Thrush in infants is a common disease that brings anxiety to both mother and baby. This is a fungal infection caused by fungi of the genus Candida, and you can often find another name for this disease - oral candidiasis. Parents often miss the onset of the disease without giving it due importance, and today we will figure out how to recognize it. Candidiasis is quite insidious, so you need to know and be able to distinguish between the symptoms of a fungal infection. In this article, you can visually familiarize yourself with the photographic materials that will help visually determine by photo the thrush in a baby in her mouth.
Diagnosis of the disease
You can diagnose thrush immediately after seeing the baby’s mouth during examination. By inexperience, a mother may miss the onset of the disease, but the pediatric pediatrician will definitely make a diagnosis, because there are certain signs of this disease, and the doctor knows what the thrush looks like in infants. If the doctor has any doubts, then a smear is taken and an analysis is done. A fungus is sown in the laboratory during analysis. According to the result, you can identify the type of fungus and determine its sensitivity to antifungal agents. Depending on the stage of candidiasis, the symptoms may be less pronounced or, conversely, very pronounced. We will deal with the symptoms of the disease so that the mother is informed and can herself at least a little understand this issue.
Symptoms of thrush in an infant
If your baby began to cry for no reason, refuse to breast, then you immediately need to suspect the onset of the disease. The kid does not want to eat, does not take a pacifier, a dummy, because it becomes painful to suck. The child may lose weight due to refusal of food. It becomes tearful, restless, infants sleep worsens. Due to the onset of a fungal infection in the baby’s mouth, the mother may have cracks in the nipples, the fungus in this case affects the nipples, and they must be treated. They are treated in the same way as the baby's oral cavity. We will proceed to treatment a little later. And now we will understand how the symptoms of thrush appear in the mouth of an infant:
- At first, only reddened spots can be found in the baby, they can be on the tongue or on the cheeks, on the inside of the lips and on the gums.
- After several days, these areas are already covered with a white coating that resembles cottage cheese.
- If you do not start treatment, then plaque areas become large in size, grow and can change their color to yellow and beige-gray.
- In the future, the fungus can affect the entire mucous membrane of the baby's oral cavity.
Depending on the intensity of the main symptoms of the disease, there are three stages of candidiasis.
Three stages of thrush
- Mild or initial stage of fungal infection. At the initial stage of the disease, the baby's anxieties are minor and the disease is difficult to determine. The mild stage is characterized by the presence on the mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue of a minimal amount of plaque resembling cottage cheese. Sometimes a mother does not pay attention to such a plaque, perceiving it as the remnants of milk, which is slightly curdled in the baby's mouth. But if you take a napkin and run it through your mouth, then the rest of the food will remain on the napkin, and it is not so easy to remove the spots of thrush.
- The second stage is characterized by abundant curd-like plaque. Under plaque, if removed, there will be bleeding sores. This stage already brings the baby excitement and anxiety. It is accompanied by pain. He becomes tearful, restless. And so it hurts him to eat, and he is forced to refuse to eat. Perhaps a slight increase in temperature to 37.5 ° C.
- A third or severe form of the disease. White plaque covers the entire oral cavity, spreads to the throat, tonsils, causing great concern to the child. It is possible to increase the temperature to 39 ° C, there is an increase in the lymph nodes in the baby, the child is very lethargic and capricious.
Thrush can also affect the anus in such cases, causing diaper dermatitis and delivers even more discomfort to the baby. Bubble rash erosion forms, and this becomes a huge problem for parents and the baby. He constantly cries, he has great discomfort, he suffers.
Thrush in a baby (photo)
The photo clearly shows a white coating on the baby. The entire oral region is covered, and it is immediately evident that this is a thrush on the tongue of an infant. It will already hurt the baby to eat, he will be moody. There may be a rise in temperature.
The second photo shows that here the infection already affected the mucous membrane of the cheeks and lips from the inside.
Now we have clearly seen what the thrush looks like in infants.
Differences in acute and chronic form
There are two forms: acute form and chronic. In a large number of cases, babies are diagnosed with acute candidiasis. But if it cannot be cured, more correctly, treated, or the baby’s immunity is greatly weakened, then the disease can become chronic.
