Candidiasis (thrush) is a disease caused by a fungus of the genus Candida (lat. Cangida albicans).
Normally, the fungus exists in some quantity on all the mucous membranes of the human body, without harming it. But subject to the occurrence of any adverse factors (decreased immunity, lack of vitamins and the like), the fungus begins active growth, causing a number of unpleasant symptoms.
Under a particularly severe blow, the mucous membranes of the reproductive system, as well as the oral cavity, fall. A person begins to feel itching, burning. A characteristic white coating of a thick consistency appears, resembling cottage cheese outwardly.
In the absence of timely treatment, the disease can lead to a number of complications. To avoid this, it is necessary to choose the most effective tool.
The second name for sodium tetraborate is borax in glycerol. That is how it is commonly called by the people. It has long been known for its pronounced antifungal effect, due to which it has found wide application in the treatment of many diseases caused by a fungus of the genus Candida.
Consider this tool and all the nuances of treating thrush with sodium tetraborate in more detail.
The composition and properties of the drug
The medicine consists of 20% sodium tetraborate. The remaining 80% is glycerol base. Thus, the drug is a solution of sodium tetraborate in glycerol. With thrush, this composition was quite effective.
Borax is obtained by the reaction of sodium and boric acid.
The physical properties of the substance are that it is very soluble in glycerol. In addition, the basis of the drug is a wonderful moisturizer of the skin and mucous membranes, which ensures the rapid penetration of the drug component into the affected areas, as well as a pleasant and safe application of the drug.
Due to the presence of glycerin, the drug is quite thick in consistency, which makes it convenient for external use.
Appearance
The drug is successfully used to treat thrush. Sodium tetraborate is a thick, transparent mass resembling jelly. The product has no color and odor, has a sweet taste.
Release form
Available as a solution for external use, packaged in 30 grams in dark glass bottles. You should definitely buy a product in a pharmacy if you are looking for an effective drug that will help get rid of thrush. Sodium tetraborate is dispensed without a doctor's prescription.
Therapeutic action
Despite the fact that the medicine treats the fungus, it does not apply to antifungal. It's all about the mechanism of action. True anti-candidiasis drugs have a direct effect on stopping the growth of the fungus and its complete destruction. How does the remedy help from thrush? Sodium tetraborate creates sharply unfavorable conditions for fungi of the genus Candida, thereby destroying them.
In addition, the drug eliminates the mycelium, and the fungus cannot join the walls of the mucous membranes.
In addition, the medicine has antiseptic and antimicrobial effects.
Indications for use
Instructions for the use of sodium tetraborate in thrush states that, due to its pronounced therapeutic effect, the drug has a fairly wide scope.
For example, it is actively used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, such as colpitis, thrush. In dermatology, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of pressure sores, diaper rash, pyoderma of staphylococcal origin. In otorhinolaryngology - for the treatment of stomatitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, as well as periodontal disease.
Contraindications
Sodium tetraborate is a chemical substance, although not very aggressive, but there are a number of contraindications in which its use is unacceptable:
- Hypersensitivity to the skin.
- Wounds, abrasions, cuts on the area of the skin where you want to apply the substance.
- With extensive skin lesions, as well as a pronounced degree of damage, it is also better to refuse to use the drug.
- It can not be used to treat diaper rash formed from wearing a diaper in a small child. The skin of the baby is too tender for such a remedy.
Precautionary measures
When working with a tool, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules:
- Do not use the drug inside and swallow it.
- Prolonged use of the substance is not permissible. The course should be no more than one week.
- During pregnancy and during breastfeeding, it is better to abandon the use of this tool and choose a safer one.
- However, when prescribed by a doctor, the drug can be used for young children in the treatment of stomatitis and thrush in the mouth.
Side effects
Since the solution is used topically, the list of undesirable side reactions that it can cause is not very wide.
The instructions for use of sodium tetraborate for thrush include the following information:
- In rare cases, it may cause irritation, tingling or itching, as well as edema at the site of application.
- These symptoms most often occur in people prone to allergies, with sensitive, delicate skin.
- If such unpleasant signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor for advice. Most often, in such cases, the specialist cancels the use of sodium tetraborate and prescribes another drug with a similar therapeutic effect.
Dosage and administration
It should be noted that sodium tetraborate cannot be the main or only treatment for fungal disease. It should only act as an auxiliary component in the fight against thrush. The main treatment should be prescribed by a doctor without fail.
With how to use sodium tetraborate for thrush, you can find in the instructions for use of the drug.
The drug can be used to lubricate the skin, as well as rinse and douching of the mucous membranes. As a rule, you need to do this three times a day at regular intervals.
