Thrush in children: Causes, symptoms and prevention

Breastfeeding is encouraged. However, this also causes a number of health problems for the baby, with thrush being the most common problem. 

Thrush is a yeast infection that occurs while a baby is breastfeeding. The disease usually affects the mother's breast and the baby's mouth. Without early intervention, the baby will be in pain, leading to not feeding or feeding, affecting the child's development.

To better understand this situation, aFamilyToday Health invites you to learn the following article:

Why do babies get thrush?

Candida albiacans fungus usually grows in humid and sugary places. Therefore, the baby's mouth during breastfeeding is a favorable environment for Candida fungus to grow. This fungus exists in our bodies, but beneficial bacteria block their effects.

Here are some of the most common causes of thrush:

White spots on the mother's breasts or nipples spread to her mouth;

Bacterial infection is pale yellow in color and causes discharge of pus;

Reynaud's syndrome;

The longer the baby latches on the breast than usual also creates conditions for Candida fungus to develop;

Eczema is also one of the causes of thrush in children.

Signs of a fungal infection

1. In mother:

Pain in both breasts and nipples after a few days or weeks of breastfeeding ;

Chest or nipple pain can last for about an hour;

You have sore nipples after breastfeeding;

The skin is itchy and very sensitive to the touch;

You have a burning sensation on your nipples.

2. In children:

Your baby's tongue or lips may be shiny white;

Creamy white scaly patches in the baby's mouth, cheeks or tongue.

Take care when a child has thrush

First, you try to use folk remedies such as crushing vegetables, squeezing water or using honey, green tea water, 0.9% physiological salt water, tongue for children. Note, honey only uses tongue for children over 1 year old. Try this way 2-3 times / day.

If these symptoms persist for more than 3 days, you should take your child to Children's Hospital or pediatric hospital for examination and treatment.

Note

Don't kiss your baby's mouth, avoid spreading your saliva to your baby.

You wash your hands well before you open your mouth.

Only light tongue, do not rub the tongue vigorously.

Tilt steps: Cover the index finger with a gauze pad. When you start, rub your fingers on the child's jaws, then move your fingers from the base of the tongue outward, rubbing the inner cheeks and the rest of the way. Do not put your finger too deeply into the child's throat, causing vomiting.

Only show your tongue before feeding your baby to avoid vomiting.

Preventing children from thrush

Here are some things you can take to prevent a fungal infection:

Use a separate towel for each family member;

Keep the house clean;

Sanitize the breasts with clean water after breastfeeding;

Using garlic for food can help prevent mold and other fungal infections;

Wash your baby's clothes and toys with hot water to kill fungal spores that cling to them;

Reduce the amount of sugar and yeast in the diet;

After your baby breastfeeds, give him a little more boiled water to cool to rinse the dessert and no milk residue left;

Clean baby's water bottles and eating utensils every day.

Every day, you clean your baby's mouth with 0.9% saline.