The acute form of thrush in infants has its own symptoms:
- Plaque on the oral mucosa.
- Dry mouth.
- Plaque can be easily removed.
- The area of plaque in the mouth is constantly growing.
- It’s painful for the baby to eat, drink, and a burning sensation in his mouth.
Chronic form of thrush:
- The plaque has a brownish yellow color.
- When trying to remove the plaque, ulcers form under it that bleed.
- The mucous membrane of the mouth swells.
- The child experiences severe pain and discomfort.
The causes of the disease
- The first and most important reason that this infection begins is a decrease in immunity. It can be caused by taking an antibiotic during a disease or another ailment, because the baby’s body during any disease spends its energy to fight the disease. A decrease in immunity can be caused by teething in a child, often against their background, a decrease in the protective properties of the body is observed. As a result of a decrease in immunity, fungi develop actively, and there are already a lot of them, they populate the digestive tract of the child and lead to a malfunction in the body.
- The second reason is dirty hands. After all, after 6 months, the baby begins to actively explore the world. Everything becomes interesting to him, and it is time to pull everything into his mouth. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the cleanliness of the house, baby toys.
- Intrauterine infection. If the mother of the baby was sick with thrush during pregnancy, then during childbirth, through the birth canal, the baby may become infected from the mother.
- Non-compliance with hygiene by a nursing mother. The breast should be washed after feeding so that the remaining milk on the chest does not sour. It is often necessary to change the bra. It must be intended for feeding.
- After 6 months, the baby, as a rule, begins to slowly eat flour, he is given baby cookies, various cereals are introduced, into which the sweetener is added. It is important to know that excessive consumption of flour products and sugar can also cause thrush in infants in the mouth.
- Infection from other family members with thrush.
- Dirty bottles, dummies. Every evening, bottles and nipples need to be boiled. This will protect your baby from infection in the mouth.
- Thrush in an infant in the mouth can be caused by trauma to the oral cavity.
Candidiasis Treatment
How to treat thrush in an infant? First of all, if your child has symptoms, you need to consult a pediatrician. It is better not to engage in self-medication in this matter, because it concerns the health of your baby.
There are folk and medical methods for treating thrush in infants.
But if you want to use alternative methods, then this must also be done under the supervision of a doctor. Treatment will depend, first of all, on the stages of candidiasis, on the well-being of the baby, on his general condition and mood.
Parents need to understand that the most important thing for your child’s health is to walk with him and breathe fresh air more. Thus, the baby's immunity will increase, and the saliva in the mouth will not dry out. If the baby drinks well, breathes air, and has no dry mouth, this will be the first victory over the disease. Thrush in a baby, of course, is not a disease from which you need to start to panic, but, following a number of simple rules, helping a baby is not difficult.
So: we begin to fight against fungal infection by strengthening walks, thoroughly disinfecting all toys, nipples, soothers and all that the baby usually pulls into his mouth.
Soda solution
Often they treat thrush in the mouth of infants with soda. She is a universal remedy. Soda creates an alkaline environment, and fungi die in it. Therefore, there are so many positive reviews about the treatment of soda. The main thing is that you do not need to exceed the dosage, this will have a negative effect on the mucous membrane of the baby's oral cavity.
If there is a thrush on the tongue of the baby, then after each feeding it is advisable to wipe the tongue with a bandage, which we previously put on the finger and dip in soda solution. It is done based on the fact that in a glass of warm boiled water 250 ml, you need to put 1 teaspoon of soda, and with this solution, wipe the baby's mouth as often as possible. If this procedure causes the baby to cry, then you can dip a dummy in this solution and give the baby to suck. When exposed to soda solution, a decrease in the acidity of the oral cavity occurs.
Doctors advise treating the mouth with such a solution every 2 hours.
If candidiasis is visible not only on the tongue, but also on the lips or cheeks, it means soda solution, gently, without pressing, wipe the mouth in a circle. Immediately before feeding, treating the oral cavity with a solution does not make sense, because with food all our medicine will be washed off. It is advisable to carry out the treatment 20 minutes after eating.
