temperature rises and intoxication increases.
On hands. Most often, a candidal infection affects the nails. They become brittle and dull, and break and crumble quite easily. On the upper surface of the nails, numerous transverse white grooves appear.

Candida fungi like to settle on various mucous membranes, less often on the skin. This selective feature is due to the peculiarity of their anatomical and physiological structure. This also determines the variety of different clinical variants of the disease.

Symptoms

Thrush occurs with numerous clinical manifestations. They are quite difficult to tolerate and bring severe discomfort to the baby. The severity of symptoms can be different and depends on the initial state of the child before the illness.

The presence of a large number of chronic diseases in a baby or a pronounced immune deficiency noticeably worsen the course of the disease and contribute to its transition to a chronic form.

The most common symptoms include:

The appearance of a white curdled bloom. It can cover the damaged areas in small amount or significantly. When touching plaque, it begins to crumble and break. When trying to remove it, eroded areas remain on the mucous membranes, which can bleed. The color of the plaque is often white or with a grayish tint.
Puffiness... When fungi multiply, they cause severe inflammation. The inflammatory process provokes the appearance of tissue edema. The inflamed mucous membranes become dense, bright red. Swelling of the tongue makes it painful when swallowing and also contributes to a decrease in appetite.
Sucking disorder... Oral candidiasis causes feeding problems in infants. They have difficulty sucking breast milk. During feeding, the child becomes moody, crying. Severe soreness in the oral cavity, as well as a burning sensation, lead to the fact that the baby is less and less attached to the mother's breast.

Cracks in the corners of the mouth. They are found with candidal cheilitis. This symptom can also be noticed at home. Deep grooves appear in the outer corners of the child's mouth. They can be injured and bleed while eating.
Lachrymation and soreness of the eyelids. This symptom is characteristic of candidal conjunctivitis. Usually the process is two-way. The duration of the disease in this case varies. On average, it is about 2-3 weeks.
Itching and burning on the genitals. Occur with candidiasis of the intimate zone. They bring the child severe discomfort and worsen his health.

Frequent urination. It occurs with vaginal candidiasis, as well as with a fungal infection of the urinary tract. In this case, the portions of urine do not change, as well as the total amount per day. Only the frequency and number of urges to urinate increases.
Nausea and vomiting. Occur with candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract. To establish a diagnosis in this case is a very difficult task. Nausea can be persistent and difficult to treat with conventional medicines.
Changes in the skin and nails. May resemble dermatitis in appearance. In young babies, it usually first appears in the area of skin folds. In appearance, it may resemble small swollen bumps with cloudy contents inside.
Violation of general well-being. Severe forms of candidiasis are accompanied by an increase in body temperature and an increase in intoxication symptoms. Thrush is rather severe in babies of the first year of life. The severity of the condition affects the child's behavior. He becomes more lethargic and capricious, daytime sleepiness and some passivity increase, nervousness increases.

Diagnostics

Any mother can suspect the first signs of candidiasis. They are usually quite pronounced and very specific. However, if clinical signs of candidiasis are found, it is imperative to show the baby to the doctor. The doctor will conduct a clinical examination, and in some cases also additional studies for differential diagnosis.

This is necessary in order to exclude all diseases under which candidiasis can be disguised.

Usually, for candidal infection, they are prescribed:

General blood analysis. Gives a descriptive picture of the presence of infection in a child's body. It also helps to establish the severity of functional disorders. This method is indicative and does not form the basis for the diagnosis.
PCR. This method allows you to accurately detect the presence of a fungus in various biological materials. For this test, a preliminary plaque collection is required.
Microscopy. A high-resolution microscope can detect fungus in any environment. In some cases, for a more accurate result, doctors use preliminary staining of the material. This helps to identify the fungus even in difficult diagnostic cases.
Serology. With the help of RSC and agglutination reaction, it is possible to detect candidal fungi in urine, blood, discharge from the eyes, vaginal plaque and other secretions. In some cases, this method is used to identify visceral forms of candidiasis or after a spinal tap.

Treatment

Candida infection should be treated as quickly as possible, immediately after the diagnosis is made. Delayed therapy can contribute to the progression of the disease and its transition to a chronic form. For treatment, various drugs are used that have a detrimental effect on the fungus, as well as improve immunity. To eliminate the symptoms of candidal infection in babies, various antifungal drugs are used. They can be systemic and local.

