Thrush and your baby
IT’S a very common condition in infants, one that will cause parents endless sleepless nights, as they try to figure out how to soothe their ailing baby.
Characterised by creamy, white, cottage cheese-like coating on the tongue and inner cheeks, oral thrush is also very painful and will have your baby out of commission for at least a week.
And though the condition is rarely serious, oral thush can interfere with eating and so the child’s diet has to be monitored.
“It is caused by the fungus candida,” paediatrician Joseph Anedu at Kidz Klinik said. This is the same fungus associated with vaginal yeast infections or other candida infections.
According to kidshealth.org, most infants naturally have the yeast candida albican in their mouths, and because their immune systems are not yet mature, the amount of yeast in the mouth can overgrow and lead to an infection. (Adults and older kids who have weakened immune systems because of an illness or something like chemotherapy also can get oral thrush.)
“Oral thrush usually occurs within the first six months of life, and a baby with the infection will develop cracked skin in the corners of the mouth, and whitish or yellowish patches on the lips, tongue, or inside the cheeks,” the site says. When rubbed, the area is painful and may sometimes bleed.
Thrush may also be caused by conditions that upset the balance of normal microorganisms in the mouth. This is most commonly associated with use of antibiotics such as Augmentin.
Other symptoms associated with thrush are:
1. Pain;
2. Slightly raised area where thrush is;
3. Dry mouth.
The infection is usually controlled with treatment, but it may recur. Thrush may spread to the palate, tongue, cheeks, or throat.
“The only effective treatment for oral thrush is anti-fungal gels,” Dr Anedu said. This is a prescription drug.
“Since thrush is caused by a fungus, you have to treat the fungus itself to be rid of it. Vaseline and other things that people use just won’t work,” he added.
And according to kidshealth.org, there’s not much that you can do to prevent your infant from getting oral thrush. “Most cases go away without medical treatment within a week or two, but your child’s doctor may prescribe an antifungal solution for the baby to swallow. And depending on your baby’s age, the doctor may also suggest adding yogurt with lactobacilli to your child’s diet. The lactobacilli are bacteria that can help eliminate the yeast in your child’s mouth.”
At home kidshealth.org prevention and care tips include:
1. If you are formula-feeding your baby or using a pacifier, it’s important to thoroughly clean the nipples and pacifiers in hot water after each use. That way, if there’s yeast on the bottle nipple or pacifier, your baby doesn’t continue to get reinfected.
2. If you are breastfeeding and your nipples are red and sore, there’s a chance you may have a yeast infection on your nipples, and that you and the baby are passing it back and forth. If so, you may want to talk to the doctor about using an antifungal ointment on your nipples while the baby is being treated with the antifungal solution.
3. If your child keeps getting oral thrush, or is older than nine months and is getting oral thrush, talk with your child’s doctor because this might be an indication of another health issue.
4. Oral thrush can interfere with eating because of the discomfort food in the mouth may cause, and so the child’s diet has to be closely monitored and a lot of liquid (such as formula and soy drink) given. Lack of monitoring can lead to dehydration.
-DHW
