Recurring yeast infections in my toddler!!

[Megrra]

My daughter is going to be 2 in March and she has been suffering from yeast infections that never go away for almost her entire life. Started out when she was a baby as thrush that lasted almost a month and a half then everything went away for a few months then thrush came back and didn't go away for another couple months. Then we really didn't see anything again for about 6 months when it started in her private area. Got her home from the daycare one evening and was changing her diaper and I noticed blood on her wipe, her father and I freaked out and immediately called the hospital and spoke with her on call doctor who told us to bring her to the ER right away. We feared for the worst (sexually abused at daycare). Turns out it was a yeast infection. This infection has remained pretty much intact since (she was about 8 or 9 months old). we were given a cream and sent home. The cream did not work and it quickly worsened. it turned into a sunburn looking rash that was extermely painful for her and even looked like she was loosing layers of skin and constantly bloody diapers. I took her to the ER over and over scared because she would wake up with diapers that were soaked in blood and I was freaked out. The ER and her pediatrician kept giving me the same thing over and over nystatin cream and nystatin oral and just kept telling me that the yeast infections were a result of her moderately severe eczema. IT WAS NOT WORKING. She suffered with the sunburn rash and bloody diapers for about 4 to 5  months until I took her to a dermatologist who was able to get it calmed down and it even disappeared for about 1 week. The it came back as a red spotted rash on her private that flares up and moves up her stomach and down her legs and the spots often turn to large abscesses that are very hard, red, and very painful. We changed pediatricians convinced that the one we had was NOT helping and found a much more helpful one who in very concerned but baffled at why this infection will not go away. We had a follow up appointment today for a abscess that appeared on her inner thigh, he gave us a antibiotic and it helped that one but as soon as she came off the antibiotic 3 more appeared on her bottom and outer thigh. Our doctor is baffled and is sending us back to the dermatologist. She has been on numerous antibiotics and creams (prescription and over the counter), we have also tried yogurt with live yeast in it (I have tried that by giving it to her to eat and by rubbing it on the affected area). I don't know what to do, we need help...does anyone have any information that could help us?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

If the diagnosis is confirmed to be eczema then a relation to the diet can be thought of. Fungal infections do not have any relationship in particular with change in diet. Eczema is a form of chronic dermatitis (rash).Allergic reaction is one of the important causes of eczema. Allergic reaction can occur to strong soaps, Solvents, chemicals, certain foods, food additives, plants, metals, cosmetics, even urine and faeces of some animals (dust mites).
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[Megrra]

Thank you for input. I am hoping to get into the dermatologist soon. I will talk to her about the biopsy. I know that about a year ago they did do a scrap and it was fungal. But since then the abscesses are really getting worse and becoming more of a problem then the yeast infection which never goes away but is more controlled then it was. We will try the cloth diapers, and the airing out after bath and potties. I have gotten some information from other sources about diet as well do you think that changing her diet could also help?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms initially as it was a red skin rash, so it most likely is due to eczema. Yeast infection presents with red rash which is very itchy. Another possibility can be diaper rash which can occur due to contact dermatitis to the material of the diaper and urinating and sweating makes it worse. Use cotton diapers for some days and expose her to the air for some time after urinating and washing. Now since she is getting painful sores, so it looks like infected hair follicles and again not yeast infection. My sincere advice would be to consult a dermatologist and get a biopsy skin and KOH examination and fungal culture of the skin scrapings done before trying out any medicine. Biopsy will help us in confirming the diagnosis and specific treatment can be prescribed rather than hit and trial of various medicines in such a young child.

I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.