CHLORHEXIDINE TREATMENT OF ORAL CANDIDIASIS IN SERIOUSLY DISEASED CHILDREN

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Abstract
Langslet, A., Olsen, I., Lie, S. O. and Lekken, P. (Department of Paediatrics, Rikshospitalet, and the Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway). Chlorhexidine treatment of oral candidiasis in seriously diseased children. Acta Paediatr Scand,63: 809, 1974.—Chlorhexidine, a broad‐spectrum antibacterial substance with antifungal activity, was tested in 8 children with acute oral pseudomembranous candidiasis (thrush) and in one child with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Five of the patients suffered from acute leukemia. The drug was administered in a 0.2% solution, either as mouth rinses of painted on the lesions, for 6–17 days for those having the acute form and for 90 days in the case with chronic candidiasis. All patients with thrush were clinically cured, and in the 6 cases where mycological examination of oral swabs was undertaken before and after therapy, the cultures became negative. Like a number of antimycotics, chlorhexidine failed to cure the oral lesions in the patient with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. No adverse reactions attributable to the drug were observed. The results obtained in this limited number of patients are promising, and in oral fungal infections chlorhexidine deserves further attention as an alternative to drugs like gentian violet, nystatin or amphoterian B. It is suggested that prophylactic use of chlorhexidine may be justified to obtain and maintain the best possible oral health in seriously diseased patients.

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