Honey treatment
Honey has long been known for its beneficial properties. He is a good antiseptic and has proven himself positively in the initial stage of candidiasis. There are two ways to prepare a honey solution. Before starting treatment of a baby with honey, it is important to determine whether the child has an allergy to honey. Honey is known to be a strong allergen. In order to understand this, you need to put a drop of honey on the tongue and wait. If in the next 30 minutes - 1 hour there will be no changes on the skin of the face or body in the form of redness or rashes, then you can follow.
The first way - this is honey mixed in a proportion of 1 tsp. honey + 2 tsp boiled water.
The second way - one tablespoon of honey is dissolved in 125 ml of warm boiled water. This solution is used to treat the baby's oral cavity, as well as when processing soda.
Folk local funds
Alternative local therapy, which also includes the above methods of treating soda and honey, includes other treatment methods. And such treatment does not harm the baby, since it affects only the oral cavity. These funds have been known to everyone for a long time:
- "Manganese" or potassium permanganate. A slightly pink solution is made from potassium permanganate and boiled water. Such a solution is processed up to 5 times a day. Potassium permanganate is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic properties and can be found in every mom’s medicine cabinet.
- Decoction of calendula flowers. Two tablespoons pour 500 ml of boiling water, cover, after cooling and straining, the broth is ready. Since the baby cannot rinse the mouth, another way to treat the mouth can be done - this is spraying with a syringe into the mouth above the sink. The kid will not get drunk with such a decoction, but the solution will fall into all the right places.
- Decoction of herbs: oak bark + chamomile + calendula + sage. Mix all herbs in 1 tablespoon and pour one cup of boiling water. Let it brew and cool. Use carefully so that the baby is not swallowed.
Drug treatment
- Nystatin ointment. She needs to treat her mouth 2 times a day.
- Miramistin is a universal remedy. It is convenient to irrigate their mouth. It has no bitter taste. It will not cause the baby to cry.
- Gel "Holisal". It has an anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect. If the baby refuses to eat, then “Holisal” must be applied to the affected areas in the mouth, and after a couple of minutes the baby will be able to eat.
- The Levorin solution is made by grinding the tablet at the rate of 1 tablet with a dosage of 100 thousand units per 5 ml of boiled water. Processing with such a tool is carried out every 5 hours.
- The solution of Pimafucin is made similar to the solution of Levorin. Processing is carried out at the same interval.
- The Kanesten solution has a powerful antifungal effect, the treatment is carried out three times a day.
- Candide is a solution. A powerful weapon against candidiasis. It has a bitter taste. The oral mucosa is treated twice a day with a cotton swab. In 10 days, the fungus will be completely destroyed.
- The drug "Stomatidine" - has a sweet taste. It is applied with a cotton swab on the tongue and the places of accumulation of the fungus. The drug effectively fights fungus.
- Vitamin B12 is also used in the treatment of the baby's oral cavity and has proven itself in the treatment of thrush.
Antifungal systemic drugs
If local treatment does not help, in such cases, the doctor prescribes drugs for treatment that must be taken orally. Such drugs are: "Futsis DT", "Fluconazole", "Nystatin", "Ketoconazole", "Diflucan", "Amphotericin B", "Flucytosine" and others. All these drugs can not be prescribed independently for your child for treatment. It is imperative that the pediatrician select a dosage for oral administration. Medicines penetrate the body of the child and can have a negative effect on the baby. Therefore, it is the doctor who selects the dosage, taking into account the age of the child, weight and degree of disease.
Thrush video
Dr. Komarovsky, a well-known children's doctor, shares his opinion on the treatment of candidiasis in babies. Information will be useful to all mothers.
Disease prevention
Preventive measures to be taken:
- Compliance with the cleanliness of toys, bottles, soothers.
- Hygiene of a nursing mother. Daily linen change, breast care, washing with water after each feeding.
- After feeding, it is advisable for the baby to give at least a teaspoon of water. Thus, food debris will be removed from the oral cavity, and bacteria in the oral cavity will not multiply.
- Daily walks with the baby. Increasing the immunity of the child.
- Compliance with the diet of a nursing mother, the introduction of complementary foods according to age norms.
Let your children not get sick!