Alimentary Candida albicans and napkin rashes
Dixon, P.N.; Warin, R.P.; English, M.P.
British Journal of Dermatology 86(5): 458-462
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0963 PMID: 4556951 Document Number: 54877
Specimens of faeces from 217 children with napkin rashes aged less than 3 months were examined for C. albicans. The 85 culturally positive infants were isolated and divided into 2 groups. The children of 1 group were treated with oral and local nystatin and those of the other were given an oral placebo and local nystatin. Further specimens of faeces were examined 2 weeks and 2 months after starting treatment. In both groups the majority of eruptions cleared and did not relapse. There was a tendency for more of the eruptions of those in the treatment group to clear without subsequent relapse, but when clearing occurred in the control group it tended to do so more quickly. C. albicans had disappeared from the faeces after 2 weeks from a few more infants in the treatment group (21) than in the control group (14). It is suggested that host factors determine whether or not infection by C. albicans is transitory or followed by a period of commensalism.