What Is Thrush In Babies? Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Oral thrush in babies is a bacterial infection of the mouth that can sometimes be seen in the crotch and buttock region, leading to diaper rashes. It results in white patches that can cause considerable discomfort. Infants of varying ages may be affected by it and can be treated safely upon timely diagnosis. So, here’s all the information you need about thrush, including its causes and treatment in babies.
Thrush, also known as candidiasis, is a fungal infection caused by a type of yeast called candida (1). Thrush can be oral (oral candidiasis) or diaper rash thrush.
The fungus usually affects the oral cavity, including the lips and parts of the throat. It also affects the skin, especially near the genitals and the bottom where it is warm and moist, causing yeast diaper rash, also called candida diaper rash or nappy thrush.
Candida albicans is naturally found in the environment. During childbirth, a mother can transfer this yeast to the baby’s body through the birth canal. Alternatively, the baby’s skin can get exposed to the fungus in the air.
The fungus eventually proliferates to different parts of the body, such as the mouth and gastrointestinal tract and continues to thrive with good bacteria found within the body (2).
Usually, the yeast does not cause any harm, but in some situations, when the baby is exposed to excessive amounts of Candida albicans (contact with infected people), it could result in thrush.
This also happens when the good bacteria and the body’s immune system are unable to regulate the existing candida population, resulting in an outburst. The immune system may fail to control the growth of this yeast due to several reasons.
The following are the likely causes of thrush in babies (3):
Babies on antibiotics for long duration. Antibiotics attack all types of bacteria, including the good ones that control fungi like candida. A baby on an antibiotic course may have fewer healthy bacteria and is more prone to oral thrush.
Some infants are susceptible to thrush more than the others. Read on to know why.
The following situations increase the chances of oral and diaper thrush among babies:
Babies with diabetes: Congenital type-1 diabetesiA lifelong condition caused by less or no production of insulin leading to high blood sugar levels in the blood. increases chances of fungal infections.
So, how do you identify thrush?
The signs of thrush in babies vary with the type of candidiasis they develop (4).
Yeast diaper rash commonly occurs with oral thrush. So check for oral thrush if your baby shows symptoms of fungal diaper rash. Thrush can resolve on its own in a few days, without treatment (5). If it does not, take the baby to a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Rachel Moses, a mother of two, discusses her baby boy’s encounter with thrush, “When he (her son) was about three weeks old, he had a sudden red, angry diaper rash one morning. We tried some cream and aired him out with no diaper. We also noticed that he had some white spots inside his mouth. I got an appointment with the local nurse midwife at the women’s health center the next day. The nurse seemed untroubled by the spots in his mouth; she suggested dipping him in some water with a bit of vinegar mixed in and continuing the airing out of his bottom as we had been. She said that a little bit of yeast is not usually something to worry about unless it was bothering him or interfering with his feeding (i).”
Thrush is diagnosed using the following methods (6):
After diagnosis, the doctor will suggest treatment if required.
If the candida infection reaches the kidney, heart, lungs, or spleen, doctors often suggest an ultrasound or CT scan for diagnosis (6).
The treatment depends on the type of thrush the baby suffers (7).
You can seek the doctor’s help for the exact method to administer such medicines.
Thrush often resolves within two weeks after commencement of treatment. However, home care helps the baby recover quicker.
While the baby undergoes treatment, you should take optimum care of the infant at home. Here are some parenting tips on how to care for and manage the baby’s thrush at home (8):
The above steps also work as effective home remedies for thrush in babies.
When left untreated, oral and diaper thrush can cause the following complications in infants (9):
Healthy infants seldom develop complications when they get timely treatment. Nevertheless, prevention is always better than cure.
Preventing thrush is about avoiding the triggers that cause candida overgrowth. Here is what you can do to prevent oral thrush and diaper rash thrush in infants:
Sterilize pacifiers and bottle nipples: Pacifiers and bottle nipples can harbor bacteria as well as fungus. After every use, sterilize bottle nipples and pacifiers by boiling them in water for 10 minutes. Follow this baby hygiene ritual every day.
