Thrush in Infants – Symptoms & Treatment

Thrush is a fungal infection that generally affects areas like the mouth and genitals. It is caused by an overgrowth of Candida Albicans, yeast that lives in or on many parts of the body and mostly responsible for vaginal infections and diaper rashes. Commonly, this infection affects newborns and younger children, resulting in irritation inside and around the baby’s mouth. The classic symptom of thrush is white sores inside the mouth or on the lips which resemble curdled milk or cottage cheese and you can easily notice it as a spot of milk on baby’s tongue. Oral thrust in children is called oropharyngeal candidiasis and more simply thrush. In infants, oral thrust is generally not a serious condition in itself but it can be uncomfortable and lead to complexities with eating or infant feeding if it does not treated.

Usually, oral thrush affects children who are less than 6 months of age and it also affect older adults as well. It can also indicate more serious condition, such as HIV/AIDS or diabetes. Thrush can arise particularly after a course of antibiotics in infants. Usually, oral thrush affects only the ill, particularly those who have weakened immune system. Though it can affect anyone, it occurs most frequently in babies and toddlers, older adults, and people having weakened immune systems. It infects newborn babies up to three to four weeks old. As the growth occurs, baby will no longer be susceptible to thrush.

Causes of Thrush in Infants:

If rubber nipples are handled carelessly, a baby’s mouth is more prone to become infected with thrush. However, it also takes place in infants that are very well taken care of. When bacteria called candida overgrows, thrush develops and becomes a detriment to the body. Normally, candida is helpful and useful yeast found in the intestines and can overgrow in the infant system as babies’ immune systems have not developed sufficient to control the yeast overgrowth.

Women who take antibiotics during the pregnancy or following the birth may be more likely to experience thrush in their own bodies and in their babies. This takes place due to the good bacteria in the intestine is killed by the antibiotic and so the yeast is permissible to overgrow in the mother and baby’s systems.

In addition, a new mother can pass the antibiotic to the baby through the breast milk which affects the immune system of baby. Thrush symptoms may be noticed by a breastfeeding mother on her breasts and nipples, for example redness, swelling, or pain while breastfeeding.

If the mother has a vaginal yeast infection, babies may also be infected during delivery. They can also get thrush from mother’s or family member’s hands. Sometimes, it spreads in newborn through caregivers’ contaminated hands from an infected baby.

Newborns of diabetic mothers are more vulnerable to thrush. Babies who born with birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate are at risk of developing relentless thrush. These babies require carefully watching and treating if thrush develops.

Sometimes, babies who are extremely premature and receive long-term intravenous feedings die from a fungal infection in their blood, but it is not yeast. There is no need to panic if your new baby is experiencing thrush symptoms.

Consult the doctor promptly for diagnosis and treatment if you suspect it in your baby. If there is delay in receiving medical advice, it is useful to have the baby drink half an ounce of boiled water that has been permitted to cool, or suck it from a piece of sterile absorbent cotton, after the milk. This rinses out the milk from the mouth and provides the thrush fungus less to survive.

Symptoms of Oral Thrush in babies:

As thrush is a yeast infection, it requires treatment. White patches coating inside the mouth is the most common feature in infant. These patches can be observed either inside the cheeks, on the tongue, on the roof of baby’s mouth and on its lips and gums as it spreads quickly.

Babies leave feeding (rarely). Babies cannot complain and so there may not be any symptoms. You can notice and examine the child’s mouth on the regular basis as your baby will not speak for that and diagnose will depend on you. As a breastmilk, this white patch can’t be wiped off easily and on trying, the local area may bleed and can turn into more severe form like ulcer.

Oral Symptoms:

Thrush will develop white lesions in the mouth of infant with a cottage cheese-like appearance. The lesions look like milk left in the baby’s mouth after feeding and cannot be wiped away easily. If the spots come off, they depart behind a distinctive raw area. They appear on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, tonsils and roof of the mouth, with the cheeks and tongue being the most clear and widespread places in infants.

Other Symptoms:

Babies with thrush may be irritable. When it is time to eat or when sucking on a pacifier, babies with thrush become fussier and eating is often difficult. The infant can pass the infection to the mother if the baby is breastfeeding. The infection can also cause shiny, flaky skin on the areola or red, sensitive and itchy nipples and bring uncommon pain during and between feedings.

Treatment for Infant Thrush:

Sometimes, oral thrush can clear up of its own accord in just a few days and so a medical visit may not be necessary.

It may be necessary to use a prescribed treatment if thrush in infants does not cure itself. You should seek medical advice if your baby’s thrush is causing malnutrition.

Medication for infant oral thrush includes mouth gel or drops containing antifungal drugs like miconazole or nystatin. One of the most common prescriptions is Nystatin and is generally spurted into the mouth or rubbed quietly onto the affected areas. The treatment is continued until all signs of the oral yeast infection have disappeared.

As a home remedy, you can use acidophilus and bifidus powder. These are the “good” bacteria which help to restore the body’s natural balance of good vs. bad bacteria (you will recall that a yeast infection is an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria in the body).

It is available in powder or capsule form. Add small amount of it in milk, yogurt, or water and apply it to a wet finger for the baby to suck on. To help remedy thrush in infants, a dietary change is also recommended. Less sugary foods are suggested as they will not feed the yeast.

Home remedies:

• Sodium bicarbonate:
  • Sodium bicarbonate water is a lot easier to apply. Blend 0.5 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (bought in any drugstore) in 0.4 cups (1 dl) of plain water and apply it in baby’s mouth with the use of cotton swab. Do this after every breastfeeding (if you breastfeed) or as often as you have the energy to do it.
• Gentian violet:
  • Some lactation consultants suggest applying gentian violet to baby’s mouth. It is a dye that will stain anything when it comes in contact with. To coat the inside of your baby’s mouth, use a cotton swab and apply the dye once or twice per day for up to three days.
• Wash toys, pacifiers and breast pumps:
  • To avoid new infections, ensure to rinse your baby’s toys, pacifiers and bottles. If possible sterilize them in boiling water for at least five minutes or use an electric steam sterilizer.
• Consume lactobacillus acidophilus:
  • These bacteria can help to keep yeast in check. Consume yogurt containing these live bacteria cultures or take them in pills.

Prevention of Thrush in Babies:

Sterilize the bottles and nipples and rinse your hands before feeding the baby. It is best not to allow family members and visitors put their fingers in the new baby’s mouth. Also, sterilize teats, pacifiers and any toys that the baby puts into the mouth. Before storing, allow the objects dry thoroughly. To prevent thrush in baby, another recommended method is to feed the infant sterilized water after feeding in order to wash away any residue.

Thrush Infections in Children video from Youtube: