Preventing and Treatment of Oral Thrush in newborn baby

Return to Newborn Baby Articles Index Page		| E-Mail Page To A Friend |

Preventing and Treatment of Oral Thrush in newborn baby

Preventing and Treatment of Oral Thrush in newborn baby

Newborns are susceptible to a number of ailments, one of the more common of which is oral thrush. Oral thrush is caused by a yeast, also known as Candida Albicans, and typically invades the insides of newborn's mouth and tongue. How will you know if your newborn comes down with oral thrush? Most babies will have a cottage cheese like or milky white substance that coats the side, roof of and even the tongue of the baby's mouth.

It is most common in newborns two months of age and younger but can also occur in older babies. Your newborn baby can acquire the infection at birth as they pass through the birth canal or later in life with the treatment of antibiotics. A newborn baby can also get thrush from breastfeeding if the you have an yeast infection on your nipples.

Most oral thrush infections do not cause any symptoms for your baby and in most cases spontaneously resolves without treatment. Other babies with oral thrush will be uncomfortable while breastfeeding and will need treatment.

Treating Oral Thrush
Every baby just like every adult has yeast in their body to help the digestive system function properly. Yeast only becomes a problem when an imbalance exists in the body. Any imbalances in the natural flora or bacteria of the body can cause oral thrush. Some of the most common causes include antibiotic usage.

It isn't uncommon for baby's to have a white coating on their tongue only, but this is usually just milk residue. If however you find a white coating on the sides of the mouth and notice that your baby is in some discomfort, you should consult with your healthcare provider or pediatrician because this is a classic sign of thrush.

Most babies with oral thrush will be uncomfortable while breastfeeding. The sooner you treat the problem the sooner your newborn will return to their vibrant, healthy and happy self.

The main treatment for a newborn baby with oral thrush is Nystatin Suspension . Nystatin is an antifungal medicine that kills the Candida Albicans fungus that causes thrush.

If you're breastfeeding an infant who has oral thrush, you and your baby will benefit if both are treated. Otherwise, you're likely to pass the infection back and forth. Your doctor may prescribe Nystatin suspension for your baby and Nystatin Cream for your breasts.

Nystatin is generally squirted into the mouth four times a day. For more stubborn lesions, Nystatin can be directly applied to the lesions with a cotton swab.

Thrush normally will clear up with in a few weeks. If it does not clear up after two weeks of anti-fungal treatment, you should notify your health care provider.

Preventing Oral Thrush
Tips that may help prevent oral thrush include:

Giving baby sterilized water to drink after breastfeeding to rinse any milky residue away.

Be sure to clean and sterilize bottles and pacifiers thoroughly and allow to dry.

Let your nipples air dry between feedings.

Consider supplementing if you know you have taken or need to take a course of antibiotics. The good news is that oral thrush is rarely serious and can be treated relatively easily when it is discovered. If you think you or your newborn might be suffering from a oral thrush, be sure to contact your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis before attempting any treatment methods.