Nystatin is an antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections of the mouth and throat, commonly known as oral thrush. Nystatin is an effective topical medication applied to the mouth, where it works by destroying the fungal cell walls, killing the fungi causing the infection. It is commonly used in infants who suffer from oral thrush due to breastfeeding or weakened immune systems, as well as in adults with weakened immune systems or those who take antibiotics or corticosteroids for a long time, which disrupts the body's natural fungal balance.
Nystatin is also used to prevent and treat fungal infections in diabetics and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.