Always store milk and prepared formula bottles in the refrigerator to stop the yeast from growing. Doing this will help prevent thrush in infants (12).
If your baby is premature, suffers from autoimmune conditions, or has compromised immunity, then you need to be extra careful about the hygiene you maintain around him. General cleanliness becomes even more vital in such cases.
Below, we answer some more questions on thrush in babies.
1. Are there any natural remedies for thrush in babies?
No. There are no natural remedies that are safe for infants with thrush. Experts recommend against using remedies like coconut oil, baking soda, thrush baby wipes, or any other over-the-counter medicine to cure thrush in infants. Homeopathic remedy for thrush does exist, but no reliable scientific evidence points towards its effectiveness in treating infants with this infection (10).
2. Can I use yogurt to treat thrush in babies?
Probably yes. Probiotics like yogurt contain lactobacillus, which are good bacteria that can help subdue the population of the yeast. A doctor may suggest or recommend giving an older infant yogurt to introduce the good lactobacilli into the body.
Consumption of yogurt does not precisely treat thrush, but aids in improving the rate of recovery. Along with yogurt, you will have to continue using conventional medicines for treating thrush.
3. What is the difference between oral thrush and milk tongue?
There are times when you may notice thrush-like white spots on the baby’s tongue. However, if you can wipe it away cleanly using a damp cloth, then it is just the residue of milk and not thrush. Thrush cannot be wiped away with a cloth.
4. Can thrush go away on its own in babies without treatment?
Yes, thrush can go away on its own, without treatment. However, it is best to visit a doctor if you suspect the baby has thrush, to avoid risk. Also, babies have an underdeveloped immune system that may not effectively deal with the fungal infection, which makes treatment essential more often than not.
5. Can adults get thrush from babies?
Yes. Primary caretakers of the baby run the risk of catching thrush from the baby, while the risk is the highest for the breastfeeding mother.
6. Can I breastfeed my baby who has thrush?
Yes. But you must take precautions to prevent catching thrush yourself. Always wipe the breast nipple clean with saline water or a disinfectant after every feed. You can also apply an anti-fungal cream to your nipple as a precaution, but only after doctor’s consultation (11).
7. What to do if the baby has recurrent thrush infection?
Recurrent thrush infection could be an indicator of compromised immunity or an autoimmune disorder. If the baby’s infection recurs and does not subside even after medical treatment of two weeks or more, get the baby checked by the doctor for further diagnosis.
8. Is thrush in babies harmful?
Thrush in babies is generally harmless and can heal on its own. However, babies have a developing immune system, due to which it is advisable to take necessary care to prevent any complications (3).
9. Can formula-fed babies get thrush?
Thrush is common in children and can have multiple causes. However, a predominant cause is yeast and floating fungus which gets settled on the feeding bottles and can be passed on to the baby during feeding. Sterilization before feeds helps remove this yeast accumulation from the nipple of the bottles.
10. Do babies with thrush cry a lot?
Infants with thrush rarely feel anything at all. However, some can get fussy due to the discomfort that the infection causes. In addition, children can exhibit crying behavior in rare cases of excessive soreness or pain that can be caused due to complications (such as candida esophagitis or sepsis) and diaper rash thrush (3).
11. How long does it take for thrush to go away in babies?
With treatment, thrush heals within four to five days. However, untreated thrush takes two to eight weeks to heal (13).
Oral thrush and diaper rash thrush can disappear with timely and effective treatment and are rarely dangerous. Maintaining good oral hygiene and baby mouth care can prevent your baby from contracting thrush. Furthermore, as your baby grows older, their immune system improves and becomes robust, controlling the yeast population and reducing the risk of a thrush infection. You can also care for your baby’s thrush and maintain infant oral health at home by not breastfeeding for more than 20 minutes, switching to liquid foods, limiting pacifier usage, and changing diapers more frequently. With the right precautions and pediatric care, your baby may recover within two weeks.
Thrush is a common condition in babies. Although typically harmless, oral or diaper thrush may be painful when in contact with foods or a cloth. So if your baby is experiencing similar discomfort, learn how to care for them to minimize their discomfort without compromising their health.