Causes and treatment of thrush in a newborn

Thrush in babies (thrush) is very common. If not detected and treated in time, the slicks in the mouth will spread quickly and adversely affect the baby's health.

Thrush in a baby is not dangerous, but it can be painful for both mother and baby. So what causes and how to overcome thrush? Let's find the answer in the following article.

About thrush in newborns

Thrush is not serious and is a yeast infection that can be painful for your baby. Thrush causes white or yellow mucus patches on the cheeks, throat, gums, on the lips and tongue. It can also spread to the throat, tonsils or esophagus. Thrush is most common in babies and toddlers.

Causes of thrush in infants

Fungi are part of the human digestive system, but if there is an imbalance, a fungal infection occurs. Some babies are exposed to yeast during the process of being born with their mothers.  During breastfeeding, antibiotics can cause thrush, whether or not you take them or not. This is because antibiotics will kill beneficial bacteria that help keep the fungus in your gut in balance.

Your baby can pass thrush to her mother when she breastfeeds, resulting in a fungal infection that causes nipple pain . Conversely, mothers can infect their babies if they breastfeed and take antibiotics.

Some people think that thrush is caused by a bottle or a pacifier for a long time, a dirty, unhygienic pacifier. However, babies who only breastfeed and do not use a pacifier can still experience thrush, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific trigger.

Typical signs of thrush in a newborn

If only a white film is detected on the baby's tongue, it is likely just a plaque (especially when it can be wiped off).

However, if the lining is white or yellow featured in the mouth or throat of children, or the child to the doctor immediately, especially when the wound is painful when children suck s favorite mother  or bottle.

What should parents do when their child has thrush?

If the diagnosis is thrush, your doctor will prescribe oral thrush (usually nystatin). The disease will go away after about 2 weeks. Your baby's doctor may also add acetaminophen for pain relief. Some children with thrush are also more likely to develop diaper rash. If this is the case, the doctor will prescribe nystatin for the diaper area.

If you are breast-feeding a child with thrush, nystatin or clotrimazole should be used in the affected nipple area so that the mother and baby do not pass the disease to each other. See your doctor if you find that the disease is not over because relapses are common.

Is tongue thrush in a newborn dangerous?

The answer is no. However, if your baby is uncomfortable crying, thrush can make it difficult to breastfeed. Try to calm your baby by all means and follow your doctor's instructions for pain relief and proper medication.

How to prevent thrush in babies

You should not give antibiotics to your child, except when absolutely necessary! You should clean and disinfect your nipples regularly. Doctors advise that mothers should let nipples dry before breastfeeding to avoid getting sick.

Hope this article will help equip many useful information for parents about thrush in children.