Yeast infection in a toddler?

amynicole21 wrote: Sophia has been itching "down there" a lot in the last few weeks. I don't see any redness or anything out of the ordinary there, though. I kept yelling at her to stop the other night, but she couldn't. She doesn't seem to be in obvious pain or constantly itching... it happens about 6 or 7 times a day though. Could it be a bacterial or yeast infection? I've never had one (knock on wood!) so I don't know if these are the symptoms. Can she use the "femine itching" over the counter products?

kit_kats_mom replied: Hmmm, is she overly agressive with the toilet paper? Sometimes that can irritate enough to cause itching. Does it seem to be internal itching or external? I would expect a yeast infection to have that same odor and discharge, even in a toddler.

I'd take her to the ped just to check. Could be irritating soaps, wiping, an "imbalance", yeast or it could be (now this is gross...prepare yourself) threadworms or pinworms. They live in the rectum and there can be thousands of them. They are tiny white worms that look like white threads. If one made it's way into her vagina, I'd suspect that it could itch like mad.

See, this is why I've stopped reading my childhood illnesses books. Who in the world needs to know this and why on earth do I remember it?

CantWait replied: ITA, it's quite possible. Yeast Infections can be caused from staying in a bathing suit, or other wet clothing for to long, being to hot or warm down there, soaps, or for no reason inpaticular. Hope you find the answers you're looking for.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I am not sure of the answer... but I would take her to a walk-in clinic if you could this wk/end or make an appt first thing Mon morning. Whatever it is hopefully, she will be able to get it resolved soon. I also think that with yeast infections, yogurt helps lower the actual yeast, and maybe antibiotics would help. In either case, I would ask her pedi, or call one of those nurse help lines that are usually 24hrs. Your insurance may provide a help line #, or look in the phone book for one.

's hope she gets better soon!

MomToJade&Jordan replied: A UTI can also cause some itching. I have had one before and it can be irritating. I would take her to the doc just in case.

mummy2girls replied: yes toddlers can get them. jennas cousin skylar gets them and she is 2. she is itchy alot and some redness as well. You should avoid bubble baths when she is that way because it can worsen. i would take her in just to get checked

jcc64 replied: I was going to add that you should avoid bubble baths and soaps- I used to get irritated from them as a small child. I suppose it's possible for a toddler to get a yeast infection- but you would notice the typical discharge, and I think she'd be itching ALOT more than 6 or 7 times a day. I think I'd check with the dr before using any OTC stuff on her.

jdkjd replied: We were advised by the ped to use Lotrimin on Kiera when she had a yeast diaper rash, so when Bailey was a little red and itchy on her girly parts-I used the Lotrimin cream and it cleared up. I was told that you can use the OTC yeast creams when ever there is a yeast issue.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Are you sure she's itchy and not just exploring? Emilie's a precocious little lass.... we really have to watch her, cuz she tends to explore herself everywhere from the privacy of her bedroom to a grocery cart in a store. I used to think it was an infection... but nope.

amynicole21 replied:
I considered that, but when she does it, it seems urgent. She also cannot stop when told to. Some days I don't see her itching at all, others it happens more frequently. So odd.

fashionmumofboys replied: I would take her to the Ped, just to get her checked out before things can start to progress badly down there.

Poor little thing.

Goodluck.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I was going to say the same thing Jeanne said. I remember being told I was allergic to bubble bath as a kid because of an infection or itch down there. And my mom rubbed some type of oitment down there. I was really young and probably only remember because the oitment was pretty icky. Ask the doc. Hope it goes away fast!