Thrush is a common and generally harmless condition caused by yeast. Thrush occurs in the mouth of young babies most often under 6 months old. A case of thrush can last several weeks and is often passed between the baby and her breast-feeding mother. Learning how to identify thrush and how to handle it allows you to get the infection under control.
Cause
Yeast is a natural occurrence in the body, particularly in warm, moist areas like the mouth and intestines. Some babies experience an overgrowth of the yeast in the mouth, which results in oral thrush. In some cases, a round of antibiotics can throw off the yeast balance in the body. In other cases, there is no specific cause for the overgrowth of yeast.
Symptoms
White spots inside the mouth are the most noticeable signs of thrush. You might notice the white patches inside her cheeks or on the tongue. In some cases, the white spots are on the lips and the corners of the mouth have cracking skin. The spots often initially look like milk or food, but you cannot wipe them off. Breast-feeding moms might also have thrush on their nipples.
Treatment
Thrush sometimes requires treatment with an anti-fungal medication. Schedule an appointment with your child's health-care provider if you suspect thrush to determine whether treatment is necessary. In addition to the medication swabbed into your baby's mouth, breast-feeding moms should treat their nipples with a prescribed anti-fungal medication. This prevents passing the yeast infection back and forth between your nipples and your baby's mouth. Wash your nipples before applying the medication. Adding yogurt that has probiotics can also help get the yeast under control if your child is old enough to eat it.
Prevention
Reinfection is a possibility once thrush is introduced. To keep the yeast under control, always sanitize bottle nipples and pacifiers after every use. Keeping your nipples clean and dry might also help prevent future outbreaks of thrush. Change your nursing pads frequently, particularly if your breasts leak a lot. Sanitize parts of the breast pump if you use one as well as other items that come into contact with your breasts, such as your bras or reusable nursing pads. Do not freeze pumped breast milk because the cold temperatures will not kill the yeast. When you thaw out the milk, you can reinfect your baby with thrush.
