M.B.
Could it be hand, foot, and mouth disease?
My 2 year old has been complaining of her "teeth" hurting, upon closer inspection it's really her gums and the roof of her mouth... She's been with her Meme (my mom) for the last few days and it just started up. Her gums are white and swollen on the top row of teeth and the roof of her mouth is too.. she can't even suck on her pacifier or drink her milk from her sippie cup straw. I'm going to try to call the doctors office but I have an inkling they are closed today and we don't yet have a pediatric dentist in the area... I might just break down and take her to the ER, I feel so bad! Her appetite the last day or so has been impacted and she looks like she's in pain, can the ER even do anything about it?? And I can't imagine it being anything other than thrush, what do you ladies think? No recent antibiotics or anything so I'm not sure where in the heck it came from!
Could it be hand, foot, and mouth disease?
I agree that this is probably thrush. Call your doctor. He or a partner will have an answering service who will refer you to help. I've had thrush. It is painful. She needs to be treated now.
This is not serious enough for the ER. Call your doctor for advice.
Thrush is caused by yeast overgrowth. We all have yeast in our system. We don't know why it gets out of control sometimes.
if the roof of her mouth and her gumline are white, she is in pain and her appetite is affected i'd say yes it is thrush! you do not need a dentist she just needs the doc. If her pedi isn't open today, I'd check to see if there is an urgent care open or you could go to one of those Minute Clinic's they have at Walgreens. They will prescribe her some meds. If I remember correctly from when my oldest had it I think it is just a liquid and when you give it to her you try to use the med syringe to squirt it on the thrush and then she will swallow it. It sucks, my oldest had it about 3 times before he was 18 months.
First throw away the pacifiers and get new ones or boil in hot water to remove any bacteria/germs. Buy some yogurt with acidophillus (good bacteria) - Yogurt has been known to help with thrush if that is what it is. I've also used some glycerin on the affected area - apply it with cotton swab. Hope that helps. At least these are safe until you can find a ped or figure out what it is
Thrush is a white coating on the tongue. What you're describing sounds more like poor oral hygiene or strep throat. Throw the paci's and bottles away, make sure she's brushing her teeth at least 2x/day, and if it persists, take her to the doctor.
She needs nystatin. It is a swish and swallow medication. Only a doctor can prescribe it. Once she starts it her symptoms should start to abate. It is pretty painful, so I wouldn't wait too long,
Have her eat yogurt with active cultures. I suggest Activia or Yoplait.