Babies Thrush
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Babies Thrush is caused by Candida Albicans yeast
Yeast is a normal part of everyone's digestive system, but when there's an overgrowth, an infection sets in. Medical researchers believe that babies acquire the fungus from their mothers as they pass through the birth canal, particularly if the mother has an active thrush infection in the mouth.
Yeast likes moist, dark areas, so an infant’s mouth is an ideal place for thrush to take up residence. Children are just as susceptible to getting a yeast infection as adults are. Babies Thrush is generally not spread to others under normal conditions.
What causes Babies Thrush?
Babies Thrush is caused by Candida Albicans yeast in the mouth, throat and tongue of babies. Babies thrush appears most often in the form of skin ailments and in kids is directly related to their more fragile immune system. Babies thrush is particularly troublesome as it can be passed from baby to mother and back again.
Babies Thrush Symptoms
Some of the most common babies thrush symptoms are shown below:
Baths can work as a way to prevent yeast infections, and they can also be soothing for a person when they have an infection; however some people feel that a bath, although initially soothing, seems to make the infection worse. Babies with oral thrush may also develop a diaper rash caused by the same organism. Babies and toddlers get oral thrush.
Treating Thrush
Treatment for oral thrush in breastfed babies should include treatment of the mother's nipples. Treating thrush depends on whether the infection is causing a problem for the baby. Treatment with antifungal medication is needed to keep the infection from persisting or spreading. Treating babies thrush consists of a three to four day course of topical antifungal cream wiped onto the affected areas three to four times a day and left for at least half an hour prior to feeding. Treatment with anti-fungal medication needs to continue for one to two weeks once the symptoms have cleared.
Health
Health experts recommend infants be breast fed for at least a year, and receive breast milk alone until they reach six months.
Thrush symptoms are quite common in babies and toddlers who are otherwise healthy and for whom it is usually not a serious problem. However, if the immune system is weakened or the normal environment of the mouth changes (if the healthy bacteria are killed, for example, or if too little saliva is produced or the acidity of the mouth changes) then Candida yeasts may grow and cause symptoms. This balance of friendly to unfriendly bacteria in the intestinal tract is so important that having the correct balance is synonymous with good physical health.
If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
About the Author:
Scott Whiskeye is a semi-retired programmer, now working from home as a website developer. He lives in Scotland with his wife who also writes articles. Scott’s websites include Help for all you WeigtWatchers, Scotch Whisky and Mortgages & Real Estate.
Yeast likes moist, dark areas, so an infant’s mouth is an ideal place for thrush to take up residence. Children are just as susceptible to getting a yeast infection as adults are. Babies Thrush is generally not spread to others under normal conditions.
What causes Babies Thrush?
Babies Thrush is caused by Candida Albicans yeast in the mouth, throat and tongue of babies. Babies thrush appears most often in the form of skin ailments and in kids is directly related to their more fragile immune system. Babies thrush is particularly troublesome as it can be passed from baby to mother and back again.
Babies Thrush Symptoms
Some of the most common babies thrush symptoms are shown below:
- Babies often have oral thrush symptoms, and when they're nursing, they're likely to infect the mother's nipples.
- Babies thrush symptoms are often white patches in the mouth that look like cottage cheese or milk curds.
- Babies thrush may also manifest itself as diaper rash that might look like a burn and it can look like a rash of tiny red spots or it can form larger red patches with clear edges.
- Babies thrush rarely appears on the baby's buttocks although severe diaper rash, rectal rashes or infections, rashes in the genital area, and colic are the most common symptoms in babies.
- General skin rashes, infections of the ear, nose, and throat, gas, diarrhoea or constipation.
Baths can work as a way to prevent yeast infections, and they can also be soothing for a person when they have an infection; however some people feel that a bath, although initially soothing, seems to make the infection worse. Babies with oral thrush may also develop a diaper rash caused by the same organism. Babies and toddlers get oral thrush.
Treating Thrush
Treatment for oral thrush in breastfed babies should include treatment of the mother's nipples. Treating thrush depends on whether the infection is causing a problem for the baby. Treatment with antifungal medication is needed to keep the infection from persisting or spreading. Treating babies thrush consists of a three to four day course of topical antifungal cream wiped onto the affected areas three to four times a day and left for at least half an hour prior to feeding. Treatment with anti-fungal medication needs to continue for one to two weeks once the symptoms have cleared.
Health
Health experts recommend infants be breast fed for at least a year, and receive breast milk alone until they reach six months.
Thrush symptoms are quite common in babies and toddlers who are otherwise healthy and for whom it is usually not a serious problem. However, if the immune system is weakened or the normal environment of the mouth changes (if the healthy bacteria are killed, for example, or if too little saliva is produced or the acidity of the mouth changes) then Candida yeasts may grow and cause symptoms. This balance of friendly to unfriendly bacteria in the intestinal tract is so important that having the correct balance is synonymous with good physical health.
If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
About the Author:
Scott Whiskeye is a semi-retired programmer, now working from home as a website developer. He lives in Scotland with his wife who also writes articles. Scott’s websites include Help for all you WeigtWatchers, Scotch Whisky and Mortgages & Real Estate.
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