A fungus called Candida albicans sometimes grows on surfaces in the mouth. This yeast infection, also called oral thrush, is common in infants. Babies need treatment for the thrush if it does not resolve spontaneously within a couple of weeks, according to The University of Pennsylvania Health System. Infants who breastfeed may infect the mother during nursing and begin a cycle of passing the fungal infection between the two. Recognizing symptoms of thrush is important to determine if the cause is from yeast or a serious medical condition.
Lesions
Oral thrush causes white lesions in the mouth of babies. The lesions affect small areas and begin to grow and spread as the infection progresses. The infant may experience the creamy lesions many surfaces of the mouth including the tongue, cheeks, gums, tonsils and the roof of the mouth, according to the Mayo Clinic. These lesions may be smooth or they may have a rougher cottage cheese appearance. The white patches do not easily scrape off with a finger or other rough surface. As the lesions heal, they get smaller and begin to thin out and disappear.
Pain
The thrush may cause pain in babies suffering from the condition. The child may only experience the pain while sucking, according to Kids Health from Nemours. A physician may prescribe treatment or anti-fungal medications to help decrease the painful condition if the infant seems to have difficulty eating or becomes inconsolable from the discomfort. Feeding yogurt to babies who are at an appropriate age to eat may help eliminate the yeast and provide comfort as well.
Bleeding
Under the white coating in the mouth, the tongue may appear beefy red. When attempting to scrape this layer off the tongue, the tongue can bleed. Eating rough foods may also scratch the lesions and cause bleeding. The bleeding appears bright red and usually stops bleeding when the irritation ceases.
Dry Mouth
The mouth may feel drier than normal with thrush present. The dry mouth may cause the infant to experience a cottony sensation in the mouth. The dry membranes also may cause cracking in the corners of the mouth for the baby, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Decreased Taste
The white coating covering the tongue may cause a loss of taste sensation. This decrease in taste may cause a disruption in eating patterns for the infant. The decrease in ability to taste may be easier to evaluate in infants who eat baby food in addition to formula or breast milk.