The choice of the remedy, its dosage and frequency of treatment are chosen by the attending physician based on the initial severity of the child's condition and the presence of concomitant diseases of internal organs.

Local treatment is carried out with various ointments that have a destructive effect on candidal fungi. These include: clotrimazole, pimafucin (natamycin), isoconazole (travogen), ketoconazole, triderm (effective for the treatment of foot candidiasis) and others. It usually takes about two weeks to eliminate the adverse symptoms of the disease. Longer use of medicinal ointments is discussed with the attending physician. If the disease proceeds in a more protracted form, then the appointment of antifungal drugs with a systemic effect is already required. To enhance the therapeutic effect, fluconazole is added to local therapy.

It can be in various forms of release: suspensions and capsules, as well as tablets. Usually a dose of 6-8 mg / kg is used per day. The duration of treatment is set depending on the severity of the disease.

Common forms of skin candidiasis are treated with fluconazole at a dosage of 8-10 mg / kg per day. Usually, the entire dose of the drug is taken once during the day. Therapy for skin candidiasis also includes the appointment of topical forms of antifungal drugs. The average duration of treatment is usually 14-21 days.

For the treatment of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity that are inflamed and damaged by candidal infection, you can use hexoral or 2% sodium digluconate solution. Plots should be processed 3-4 times a day. If the process is mild, then such a local treatment is sufficient. When the disease recurs, it is already required the appointment of fluconazole (diflucan, mycosyst, medoflucon) inside.

In a hospital setting, newborn babies can be treated with treatment regimens that include therapeutic dosages of nystatin.

With genital candidiasis, you can use antifungal ointments. Suitable for this 1% clotrimazole and 1% travogen. The duration of drug administration depends on the severity of the disease and the severity of clinical symptoms. With the ineffectiveness of local treatment, as well as with a worsening of the condition, the appointment of systemic antifungal agents is required. Visceral candidiasis is a difficult task to treat. Usually, complex therapy is required to eliminate adverse symptoms. With candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment regimens are used that include the combined administration of fluconazole and nystatin at the same time. Fluconazole is prescribed in a dosage of 9-10 mg / kg of body weight, and nystatin 70,000-100,000 U / day up to 3-4 times a day.

The duration of drug use depends on the clinical form of candidiasis, as well as its localization. On average, 1.5-2 weeks are enough to eliminate adverse symptoms. However, in some cases, longer medication is required. Treatment should be selected correctly to prevent possible recurrence of the disease in the future. During the course of therapy, the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment must be monitored. Also, doctors may prescribe general blood tests to the baby. These tests are necessary to establish adverse adverse reactions from the child's body with prolonged use of antifungal drugs.

At the end of the course of the treatment carried out, a complete laboratory control is required to determine the residual presence of fungi.

In the treatment of fungal infections, great attention should be paid to the nutrition of the baby. For the entire acute period of the disease, the child is prescribed a special diet. It completely eliminates any sweet foods, as this promotes the growth of fungal flora. Also, all pickled and canned foods, spicy or spicy foods are removed from the diet. Meals should be fractional, at least 4-5 times a day.

For cooking, it is better to use a multicooker or a double boiler, braising and steaming are allowed.

Prevention

Preventive measures play an important role in preventing candidiasis in babies. Regular adherence to simple rules will help keep the child's body healthy and protect against thrush. It is important to remember that they must be observed every day. Any violation can lead to the appearance of adverse symptoms of candidiasis.

In order not to get sick with thrush, you should:

Strengthen immunity. This is facilitated by proper nutrition, healthy sleep, as well as optimally selected physical activity. Severe stress significantly weakens the immune system. Excessive psycho-emotional stress is best eliminated. Regular hardening also improves immunity performance.
Favorable indoor climate. Many doctors believe that excessive dryness in the nursery, as well as the wrong temperature, can lead to the development of candidiasis. Try to keep an eye on the humidity in the room to keep your baby in good health. Special devices that humidify the air will help with this.
Take walks in the fresh air. It has been scientifically proven that oxygen has a destructive effect on various microorganisms. Walking outside regularly will help your immune system function better and improve your baby's stamina.
Observe the rules of personal hygiene. Regular hand washing, cleaning your nipples before and after breastfeeding, and using personal towels and washcloths are simple ways to prevent contact infection with candidiasis. All family members should follow the rules of personal hygiene. Kids should be taught this from the earliest years of life.

For information on how to treat oral candidiasis in children, see the next video.