Oral thrush is a common condition that affects many infants. It’s a form of yeast infection that can occur in the mouth, throat, and esophagus. The exact cause for this condition is unknown. Babies are most likely to develop it when they have been taking antibiotics or have been given intravenous fluids. In rare cases, oral thrush may be due to a healthy mother who has been breastfeeding her baby. Treatment usually involves topical medications. It’s important to make sure the child stays hydrated and eats plenty of yogurt or cheese on a regular basis to prevent it from coming back. These are some ways that you can spot oral thrush in your baby and treatment options for this condition.
What causes oral thrush in babies?
Infections caused by bacteria are usually called strep throat. Babies who have antibiotics are usually referred to as having a strep infection. Infants who are breastfed are more likely to have strep throat than those who aren’t.
These babies may be exposed to the bacteria, which are called streptococcus, in the mouth. If the bacteria have not been killed by the strep throat treatment, they can become active again in the infant’s mouth.
Untreated strep throat can turn into a common yeast infection called oral thrush. When it spreads to the throat and esophagus, it becomes a more serious yeast infection called candidiasis. If the infection is not treated in the mouth, the symptoms can get worse.
About 1 out 7 of children in the United States are affected by oral thrush.
Oral thrush in babies symptoms
The most common symptom of oral thrush in babies is the appearance of white patches. It appears on the tongue, lips, and inside the mouth. The skin inside the mouth will appear darker. White patches will also be found on the chest and around the eyes. The patches may appear white or be covered with a discolored layer of skin. The inside of the mouth may also look red. In extreme cases, the patch may blister. Oral thrush occurs more frequently when the baby has been drinking and feeding from the bottle and nursing.
Some symptoms shows
- White tongue
- Rash
- Mood swings
- Difficulty to nurse
Oral thrush in babies home remedies
The condition tends to be more noticeable at night. When you’re in the middle of the night, it’s harder to distinguish between drowsiness and mouth sores that won’t heal. To help with symptoms, feed your child solid foods as soon as he or she wakes up. This will help to keep your baby’s saliva in the mouth. Make sure to offer foods with a thick texture like mashed potatoes, whole-wheat bread, mashed bananas, mashed potatoes with butter, or oatmeal. There are more oral thrush in babies treatment natural that you can do at your home:
- Apple cider
- Baking Soda
- Garlic
Feeding infants is important for the development of their immune system. If infants are not breastfed, feed them a breast milk formula. While you may have to fortify the formula with foods and nutrients, these foods can help to promote a healthy immune system and eliminate oral thrush.
How long does it take before it heal
Oral Thrush is a common infection that babies can have commonly without any risk of contagion. The painless sore usually goes away on its own in a few weeks, and meanwhile you should take care to keep the sore as clean as possible with breast milk or plain yoghurt. It’s important to make sure you’re drinking enough fluids because liquids help ease the discomfort by rinse off any nasty particles before they dry and irritate your throat/mouth.
How to Prevent Oral thrush for Babies
Parents can take preventative measures by wiping down their baby’s mouth with a clean cloth after breast-feeding.
They can also add yogurt to their diet, as this may help build up the natural defenses in the mouth and throat against thrush. Remember, when babies get sick because of a virus they often have a perfectly functioning immune system that knows what to do to get better without too much interference from outside sources. Eating well and keeping things calm then become the best interventions for baby’s comfort
Sources:
https://patient.info/childrens-health/oral-thrush-in-babies
