What causes Thrush in infants?

Question

Thrush is the white stuff that gets in their mouths and it hurts. Adults can get it also.

Answer 1

Thrush is a fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Thrush appears in your baby's mouth and forms white patches on the roof, sides and sometimes even the tongue. It resembles cottage cheese and some mothers initially mistake it for milk spit-up-until they try to wipe it away, that is. If you try to gently wipe the white patches away using gauze or a clean finger, you'll notice that the white patches come off. Underneath, you'll notice a red, raw area that may bleed.

Thrush usually strikes infants when they are two months old or younger, but it also often occurs in older infants.

Where Does Thrush Come From?
Thrush is a yeast infection that can be passed from mother to infant and vice versa. No one is sure of the exact cause, although there are many guesses as to what causes this infection.

Your baby can contract thrush as it passes through the vaginal canal during birth. Hormonal changes after childbirth will bring out thrush in your baby. Your baby may also catch thrush from breastfeeding. If you breastfeed your baby, be sure to let your nipples air dry between feedings; this prevents bacteria from festering.

How to Treat Thrush
If you think your baby has thrush, contact your pediatrician. The pediatrician can give you a prescription over the phone for an oral anti-fungal cream, such as Nystatin. Anti-fungal cream should be applied several times per day for about 10 days.

It is important that you seek immediate treatment for thrush. The white patches can be painful to your child and stand in the way of successful bottle or breastfeeding. This can lead to hunger and dehydration.

How Do I Prevent Thrush?
While some babies are simply prone to thrush and there's little you can do to prevent thrush, many cases of thrush in babies can be prevented. There are some simple steps you can follow, such as refraining from unnecessary use of antibiotics and keeping your own stress levels down. Thrush can also be caused by lack of proper sleep, allergies and cracked nipples due to poor latch on.

Thrush and Breastfeeding
Because the fungus that causes thrush thrives in warm, dark, wet, sugary places, it can easily transfer itself from your baby's mouth to your breast during breastfeeding. Signs that it has spread to your breasts include:

sore, cracked nipples
a vaginal yeast infection
shooting pains in your breasts during and after breastfeeding

To help ease your pain, many lactation consultants suggest using dye gentian violet one a day for five to seven days. You might also try applying Lotrimin AF to your nipples after every other feeding. If your pain persists after a week, contact your doctor and seek his advice. If you're dealing with severe pain, you can take an ibuprofen to subside your pain.

Also, remember that if you have thrush and are breast feeding, your baby probably needs treatment for thrush too.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Thrush is a very mild infection that causes white patches to coat the inside of the cheeks and tongue of your baby. These patches cannot be easily wiped off and do not come off in-between feedings (like formula might). It is caused by a yeast infection and is easily cleared up with a prescription medicine called Nystatin. Thrush does not usually cause any discomfort and your baby should continue to feed normally, even without treatment.

Answer 4

Thrush: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Thrush, also known as candidiasis, is a yeast infection that occurs most commonly in the mouth. It is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans ("candida") that occurs naturally in the intestines, vagina and even the skin. The bacteria that reside in the body's moist environments usually keep candida under control.

Candida is often called an "opportunistic" microorganism. This means that it doesn't ordinarily cause disease, but under special conditions, such as a weakened immune system, it becomes pathogenic—capable of causing disease.

Baby Thrush Symptoms

Babies often have oral thrush symptoms, and when they're nursing, they're likely to infect the mother's nipples. Baby thrush looks like white patches in the mouth. Symptoms in the mother include cracked or dry-looking nipples.

Baby thrush may also manifest as diaper rash that might look like a burn. Symptoms vary in severity

Answer 5

Thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis, or OPC) is a yeast infection that develops in the mouth and throat and on the tongue. Thrush occurs when a yeast called candida grows out of control. A poor immune system, and antibiotics can cause thrush.

Answer 6

My son got thrush because he was on a steroid inhaler for chronic lung disease. I started wiping his mouth out with a damp cloth after I gave him the medicine, and he stopped getting thrush. If you are prescribed Nystatin to get rid of it, put the medicine on a Q-Tip and swab his mouth with it. This was the most effective way I found.
I was also told that if you are nursing your baby, and you have a yeast infection, you can give your baby thrush that way.

Answer 7

Thrush is caused by a bacterial infection. It is usually cleared up pretty easy. If your baby is still young make sure to sterilize the bottles you are using otherwise your child will continue to get it.

Answer 8

Oral thrush is cause by a fungus. This fungus is always in the mouth and usually in balance with the other chemicals in the mouth. But sometimes the chemicals become unbalanced, causing the fungus to become stimulated. Stess is one of the factors that can cause this. You can get a prescription from your doctor and it should clear up in a few weeks.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Caused by yeast, like a yeast infection in the mouth. They don't have the antibodies in their system to prevent it. An antibiotic will clear it up.

Yeast occurs naturally in the air. Adults can get it if their immune system is compromised.