Instructions for use for use in young children, as a rule, should be agreed with the pediatrician. The standard treatment regimen for sodium tetraborate in thrush in infants involves two to three times the application of sodium tetraborate solution on the tongue, gums, palate and the inner wall of the cheeks two to three times a day.
The drug should be used to lubricate the skin, douching, rinsing, depending on the diagnosis, two to three times a day.
The instruction for sodium tetraborate (with thrush) for treating children is based primarily on the recommendations of the attending pediatrician. As a rule, for newborns with stomatitis, the mucous membrane is treated with a cotton swab dipped in a solution. The procedure is carried out three times a day, the treatment lasts four to six days.
If drug therapy of genital candidiasis is required, then treatment (for men) and douching (for women) of the external genital organs with clean water or a decoction of herbs (chamomile, for example) should be performed first. After that, a cotton swab should be moistened with a solution of sodium tetraborate and inserted into the vagina for half an hour (women) or treat it with the head of the penis (men). This procedure is necessary once or twice a day.
It is worth noting that for the onset of full recovery, simultaneous treatment of both sexual partners is necessary. Only in this way the couple will have every chance to defeat an unpleasant ailment.
The duration of the course should be at least one week. If the unpleasant symptoms have disappeared earlier, treatment should not be interrupted anyway.
In the treatment of ENT diseases, there is also a treatment regimen. For example, with tonsillitis, tonsils must be lubricated five times a day for a week.
Often, a weak solution of sodium tetraborate is used to treat a sore throat. It is easy to prepare: one teaspoon of the substance in a glass of water.
Rules for the use of sodium tetraborate in the treatment of thrush in infants
The following instructions must be followed:
- First you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and wipe them dry.
- Wrap a bandage or gauze on the index finger.
- Apply a little medicine.
- Carefully process the tongue, cheeks, palate and gums. In this case, such movements should be made so that the plaque leaves the tongue. But so that the mucous membrane remains intact.
- This procedure should be carried out 3-4 times a day.
Overdose
It should be remembered that the drug is strictly forbidden to be taken orally. The lethal dose for an adult is 20 grams of powder.
Symptoms of an overdose:
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Digestive disorder in the form of diarrhea.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Headache.
- dizziness.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Dehydration.
- Cardiovascular failure.
In case of an overdose, it is urgent to rinse the stomach, and if there are signs of severe intoxication, hemodialysis should be performed (a method of blood purification using a special installation).
In addition, with signs of an overdose, a solution of riboflavin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and glucose, as well as plasma-substituting substances, should be used.
If the patient complains of abdominal pain, he should undergo therapy with platifillin and atropine, glucose and novocaine.
Pharmacy Vacation Terms
The drug belongs to over-the-counter products, therefore it is freely available to the buyer on pharmacy shelves. When selling it, the pharmaceutical worker will not ask for a doctor's prescription.
Terms and conditions of storage
The drug should be stored in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight, away from small children. The air temperature in the room should not exceed 25 degrees.
The sodium tetraborate solution is suitable for use within two years from the date of manufacture.
Drug cost
One bottle that contains 30 grams of the drug will cost the buyer 20-50 rubles. It should be noted that the exact price depends on the region, city and specific pharmacy organization.
Sodium tetraborate for thrush. Reviews
If we study the patient reviews about the use of this drug in detail, we can conclude that in most cases they are positive. Many women claim that with the help of sodium tetraborate they managed to easily get rid of thrush. The main thing to remember is the regularity and correctness of the reception.
In the treatment of infections of the oral cavity and nasopharynx in adults, sodium tetraborate is also praised.
But in the pediatric field, in the treatment of stomatitis in young children, the reviews are very controversial. Many parents refuse to use sodium tetraborate, preferring to it more modern means, considering the composition of the drug to be completely unsafe. And it is quite justified. Nevertheless, many pediatricians prescribe this remedy for the purpose of treating infants thrush, believing that, subject to the rules of application and dosage, there will be no harm. One of the main advantages of sodium tetraborate is its low cost, as well as the rapid onset of therapeutic effect.
Many argue that the improvement in well-being occurs already after the first day after the start of treatment. Women noted a marked decrease in itching and irritation almost twice from the very beginning of therapy.
Conclusion
The article considered a good and inexpensive drug for thrush. Sodium tetraborate is an effective remedy proven by more than one generation for a fungal infection on the skin and mucous membranes. The medicine is acceptable for use in people of any gender and age.
For example, sodium tetraborate is actively used for thrush in women and men, effectively eliminating a delicate problem. The main thing is to follow the rules of use and dosage.
The use of sodium tetraborate in thrush really guarantees relief and well-being with regular and reasonable use.