Thrush: Yeast Infection of the Mouth
By April | June 17, 2007
Thrush is typically a yeast infection of the mouth. This type of yeast infection is very common in infants, toddlers, adults of advanced age and people who have weakened immune systems. Thrush can also be found on the breast of nursing mothers.
Yeast infections are caused by the Candida fungus. Candida is commonly found on the body but is usually kept at bay by the body’s natural defences. An infection only occurs when the natural balance of an area is changed by antibiotics, hormonal changes or a medical condition.
Causes of Thrush
Infants can contract thrush from their mother during delivery. If the mother has a Candida infection, it can be passed to the infant as the baby pushes through the vagina. This is a common way for babies to get thrush since yeast infections are commonly found in pregnant woman.
Nursing is another way to pass the infection. In this case, a baby who is infected with thrush during delivery can pass the virus to mom’s breast. If both baby and mum have the infection, they need to be treated at the same time.
Symptoms
Thrush can appear very suddenly. Lesions will form in the mouth and will be creamy white in colour and slightly raised. The lesions will usually be found on the tongue, inner check, and roof of the mouth. A “cottage cheese” like discharge may also be present. A good way to tell if baby has thrush and it’s not just something else in the mouth is by taking a clean towel, slightly dampened, with warm water and wipe the inside of the mouth, gently. If the white coating comes off, it is not thrush. If it hangs on and refuses to be come off, chances are the baby has an infection.
If mum gets thrush on her breast from nursing, the nipples may become red and sore. Pain might be felt in the breast itself.
Thrush is pretty harmless but it can be very irritating. If thrush is not treated early, the infection can spread to the esophagus. In more extreme cases, thrush can infect the lungs, liver and skin.
Ways to Treat and Prevent
If you find that baby has thrush and you are nursing, you will both need to be treated. If you chose a natural remedy, make sure that it is suitable for the age of the infant. There are also prescriptions and over the counter creams for yeast infections.
Mystatin is commonly prescribed by doctors to treat thrush in babies. For mum an anti-fungal cream such as Monistat or Lotrimin can be used on the breast.
For babies that are old enough to eat solids, yoghurt is a good way to introduce “good” bacteria into the mouth. This will help rid the mouth of the yeast colony. If a child has allergies then adding acidophilus to the bottle will introduce “good’ bacteria into their system.
Another natural remedy is an apple cider vinegar mouthwash. This, of course, should not be used on infants. Tea tree oil is great for treating the breasts but should be wipe off before nursing.
Topics: Health |